Goods in transit insurance (often shortened to GIT) covers items being transported by a removals or delivery company against loss, damage, or theft while in their care. It’s the policy that pays out if a wardrobe gets dropped, a box gets stolen from the van overnight, or an antique cracks in transit. Standard UK policies cover the goods from the moment they’re loaded until the moment they’re unloaded at the destination.
What a typical GIT policy covers:
- Damage during loading and unloading. Items dropped, scraped, or crushed by other items in the load.
- Damage in transit. Sudden braking, road accidents, items shifting during the drive.
- Theft from the vehicle. If the van is broken into overnight or while parked.
- Fire and weather damage to the load. If something happens to the vehicle while goods are inside.
What it usually does not cover:
- Items the customer packed themselves. If a customer packs a box of glassware badly and it breaks, the policy often won’t pay. Damage is attributed to poor packing.
- Pre-existing damage. Scratches and marks that were already there before the move.
- Items not declared on the inventory. If a £5,000 piece of art wasn’t disclosed at quote, it may not be covered.
- Standard wear-and-tear. Minor scuffs from normal moving aren’t usually claimable.
Coverage limits vary. Many UK man-and-van operators carry GIT cover up to £10,000 per load with a per-item cap of £1,000 to £2,500. Full removalist services often carry higher limits, sometimes £25,000 or more per load, and may offer optional all-risk insurance for high-value goods.
GIT is separate from public liability insurance (which covers damage to property, like a scratched wall) and from hire and reward insurance (the vehicle policy that allows a van to be used commercially). A legitimate removals operator will carry all three. The British Association of Removers makes insurance that meets its standards a condition of membership for its registered firms.
When booking a removals service, it’s reasonable to ask: “What’s the per-item limit on your goods in transit policy?” A clear answer is a good sign. Vague answers, or claims of “fully insured” without specifics, are a red flag.