Why Compare Goods In Transit Insurance?
Van Policies Miss The Cargo
Motor insurance protects your vehicle in an accident, not the cargo on board. Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who arrange standalone Goods in Transit (GIT) cover for couriers and owner-drivers every day.
Contract Requirements Vary Widely
Around 70% of courier contracts ask for a GIT certificate before awarding routes (as at 2024). Clean Green Cars introduces you to brokers who know what parcel networks and commercial customers typically ask to see.
Sum Insured Tiers Are Not One-Size-Fits-All
An unsuitable policy with a £500 per-item limit could leave you covering a high-value load out of your own pocket. Clean Green Cars introduces you to brokers who can match the sum insured to the loads you actually carry.
Goods In Transit Insurance At A Glance
- Your goods in transit policy covers the cargo itself - loss, theft and accidental damage while in your custody.
- Your motor policy covers the vehicle but not the parcels or goods inside it, so both policies work together.
- Your sum insured is chosen per vehicle, with £10,000, £25,000 and £50,000 being common starting points.
- Your parcel network or commercial customer may ask to see a GIT certificate before you can run their routes.
Do I Need Goods In Transit Insurance?
You may need goods in transit cover if any of the following apply:
- Courier or Delivery Driver - you carry goods belonging to others as part of your business
- Contract Requirement - your courier contract requires a GIT certificate as a condition of work
- High-Value Cargo - you regularly transport items worth more than your standard policy covers
- Own Goods Transported - you carry stock or samples for your own business in a van or car
- Previous Claim Gap - a cargo loss or damage claim was declined because you lacked specific cargo cover
Cover Levels Explained
Underestimate your sum insured and a single lost load could leave you covering the shortfall personally. Here's what goods in transit insurance could include.
| Cover Feature | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Sum insured per vehicle | Common tiers are around £10,000, £25,000 and £50,000. Higher limits are available on request for specialist loads. |
| Basis of cover | All-risks cargo cover is typical on specialist policies, subject to the policy excess and stated conditions. |
| Territorial limit | UK cover is standard. Europe is often available as a declared extension where you regularly cross the Channel. |
| Loading and unloading | Often included for goods in your custody during loading and unloading, subject to the policy wording and conditions. |
| Overnight goods in vehicle | Sometimes available where the vehicle is left in a declared secure location, often with a higher excess applied. |
| Per-item limits | Many policies cap individual item values at £500 to £2,500 unless a higher figure is declared and accepted in advance. |
| Carrier liability basis | Policies can be written on standard haulage conditions or on a higher declared-value basis, depending on your contracts. |
| Transit to and from storage | Cover typically applies while goods are on the vehicle, not while they sit in a static warehouse or storage facility. |
| Claims settlement | Settlement is usually on market value at the time of loss, subject to the sum insured and any applicable excess. |
| Feature | Comprehensive | Third Party, Fire & Theft | Third Party Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo while on the vehicle | Designed to cover | Designed to cover | Designed to cover |
| Theft, loss and accidental damage | Designed to cover | Designed to cover | Specified perils only |
| Loading and unloading in your custody | Often included | Often included | Rarely included |
| All-risks basis of cover | Designed to cover | Sometimes included | Not included |
| Overnight goods in a declared location | Sometimes included | Sometimes included | Rarely included |
| Cover beyond the RHA weight cap | Available on a declared-value basis | Available on request | Not included |
| European territorial extension | Available on request | Available on request | Not included |
| Single-transit option | Designed to cover | Designed to cover | Designed to cover |
Policy features, benefits, terms and conditions vary among insurance providers.
Tip: Under standard Road Haulage Association Conditions of Carriage, carrier liability is often capped by the weight of the goods rather than their true value - if you regularly carry high-value consignments, ask your broker about a declared-value or all-risks basis so the policy responds to what the goods are actually worth.
What May Not Be Covered
A single exclusion can cost you both the load value and the contract. Here's what goods in transit insurance usually may not cover.
Standard Exclusions
- Cash, Bullion and Negotiable Instruments - Cash, bullion, deeds, securities and precious metals are almost always excluded on standard GIT policies. A specialist policy is needed if you regularly carry these consignment types.
- Hazardous Goods and Substances - Hazardous goods, explosives and flammable liquids typically need a specialist policy with declared ADR cover. Standard GIT policies do not usually extend to these categories.
- Unsuitable Packaging by the Sender - Losses caused by packaging that was inadequate or unsuitable when the sender handed the goods to you are typically excluded. The packaging condition at collection is a key factor at claim time.
Important Limitations
- Unattended Vehicle in a Non-Declared Location - Overnight goods left in a vehicle parked somewhere other than a declared secure location can see cover restricted or excluded. Always confirm what counts as a declared location in your policy schedule.
- Goods Carried Outside the Declared Territory - Cargo carried outside your stated territorial limit, such as a cross-border run not declared to the insurer, may not be covered. Confirm European cover before taking any international work.
- Per-Item Value Limits - Many standard policies cap the value of a single item at £500 to £2,500. If you carry electronics, jewellery or other high-value goods above that threshold, they may need to be declared and accepted separately.
Optional Extras Worth Adding
Miss cargo cover for a specialist shipment and one transit loss could exceed your sum insured. These optional extras could be worth adding.
May help lift the sum insured above your standard per-vehicle limit for higher-value consignments, subject to insurer acceptance and any additional security requirements stated in the policy.
May be available for occasional loads that sit above the standard per-item limit, such as specialist electronics or time-critical goods, subject to prior declaration and insurer acceptance.
May be needed if you carry goods across borders, aligning your policy with the CMR (Convention on the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Road) framework, subject to declared routes and insurer terms.
May be available where goods are held on a parked trailer awaiting delivery rather than only while in active transit, subject to secured-location requirements and declared values agreed with the insurer.
May suit operators running more than one vehicle who want a single GIT policy covering all vehicles in one place, depending on the terms of your fleet arrangement and insurer acceptance criteria.
What Affects The Cost Of Goods In Transit Insurance?
Underestimate your cargo value and a single theft could cost far more than the premium saved. Here are the key factors that could affect your cost.
| Key Factor | Impact on Your Price |
|---|---|
| Sum insured per vehicle | A higher per-vehicle limit increases the premium, particularly where you regularly carry high-value consignments. |
| Type of goods carried | General parcels usually rate lower than electronics, pharmaceuticals or fragile specialist goods, which attract closer underwriting scrutiny. |
| Vehicle type and number of vehicles | Cars and small vans typically rate lower than 3.5-tonne vans or larger trucks. See fleet insurance if you run multiple vehicles. |
| Annual turnover or mileage | Higher usage and turnover can increase your exposure, which feeds into the rated premium a broker may offer. |
| Claims history | Previous cargo losses, theft claims or declined claims can influence the quote you receive from specialist brokers. |
| Vehicle security | Approved alarms, immobilisers, tracking and secure overnight parking can help reduce the rate a broker is able to offer. |
| Territorial scope | Adding European cover or occasional overseas routes increases the premium compared with UK-only cargo cover. |
| Driver experience and age | Drivers with longer commercial experience are often viewed more favourably by underwriters pricing GIT risk. |
| Voluntary excess level | A higher voluntary excess usually reduces the annual premium but increases your share of any cargo claim. |
| Platforms and contract requirements | Network contracts that specify higher sums insured drive the cover level needed, which in turn affects your price. |
Price Insight: Telling your broker what your largest typical consignment is worth, and how often you carry one, usually has more impact on your price than any other single conversation - accurate goods profiling helps underwriters rate the real risk rather than a rounded default.
Your quote depends on the details you declare, so accurate information gives you the most useful comparison.
Ways To Keep Goods In Transit Insurance Costs Down
Declare Your Goods Profile Accurately
Give your broker a clear picture of what you carry, how often and what a typical load is worth. Insurers tend to rate unknown risk more cautiously than a well-described one, so detail helps.
Invest In Vehicle Security
Thatcham-rated alarms, trackers, deadlocks and secure overnight parking can all influence the quote. Keep fitting certificates handy so your broker can pass the detail to the insurer.
Consider A Higher Voluntary Excess
Taking a slightly higher excess can reduce the annual premium, provided you are comfortable carrying that first layer of a cargo claim yourself if one arises.
Combine GIT With Your Hire And Reward Policy
Where a specialist broker places your motor hire and reward and GIT cover together, admin is often simpler and pricing may be more competitive at renewal than buying each separately.
Review Your Sum Insured Each Year
If your typical loads change, update your sum insured rather than rolling the same figure forward. Under-insurance can lead to reduced claim payouts, while over-insurance means paying for exposure you do not carry.
Compare At Renewal Every Year
GIT prices can shift at renewal. Don't auto-renew without checking the market. Get quotes above to see whether a fresh comparison brings a lower price for the same cover.
Saving Tip: Compare quotes above at every renewal rather than rolling the same policy forward. Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who arrange goods in transit cover for couriers and owner-drivers every day and can shape a sum insured around your actual goods profile.
How To Compare Goods In Transit Insurance Quotes
Getting goods in transit cover matched to your load usually takes a few minutes. Get started above when you are ready.
Work Out Your Typical Cargo Value
Start at the top of this page by working out the value of the largest single consignment you are likely to carry at any one time. This sets the realistic starting point for the sum insured.
Enter Your Vehicle And Driver Details
Enter your registration, make, model, security details and where the vehicle is kept overnight. Specialist brokers will ask about vehicle type, age and driver information.
Declare Your Journey And Territory Profile
Confirm whether you work UK-only or run European routes, and whether you do multi-drop, long-distance or mixed delivery patterns. Declaring this up front helps avoid cover gaps later.
Compare Specialist Broker Quotes
Specialist brokers who handle GIT review your cargo profile and return prices. Compare sum insured, territorial limits, per-item caps and overnight conditions before deciding.
Check Policy Documents Before You Load
Once the policy is in force, read the schedule to confirm declared locations, claims notification rules and any tracking or security requirements tied to overnight cargo cover.
What Our Expert Says
Goods in transit is where couriers most often under-insure without realising it. The van policy feels like the big purchase, but a single high-value load lost overnight can dwarf anything the motor cover would ever pay out. The gap usually comes from drivers relying on standard carrier liability by weight when the goods they actually carry are worth far more per kilogram than the contractual conditions assume.
A specialist broker will ask about your largest typical consignment, your overnight parking, and the networks you work on, then shape a sum insured and territorial scope that matches the real risk rather than a rounded default tier. If you carry for a named network, check their onboarding documents carefully - the minimum sum insured they require is often higher than the standard tier a general comparison returns. The Road Haulage Association publishes its Conditions of Carriage guidance, which is worth reading alongside any GIT certificate you receive.
Per-item limits are the detail that catches people out most. A standard policy might cap individual items at £500 or £1,000 unless you declare higher values up front. If you ever carry electronics, medical equipment or any specialist goods above that threshold, get that declared and accepted before the first load goes on the vehicle.
Operators who carry goods commercially should also ensure their hire and reward motor cover is in place alongside any GIT policy.
Insurance Expert & Co-founder of Clean Green Cars
Common Goods In Transit Insurance Questions
What Is Goods In Transit Insurance?
Goods in Transit (GIT) insurance covers the cargo you carry on behalf of customers against risks such as theft, loss and accidental damage while the goods are in your custody. It sits alongside your motor policy rather than replacing it.
Is Goods In Transit Insurance The Same As My Van Insurance?
No. Your van or car policy covers the vehicle itself. A goods in transit policy covers the parcels or cargo inside the vehicle, which the motor policy does not usually protect. Both policies work together to give you full cover.
Do Parcel Networks Require Goods In Transit Cover?
Many parcel networks and larger commercial customers set a minimum sum insured before awarding routes, and around 70% of courier contracts require a GIT certificate (as at 2024). Always check the onboarding documents before you quote for a contract. See also our courier insurance hub for related cover types.
How Much Goods In Transit Cover Do I Need?
Most couriers choose a sum insured that reflects the largest single load they are likely to carry at one time. Common tiers start around £10,000, £25,000 and £50,000, with higher limits available where the goods profile justifies it.
Does Goods In Transit Insurance Cover Loading And Unloading?
Cover for loading and unloading is often included where the goods remain in your custody during that activity, but the scope varies between insurers. Check the policy wording to confirm how it treats goods being moved to and from the vehicle.
Are Goods Left In The Vehicle Overnight Covered?
Overnight goods cover is sometimes included and sometimes an optional extension. Insurers usually expect the vehicle to be parked in a declared secure location, and a higher excess may apply to overnight losses depending on the policy terms.
What Does CMR Mean For International Cargo Runs?
CMR stands for the Convention on the Contract for International Carriage of Goods by Road. It sets standard liability rules for cross-border haulage in Europe and may limit what you can recover under standard carrier conditions unless your GIT policy is extended to cover declared international routes on a higher-value basis.
What Happens After I Submit My Details?
Clean Green Cars introduces you to specialist brokers who arrange goods in transit cover for couriers and owner-drivers every day. You can compare quotes tailored to your goods profile and buy cover directly from the broker with no obligation.
Search & Compare Quotes From UK Goods In Transit Insurance Providers
Useful Resources
- GOV.UK - Goods Vehicle Operator Guidance - Licensing rules, operator obligations and compliance guidance for goods vehicle operators.
- Road Haulage Association - Conditions of Carriage, industry guidance and member resources for road haulage and courier operators.
- Logistics UK - Policy, training and industry support for logistics and delivery operators across the UK.
- GOV.UK - Vehicle Insurance - Legal minimum cover requirements and guidance on motor insurance use classes.
- Financial Conduct Authority - Consumer guidance on insurance products and how to raise a complaint about a broker.
