Do I Need Removals Insurance When I Move Home?
By Lauren Prescott, removals specialist with 15 years of industry experience · Updated January 2025
Most home contents policies do not cover belongings while they are on a lorry. Removals cover fills that gap for the one day when everything you own is in motion, and understanding what it actually protects helps you avoid an expensive gap in cover on moving day.
The short answer
- Standard home contents insurance rarely covers belongings while they are in transit
- Goods in transit cover protects loss or damage during loading, transport and unloading
- Self packed boxes are usually only covered for the box, not always the contents inside
- High value items should always be declared so the cover limit matches their real worth
Why home insurance does not cover a move
Home contents policies are written to protect belongings at a fixed address, not while they are being carried, loaded and driven between two properties. Most policies explicitly exclude the moving process or only offer a very small allowance for it.
This is why a professional removals policy exists separately. It is designed specifically for the period when your possessions are most exposed to movement, handling and transport.
Goods in transit cover explained
This is the standard protection carried by professional removal firms. It covers loss or damage while your belongings are being loaded, transported and unloaded, which is the window your home insurance typically does not reach.
A reputable company includes this as standard rather than as a paid extra, and will confirm the total limit and the limit per single item in writing before the move.
- Covers damage during loading at the old address
- Covers damage or loss while the vehicle is travelling
- Covers damage during unloading at the new address
- Usually includes public liability cover for the property itself
Single item limits
Policies cap the amount payable for any one item, which protects the insurer against a single high value claim wiping out the whole policy. If you own art, jewellery, a musical instrument or an antique worth more than the standard cap, declare it before the move and ask for an extended limit.
| Item type | Common issue | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Jewellery and watches | Often excluded or capped very low | Carry personally or declare separately |
| Original artwork | May exceed the standard single item limit | Request an extended declared value |
| Musical instruments | Specialist handling may be needed | Mention at survey stage |
| Electronics | Usually covered but check accidental damage terms | Confirm cover includes power on testing |
Self packed boxes
Boxes packed by you are usually covered for damage to the box itself, rather than damage caused by how the contents were packed inside it. This is standard across the industry and is not a BlueSky specific restriction.
If a box holds something irreplaceable such as photographs, family heirlooms or fragile glassware, let the crew pack it. Professional packing is usually fully covered because the company is responsible for how it was done.
Storage cover
Transit cover normally ends once goods enter storage, at which point a separate storage insurance policy applies. If your belongings will be held for more than a few days between moves, check this is in place rather than assuming the same cover rolls over automatically.
What to check before you move
A few minutes reading the policy summary before moving day avoids disappointment later. Confirm these points with any company you are considering.
- The total sum insured and the single item limit
- Whether self packed boxes are covered for contents or only the box
- Whether storage, if needed, is covered separately
- How to make a claim and what evidence is required
- Whether high value items need to be declared in advance
How BlueSky covers your move
Every BlueSky move includes goods in transit cover up to £50,000 as standard, with no need to arrange a separate policy. If you own anything that exceeds the standard single item limit, let us know at survey stage so it is properly declared and covered on the day.
Frequently asked questions
Does my home insurance cover me during a house move?
Usually not. Most home contents policies exclude or sharply limit cover while belongings are in transit, which is why a separate removals policy exists.
What does goods in transit cover include?
It covers loss or damage to your belongings while they are being loaded, transported and unloaded by the removal company.
Are boxes I pack myself covered by removals insurance?
Usually only the box itself is covered rather than the contents inside, since the company has no control over how it was packed. Let the crew pack anything fragile or irreplaceable.
What happens if I own something worth more than the cover limit?
Declare it before the move so it can be covered under an extended single item limit. Without declaring it, a claim may only be paid up to the standard cap.
Is storage covered by the same insurance as the move?
Not automatically. Transit cover typically ends when goods enter storage, so check a separate storage policy is in place if items will be held for any length of time.
How much goods in transit cover does BlueSky include?
BlueSky includes goods in transit cover up to £50,000 as standard on every move, with higher limits available for declared high value items.
Planning a move?
BlueSky Removals gives fixed written prices after a free video or home survey. Call 0800 090 3125 or request a quote online.