The cover that comes with a booking is not insurance. It is a limit on what we pay if your things are lost or damaged, and it follows the limits our transport partner gives us on your route. Those limits are worked out by weight, not by what your belongings are worth. If you want them covered for their full value, you need to buy transit insurance yourself, directly from an insurer, before collection.
We do not sell, arrange or recommend insurance, and we receive nothing from insurers. This guide explains what the included cover does and does not do, and what to check if you decide to insure.
What the included cover is
- A limit on our liability, not insurance. No insurer stands behind it.
- Worked out by actual weight. Under the international conventions our transport partners work to, that is around £26.65 per kg by air (Montreal Convention) and £8.54 per kg by road (CMR Convention), and the higher of about £683 per package or £2.05 per kg by sea (Hague-Visby Rules).
- Lower on some routes. On some routes, including some within the UK, there is no cover beyond your price back if we fail to take reasonable care.
- Shown before you book. The booking page shows the limit for your route, so you can decide about insurance before you pay.
The conventions set their limits in an international unit called the Special Drawing Right, so the pound figures move a little with exchange rates. The figures above were checked on 3 October 2026.
What the included cover is not
- It is not based on value. A light bag full of expensive things gets a small amount. A heavy box of cheap books gets more.
- It is not new for old. Any payment is based on the lower of a fair repair or what the item was worth just before the loss, allowing for age and wear.
- It does not cover everything. Under the air convention, a carrier is not liable for damage caused by poor packing done by someone else, or by a fault in the item itself.
- It is not something you can top up with us. We do not sell extra cover of any kind.
Worked example: a 23 kg suitcase holding £2,000 of belongings
Say you send one suitcase weighing 23 kg. Inside are clothes, a laptop and some gifts, worth £2,000 in total at today's values, allowing for age. The suitcase is lost.
| Route | How the limit works | Most that can be paid | Gap against £2,000 |
|---|
| Air | 23 kg x £26.65 | About £613 | About £1,387 |
| International road | 23 kg x £8.54 | About £196 | About £1,804 |
| Sea | The higher of £683 per package or 23 kg x £2.05 (about £47) | About £683 | About £1,317 |
| Some routes, including some within the UK | Your price back if we fail to take reasonable care | The price you paid | Nearly all of it |
Those are the most that can be paid, not what will be paid. They assume the whole case is lost, the transport partner is responsible, and the loss was reported in time with the evidence described in our guide to photos, receipts and damage claims.
The lesson is simple. The lighter and more valuable your things are, the bigger the gap. Laptops, cameras, jewellery and designer clothes weigh little and are worth a lot.
Why full value means buying transit insurance yourself
Transit insurance is a policy you buy from an insurer or an insurance broker to cover goods while they are being moved. It usually pays for loss or damage from an outside cause during transport, whoever was at fault, up to the value you insure for and subject to its exclusions.
If you want it, buy it directly from the insurer before collection. Your contract is with them, and any claim goes to them, not to us. We are not an insurer or an insurance broker, so we cannot advise on which policy suits you, and only you can decide whether it is worth it and how much cover you need.
Will my home or travel insurance cover it?
Often not. Many home contents and travel policies exclude belongings sent by courier, post or freight, and some only cover your things while you are carrying them yourself. Do not assume. Open your policy document and search for words such as "courier", "unaccompanied", "freight" and "in transit". If it is still unclear, ask your insurer and get the answer in writing.
What to check in a policy before you buy
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|
| Does it cover used personal effects? | Some policies are written for new goods or for full household removals. |
| Does it cover items you packed yourself? | Many cargo policies exclude damage caused by poor or unsuitable packing where you did the packing. Some cover self-packed fragile items for loss only, not breakage. |
| Does it cover courier transport by air, road or sea? | Some policies only cover removal vans or sea containers, and some exclude goods sent by mail. |
| Does it cover your destination and the whole route? | Some countries are excluded, and storage along the way may need separate cover. |
| What about electronics and valuables? | These are often excluded, capped, or covered only with proof they worked before sending. |
| What proof of value does it need? | Most want receipts or bank records, and may pay less without them. |
| Is there an excess? | A fixed sum or a percentage taken off each claim. |
| Does it pay new for old, or value now? | Many pay what the item was worth at the time, allowing for age and wear. |
| What is the deadline for claims? | Some insurers want to hear within days of delivery. |
Check the firm itself
Getting ready, with or without insurance
The same habits help a claim against us and a claim against an insurer:
- Write a packing list with a fair value for each item. Our guide to the packing list and customs declaration explains how to value used things.
- Photograph valuable items working, and keep receipts or other proof of value.
- Pack well. Poor packing is one of the most common exclusions in transit cover of every kind. Our guide to packing a box for shipping shows how.
- Carry small, valuable and irreplaceable things with you where you can: jewellery, important documents, family photos and hard drives.
- Check the limit for your route on the booking page, then decide.
Questions people ask
Is the included cover the same as insurance?
No. It is a limit on our liability, worked out by weight under the rules our transport partners work to. It is not an insurance policy and no insurer stands behind it.
Can I pay you for more cover?
No. We do not sell extra cover or insurance. If you want more, you can buy transit insurance directly from an insurer before collection.
Why is the limit based on weight?
Because the international conventions that govern transport by air, road and sea set their limits per kilogram, and our partners' limits follow them. That is why a heavy, cheap item is better covered than a light, valuable one.
Do you get anything if I buy insurance?
No. We receive nothing from any insurer or broker. If you buy a policy, you deal with the insurer directly, from buying it to making a claim.
What to do next
Get a price on the price page, then check the cover limit for your route on the booking page before you book. If the gap between that limit and the value of your things matters to you, you can buy transit insurance directly from an insurer before collection.
