When looking for
international removals, you must consider if your belongings will be protected during transit and if the level of protection is sufficient for your items.
Researching and comparing international removals insurance companies will ensure you find the right cover for you.
Look for trade association membership
Even for moving home within the UK, it’s always a good idea to look for a removals firm who are members of an established and reputable trade association – and this only becomes more important when moving internationally.
Using removals firms with memberships with associations such as British Association of Removers (BAR) or The International Association of Movers (IAM) for your move will provide you with certain protections as standard.
International removals insurance options
While removals within Europe may be transported by road, the most common transport method for international removals is shipping overseas in a freight container.
This means that your belongings will pass through many hands at both the outbound and destination ports and will be subject to whatever whims of weather may occur while at sea.
Packing services
Reputable removals firms will offer packing services that will ensure your property is properly packed and protected to reduce risk as much as possible.
It is recommended that you use this service rather than packing your belongings yourself. A professional removals company will have an in-depth knowledge of any restrictions and requirements regarding packing.
Standard protection
However, even with your belongings packaged properly, breakages or loss can sometimes happen in transit.
It is vital when comparing removals companies to establish what protection, if any, is offered as part of their standard conditions, and what additional cover you can purchase.
Standard protection is often either minimal or non-existent – for example limited liability cover which may only pay out up to a certain pound value per inventory item.
Marine insurance and international removals insurance
To ensure your belongings are properly protected, it’s usually advisable to take out marine insurance or similar international removals insurance in case something goes wrong.
Some companies may require you to have a sufficient level of insurance in place as a condition of service.
What does international removals insurance cover?
As with other forms of insurance policy, marine and removals insurance can vary in both level of cover and price.
More basic policies may involve an excess and may only cover loss of items but not damage or theft. Other policies are more comprehensive.
International removals insurance can cover:
If you have particularly valuable or fragile items, it’s important to declare them as a high value item so that they can be properly covered by the insurance.
How much does international removals insurance cost?
This cost of international removals insurance can differ depending on the amount you are shipping, how far the belongings are travelling, and the type of cover.
Prices are usually charged based on a percentage of the total declared value of the insured items – generally between 1% and 5%.
Where can I get international removals insurance?
Many international removers can arrange insurance cover for you directly or via an affiliate, but you may prefer to shop around and make arrangements either with an individual insurance provider or via an independent insurance broker.
Always check the conditions of the policy before signing up as they may have certain requirements – for example stipulating that your belongings must be packaged by the removals firm rather than doing it yourself.
If you are shipping a number of high-value items then you may want to specifically seek an “all risk” policy that insures your goods for their full replacement value, and also choose a “door-to-door” policy that covers every stage of the transit from your existing home to your new home overseas, rather than just port-to-port.
International removals insurance FAQs
Does my house insurance cover moving abroad?
Although some house insurance policies will cover moving, standard home insurance is unlikely to cover your belongings if you move abroad and you will need to take out specialist international removals insurance to ensure your items are protected.
Why do I need international removals insurance?
If you are moving overseas, your items are most likely going to be travelling a long way. Insurance will cover your belongings in the case that they are damaged or lost during the move. Insurance can also cover theft and provide peace of mind that your items will arrive safely in your new country.
Do international removal companies provide insurance?
Many professional international removal firms can offer insurance directly, but you may want to look at external providers to compare costs and services to find the policy best suited to your overseas move.