For businesses
Goods in transit insurance: £10,000 to £50,000 per load
Goods in transit cover for removals typically runs from £10,000 to £50,000 per load, with single items often capped at £40, £100 or £500 unless you declare them (A2B Moving, May 2026). It is not a legal requirement, but it is the cover customers ask about first, and its exclusions decide whether a claim is paid.
What does goods in transit insurance cover?
It pays for customers' goods that are lost, stolen or damaged while in your care: during loading, on the road and during unloading. AXA describes it as cover for goods lost, stolen or damaged in transit in vehicles you own, lease or hire.
It does not cover the van, which needs its own motor policy with hire and reward use. It does not cover injury to people or damage to a customer's home either; that is public liability.
No law makes it compulsory, and AXA says so plainly. Your liability exists anyway. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 you must carry out the service with reasonable care and skill (section 49), and a term that excludes that liability does not bind the customer (section 57). The policy decides whether you or your insurer pays for a broken table, not whether someone does.
How much goods in transit cover per load do I need?
Set the per-load limit at the value of the largest load you carry, not the average one. A2B Moving (May 2026) says policies typically run from £10,000 to £50,000 per load, and a full Luton of a family's furniture and electricals can pass the lower figure.
Check the per-item limit too. A2B lists common caps of £40, £100 or £500 per item unless the item is declared, and some limited liability cover pays about £1.30 per kg. At that rate a 30 kg television is covered for about £39.
When a job includes something worth more than your item limit, such as a piano, artwork or an antique, ask the customer to declare it in writing before the move and ask your insurer whether the cover needs extending for that job.
What are the common exclusions and conditions?
Unattended vans. AXA excludes theft from vehicles left unattended overnight unless they are garaged in secure premises. Read the wording on locks, alarms and daytime stops as well, and check whether cover holds while the van is open and the crew carries a sofa upstairs.
Owner packing. A2B says boxes packed by the customer are usually covered only if the box itself shows outside damage. Breakages inside an undamaged box are often excluded.
Excluded items. Cash, jewellery, watches, documents, electronics, plants and damage that was already there are typically excluded, and so are items left inside drawers or wardrobes (A2B).
Inventory. Anything not listed on the inventory may not be covered. Note existing marks before loading, and have the customer record any damage on the inventory at delivery, before the crew leaves.
Do I need public liability insurance as well?
Yes, for injury and property damage. Public liability covers injury to customers or the public and damage to their property during a job, such as a marked wall or a cracked floor tile. Simply Business notes that damage to a customer's furniture in transit falls outside public liability, which is why removal firms buy the two together.
Simply Business example quotes for removal firms show public liability limits from £1 million to £10 million. Office managers and building managers sometimes set a minimum before you can work on site, so ask when you quote.
If you employ anyone, employers' liability is the cover the law requires: at least £5 million from an authorised insurer. GOV.UK says the fine is £2,500 for each day without it and £1,000 for not displaying the certificate.
How should I show my insurance certificate to customers?
Send a copy with the quote, or put the key lines in the quote itself: insurer, type of cover, per-load limit, per-item limit and expiry date. Customers comparing firms want the per-load figure, not just a claim to be insured.
Update your website and directory listings on the renewal date, so the certificate customers see is current.
On manandvan.trade, any cover shown on a listing is what the firm states, unless the listing still carries an 'Insurance seen (paid check)' badge from an earlier check, which shows the cover and expiry recorded and lapses at expiry.
Common questions
Is goods in transit insurance a legal requirement for a man and van?
No. AXA says there is no legal obligation to hold it. Employers' liability is the business cover the law requires, and only once you employ someone.
Does goods in transit insurance cover my van?
No. It covers the goods you carry. The van needs its own motor policy that includes hire and reward use.
Are boxes the customer packed covered?
Often only if the box itself is damaged on the outside, according to A2B Moving (May 2026). Check your own policy wording, and tell customers before the move.
Can I limit my liability to £40 per item in my terms?
A cap in your terms is not the same as your insurance limit. Under section 57 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a term that would stop a customer recovering the price paid for the service does not bind them, and other caps must pass the fairness test. Take advice before relying on a low cap.