Removals Insurance: Are Your Belongings Covered When Moving House?

When you’re moving house, thousands of pounds’ worth of furniture, electronics and personal belongings can spend hours being carried, loaded and transported. But if something gets lost, broken or damaged along the way, who pays?

Removals insurance can help protect your belongings during a house move, but the cover you already have through your home insurance or removal company can vary considerably. This guide explains what to check before moving day, including removal insurance, moving house insurance and goods in transit cover.

What Is Removals Insurance?

Removals insurance is a general term used for cover that may protect your possessions against loss or damage while they’re being moved from one property to another.

You might already have some protection through your existing contents insurance, while a professional removal company may also provide a level of protection or liability cover as part of its service.

The important thing is that not every policy provides the same protection. The amount covered, circumstances in which you can claim, exclusions and excess can all differ.

Does Home Insurance Cover Moving House?

Your existing contents insurance may include cover for belongings while you’re moving home. However, you shouldn’t assume this is automatically included.

Check your policy documents or speak directly to your insurer and look for wording such as removals cover, contents temporarily removed or goods in transit.

If you’re arranging a new home insurance policy as part of your move, make sure you understand exactly when the new cover begins and what happens to the policy on your old property.

Does a Removal Company Insure Your Belongings?

Professional removal companies will commonly have insurance and liability arrangements, but that doesn’t necessarily mean every possession is fully insured against every type of damage.

Before choosing a mover, ask what protection is included in the quote and request the relevant terms in writing.

Still choosing your mover? See our guide to removal company costs in the UK.

What Is Goods in Transit Insurance?

Goods in transit insurance is designed to cover goods while they’re being transported. Removal companies may hold this type of cover as part of their business insurance arrangements.

However, the fact that a mover says it has goods in transit insurance doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the protection available to you.

Ask about the actual terms, limits and exclusions that apply to your move rather than relying on the name of the insurance alone.

What If You Pack Your Own Boxes?

This is one of the most important things to check before moving.

Some insurance arrangements can place restrictions on damage claims involving belongings you’ve packed yourself, particularly fragile items. Your home insurer may also have conditions about using professional removers.

If you’re packing yourself, ask both your insurer and removal company exactly how this affects your cover.

What About a DIY House Move?

If you’re moving your belongings yourself using your own vehicle or a hired van, don’t assume the same protection applies as when using a professional removal company.

Check your contents insurance and any relevant vehicle or hire agreement before the move. If your existing insurance doesn’t cover the circumstances, speak to the insurer about the options available rather than assuming your possessions are protected.

What About Valuable Items?

Insurance policies can have limits on how much they’ll pay for individual possessions or particular categories of valuables.

Before moving, identify expensive belongings such as jewellery, artwork, watches, computers, collectibles or specialist equipment and check whether any special conditions apply.

For particularly valuable or irreplaceable possessions, ask your insurer how they should be transported and whether they need to be individually listed on your policy.

Are Your Belongings Insured in Storage?

If there’s a gap between leaving your old home and moving into the new one, some or all of your possessions might need to go into storage.

Don’t assume insurance during the removal journey automatically continues while your possessions are stored. Check your home insurance, removal-company terms and the storage provider’s requirements.

Our Moving House Storage Guide explains the different storage options, while our UK Self Storage Cost Guide explains the costs you may need to budget for.

When Should You Check Your Insurance?

Don’t leave it until moving day. Check your insurance as soon as you’ve booked your removal company and know how the move will be carried out.

That gives you time to clarify anything that’s unclear and make alternative arrangements if your existing protection isn’t suitable for the move you’re planning.

Removals Insurance Checklist

Moving House Insurance FAQs

Do I need removals insurance?

You may already have relevant cover through your contents insurance or removal company, so check these first. Whether additional cover is appropriate depends on the protection already in place and the circumstances of your move.

Does contents insurance cover moving house?

Some contents insurance policies provide cover while moving home, but terms vary. There may be conditions relating to professional removers, packing, valuable items, limits and storage. Check your own policy or ask your insurer.

Are removal companies insured?

Professional removal businesses may carry insurance such as goods in transit and liability cover, but the protection available to a customer depends on the company’s terms. Ask for details before booking.

Are belongings covered if I move them myself?

Not necessarily. Some home insurance policies have conditions relating to the use of professional removers. Check with your insurer before carrying out a DIY move.

Does removals insurance cover items in storage?

Storage cover varies. If your belongings will be stored during the move, check whether your existing insurance continues to protect them and what insurance the storage provider requires or offers.

Plan the Rest of Your Move

Important: This guide provides general information only and does not provide personal insurance advice. Insurance cover, limits, exclusions and eligibility vary between providers and policies. Always check your policy documents and speak to your insurer or removal company if you’re unsure what protection applies to your move.