Guide
Man and van insurance: what covers your belongings?
Goods in transit cover for a man and van commonly runs from £10,000 to £50,000 a load, on broker pages from Coversure and UK Sure, and public liability from £1 million, but neither is a legal requirement. Policies often exclude cash, jewellery and boxes you packed yourself, so ask what is covered and ask to see the certificate.
Does a man and van need insurance by law?
Only motor insurance is a legal requirement. GOV.UK says you must have motor insurance to drive on UK roads, and Uswitch (April 2026) adds that a van carrying other people's goods for money needs hire and reward cover. That policy covers the vehicle, not the load.
Goods in transit insurance is not generally a legal requirement, according to MoneySuperMarket (October 2026) and the broker Coversure. Public liability is not a legal requirement in most cases either, according to Hiscox and AXA. A firm can trade legally with neither, which is why it is worth asking.
What does goods in transit insurance cover?
Goods in transit insurance pays for loss, theft or damage to the things a firm carries for you, up to a set limit per load. Coversure says most policies start at £10,000 and it can offer £5,000. Uswitch gives £5,000, £10,000 or more as typical limits, and UK Sure offers up to £50,000 for removal contractors.
Adrian Flux sells limits from £1,000 to £75,000, so the range is wide. A policy usually has an excess, the first part of any claim that the firm or you pay: one broker's example is £100 on a £1,000 claim. Many policies also cap any single item, so a limit of £10,000 a load may still pay much less for one sofa.
What does public liability insurance cover?
Public liability insurance pays for injury to other people or damage to their property caused by the firm's work, such as a scraped door frame in a shared hallway or a passer-by hit by a dropped load. It does not cover your belongings in the van.
AXA sells public liability from £1 million, with higher limits up to £10 million for some trades, and says clients often set £1 million as a minimum. Managing agents of blocks of flats sometimes ask for a removal firm's certificate before a move.
What does goods in transit cover usually exclude?
Cash, jewellery and valuables are the most common exclusions, along with items left in an unlocked vehicle and goods damaged by inadequate packing (MoneySuperMarket, October 2026). Uswitch adds cash and precious metals unless agreed in advance, and goods left overnight without secure storage.
Items you packed yourself are often excluded. Perry Removals says owner-packed goods will not normally be covered by any remover's policy, and Konnect You says the same of goods in transit cover (September 2026). Firms' own terms may also cap each item, as one firm does at £40, and exclude documents, watches and electrical faults.
Whether goods are covered overnight depends on the policy. Carry cash, jewellery, passports and hard drives yourself.
What should you ask a man and van about insurance?
Ask whether the firm holds goods in transit and public liability cover, the limit per load and per item, the excess, and what is excluded. Ask whether boxes you packed are covered, and whether the cover continues if the van is parked overnight on a two-day move.
Then ask to see the certificate. It should name the insurer, the policy dates, the insured business and the limits. Check that the name matches the firm you booked, and that the dates cover your moving day.
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 says a term excluding liability for failing to take reasonable care and skill is not binding on a consumer, so insurance is not the only route if something goes wrong.
Common questions
Is goods in transit insurance a legal requirement?
No. MoneySuperMarket and Coversure both say goods in transit cover is not generally a legal requirement in the UK. Only motor insurance is compulsory.
How much goods in transit cover should a man and van have?
There is no set figure. Brokers say most policies start at £10,000, and removal contractors can buy up to £50,000. Compare the limit with the value of what you are moving.
Does goods in transit cover jewellery?
Usually not. Cash, jewellery and other valuables are common exclusions, so move them yourself.
Am I covered if I pack my own boxes?
Often not for damage inside the box. Many removers' policies exclude owner-packed goods, so ask the firm before you pack.