Goods in Transit Insurance
Protect your cargo, stock, and equipment during transportation. We arrange goods in transit cover for businesses of all sizes — from sole traders carrying tools to businesses shipping high-value goods across the UK.
Important: Focus Insurance Services is an insurance broker, not an insurer. We arrange cover on your behalf and provide advice tailored to your needs. Policy terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please read all documentation carefully.
What Does Goods in Transit Insurance Cover?
Goods in transit insurance protects the goods you transport against loss, damage, and theft. Cover typically includes:
Accidental Damage
Cover for goods damaged during loading, transit, or unloading.
Theft
Protection against theft of goods from vehicles, including overnight theft.
Fire & Flood
Cover for goods destroyed or damaged by fire, flood, or other insured perils.
Third-Party Carrier Liability
Cover for goods sent via couriers or hauliers where carrier liability is insufficient.
Loading & Unloading
Cover extends to goods during the loading and unloading process.
Temporary Storage
Cover for goods in temporary storage at intermediate points during a journey.
Refrigerated Goods
Optional cover for temperature-sensitive goods and refrigeration breakdown.
High-Value Goods
Specialist cover for electronics, jewellery, pharmaceuticals, and other high-value cargo.
Tools & Equipment
Cover for tradespeople's tools and equipment carried in vehicles.
Why Choose Focus Insurance?
As an independent broker, we work for you – not the insurers. Our expertise ensures you get the right cover at the right price.
All Risks Cover
Comprehensive protection against all causes of loss unless specifically excluded.
Flexible Limits
Cover tailored to your maximum load value and the nature of goods carried.
Quick Claims
Straightforward claims process to minimise disruption to your business.
Combined Policies
Goods in transit can often be combined with fleet or commercial vehicle cover.
Is This Cover Right for You?
This insurance is designed for property owners and investors who need comprehensive protection. It may be suitable if you:
- Retailers delivering goods to customers
- Manufacturers transporting raw materials or finished goods
- Tradespeople carrying tools and materials to site
- Businesses using third-party couriers or hauliers
- Distributors and wholesalers
- Any business where goods in transit represent a significant value
What We'll Need for Your Quote
- 1Nature and description of goods carried
- 2Maximum single load value
- 3Annual turnover or total goods value transported
- 4Number and types of vehicles used
- 5Geographic area of operations
- 6Whether third-party carriers are used
- 7Any specialist goods (refrigerated, high-value, hazardous)
- 8Claims history for the past 5 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is goods in transit cover included in my commercial vehicle insurance?
What is the single load limit and why does it matter?
Does the policy cover goods sent by courier?
Are my tools covered under goods in transit insurance?
What about goods transported internationally?
Goods in Transit Insurance: A Complete Guide for UK Businesses
Whenever goods are being transported — whether in your own vehicles, by a third-party carrier, or via courier — they are exposed to risks that standard business insurance does not cover. Goods in transit insurance protects the value of goods against loss, damage, or theft during transportation. This guide explains how it works, who needs it, and what to consider when arranging cover.
Focus Insurance Services is an FCA-regulated insurance broker. We arrange insurance on your behalf from a panel of UK insurers. We do not provide insurance directly, and all cover is subject to insurer acceptance, terms, and conditions.
What Goods in Transit Insurance Covers
Goods in transit insurance covers the physical goods you are transporting against loss, damage, or theft while they are in transit. This includes loading and unloading, temporary storage during a journey, and the journey itself. The policy typically covers goods carried in your own vehicles, goods sent by third-party carriers, and goods in temporary storage at intermediate points.
Cover is usually arranged on an all risks basis, meaning it covers all causes of loss or damage unless specifically excluded. Common exclusions include inherent vice (goods that deteriorate naturally), inadequate packaging, and deliberate acts by the insured. Your broker will explain the specific exclusions that apply to your policy.
Who Needs Goods in Transit Cover?
Any business that transports goods — whether its own stock or goods belonging to customers — should consider goods in transit insurance. This includes retailers delivering to customers, manufacturers transporting raw materials or finished goods, tradespeople carrying tools and equipment, and contractors transporting materials to site.
It is important to note that a standard commercial vehicle policy does not cover the goods being carried — it covers the vehicle itself. Goods in transit insurance is a separate product that specifically protects the cargo. Without it, a business that suffers a theft or accident could face a significant uninsured loss.
"Many businesses assume their commercial vehicle insurance covers the goods they carry. It does not. A single uninsured cargo loss can exceed the annual cost of goods in transit cover many times over."
Focus Insurance Services — Broker Guidance
Setting the Right Limit
The single load limit — the maximum value of goods carried in a single vehicle at any one time — is one of the most important decisions when arranging goods in transit cover. Under-declaring this figure can result in a claim being paid on a proportional basis, leaving the business with a significant shortfall. Always declare the maximum possible load value, not the average.
Third-Party Carriers
When goods are sent via a third-party carrier — a courier, haulier, or freight forwarder — the carrier's liability for loss or damage is limited by the contract of carriage. Under the Carriage of Goods by Road Act 1965, the carrier's liability is capped at a relatively low rate per kilogram of goods lost. For high-value goods, this is rarely sufficient. Goods in transit insurance fills this gap.
High-Value & Specialist Goods
Certain categories of goods — cash, jewellery, fine art, electronics, and pharmaceuticals — may require specialist cover or specific security conditions. Insurers will ask about the nature of the goods being transported and may impose conditions such as overnight storage requirements, vehicle tracking, or specific packaging standards. Always declare the nature of the goods accurately.
Goods in Transit for Tradespeople and Contractors
Tradespeople and contractors often carry significant values of tools, equipment, and materials in their vehicles. Standard commercial vehicle insurance does not cover these items — they require either a goods in transit policy or a specific tools and equipment extension. The distinction matters: tools and equipment are typically covered under a tools cover policy, while materials and stock being transported to site are covered under goods in transit.
For contractors carrying both their own tools and client materials, it is worth reviewing whether a combined policy or separate covers would be more appropriate. Your broker will advise on the most cost-effective structure for your specific operation.
Refrigerated Goods
Businesses transporting temperature-sensitive goods — food, pharmaceuticals, or other perishables — require specific cover for refrigeration breakdown and cargo spoilage. Standard goods in transit policies may not cover spoilage caused by refrigeration failure. If your operation involves temperature-controlled transport, ensure your policy specifically includes this cover.
International Transit
For goods being transported internationally — whether by road, sea, or air — the cover requirements are more complex. Marine cargo insurance is typically used for sea and air freight. For road transport into Europe, the CMR Convention governs carrier liability. Your broker will advise on the appropriate cover structure for your international shipping requirements.
Regulatory Notice
The information in this guide is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute insurance advice. All cover is subject to the insurer's terms, conditions, and acceptance of the risk. Focus Insurance Services is a trading name of Captios Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA Register No. 717691). Registered in England and Wales, Company No. 09620500.
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