Do I need removals insurance when I move home?
Yes, you need insurance because you are entrusting your all worldly goods into a large box on wheels.
HOWEVER, first check your existing home insurance policy. Many contents insurance policies will cover your possessions in transit, but you must check that this is the case with your own policy. Check your policy documents, or call your insurance firm to ensure your insurance is sufficient to cover your valuables and that they are covered whilst being transported.
Your insurance firm may require an extra premium to cover your move, (an ‘outside the home’ or ‘personal possessions’ supplement) but this can be less than the price of a takeaway! Ok, possibly around the £30 mark.
Ask your removals firm about their insurance policies
Check that they are fully insured; they should happily show you copies of their policy details.
Many home insurance policies will cover accidental damage or loss if you are using a professional removals company. There is often a time limit applied to your claim, so again, read the small print so that you can make any necessary claim without being penalised. Remember to ask what the excess on the policy is. This usually starts around £50.
Many removal firms have insurance cover as part of their contract with you.
If this is the case, have a look at the limit on claims as this can be surprisingly low. Again, check exactly what is covered including:
• Scuffs, scrapes or dents
• Financial documents such as deeds, stamps, bonds,
• Whether your move is covered should weather conditions deteriorate or cause long delays
If you have packed yourself...
Finally but important to remember, a lot of insurance companies will not cover you for loss or damage if you packed the boxes yourself. Your boxes need to be professionally packed otherwise damage to your goods cannot be validated and your claim is at risk of being refused.
Check with your
removals firm on all of these points.