Planning a house move in Portsmouth and wondering whether your belongings are genuinely protected from the moment the van arrives? It’s a very valid question.

Removals insurance, or moving insurance as it is often called, is one of those subjects that tends to get pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.

Most people assume it is covered by their home insurance, right up until something goes wrong and they discover the reality is rather different from what they expected.

Portsmouth is a city where people are always on the move.

Whether you are relocating from a period terrace in Southsea to something larger in Waterlooville, moving from a city flat to the countryside of the South Downs, or heading further afield entirely, the risks your belongings face during transit are the same.

Understanding exactly what is and is not covered before moving day is the difference between a smooth, stress-free experience and an unwelcome surprise.

This guide walks you through everything you need to know about removals insurance in Portsmouth in 2026, in plain English.

For an overview of the full range of removal services available locally, the Curtiss Moving & Storage website is a good starting point.

Quick Guide: Removals Insurance When Moving in Portsmouth

Here is a summary of everything covered in this blog, so you can jump straight to the section most relevant to you.

• What Removals Insurance Actually Means, and why it differs from standard home cover.
• What Standard Liability Covers, including the basic protections most removal contracts include.
• What Standard Liability Does Not Cover, including the gaps that catch many Portsmouth movers off guard.
• MoveProtect, the specialist transit protection solution widely used in the UK removals industry.
• Does Your Home Insurance Cover a Move? The answer may surprise you.
• Items That Typically Need Special Attention, from jewellery and antiques to plants and electronics.
• How Packing Method Affects Your Cover, and why this matters more than most people realise.
• Practical Tips for Moving Day, to reduce risk from the outset.
• Choosing a BAR Accredited Removal Company in Portsmouth, and why it gives you meaningful protection.
• Curtiss Moving & Storage and Your Insurance, how we help Portsmouth customers understand their cover.
• Frequently Asked Questions about moving insurance in Portsmouth.

What Removals Insurance Actually Means

When you book a removal company, the natural assumption is that your possessions are covered for their full replacement value the moment they are loaded onto the van. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case, and assuming otherwise is one of the most common mistakes people make when planning a move.

Removals insurance, more accurately described as goods-in-transit protection, is a specific form of cover designed to protect your belongings during a house move.

It is entirely separate from your home insurance policy, and the level of protection you receive depends on how your removal contract is structured and whether you have taken any additional steps to enhance that cover.

In the UK, removal companies operate under either their own terms and conditions or those set out by the British Association of Removers (BAR). Understanding which framework applies to your move, and what it means in practical terms for your belongings, is the essential first step.

Some home insurance providers do extend their policies to include a degree of transit cover, though the conditions are often restrictive.

It is always worth checking directly with your insurer before moving day.

The Association of British Insurers offers guidance on what to look for within a home contents policy.

What Standard Liability Covers

Most removal contracts include a basic level of liability as a default. This means the removal company accepts responsibility for loss or damage directly caused by its own negligence during the move.

However, this standard liability comes with significant limitations.

Many removal contracts cap compensation at a fixed amount per item, typically in the region of £40 to £50 per individual item, box or suite.

At Curtiss Moving & Storage, for example, the published limit of liability for owner-packed items or for those for which no insurance declaration has been made is £50 per item.

If your television, a piece of antique furniture, or a valuable set of crockery is damaged and its replacement value is well above that threshold, standard liability alone will leave a considerable gap.

Standard liability will generally apply where the damage was clearly caused by the removal team during loading, transit, or unloading, where the item in question was packed by the removal company using their materials and methods, and where the damage is reported promptly with appropriate evidence.

Even within those conditions, claims can be subject to close scrutiny, and the burden of proof often rests with the customer.

What Standard Liability Does Not Cover

This is where many Portsmouth movers get a rude awakening.

Standard liability has several significant gaps, and being aware of them in advance could save you a great deal of frustration.

Owner-packed items are among the most common exclusions. If you pack your own boxes, most removal companies will not accept liability for breakages inside those boxes, even if the damage clearly occurred during transit.

The rationale is straightforward: professional packing is a particular skill; however, when you pack yourself, the removal company has no control over how items were wrapped or arranged inside the box.

This is an important point to understand, given how many people choose to pack at least some of their belongings themselves.

Pre-existing damage is another standard exclusion. This sounds reasonable enough, but it does underline the value of carrying out a thorough condition check, with photographs, before loading begins on moving day.

Mechanical and electrical derangement is a frequent exclusion that often surprises people.

If an appliance or electronic device stops working after the move but shows no visible signs of external damage, the removal company may not be liable under standard terms.

Televisions are particularly sensitive to vibration and movement during transit and can develop internal faults without any obvious physical damage.

Items of high value, sentimental items, jewellery, cash, documents and collectables are often excluded entirely from standard liability or require specific declaration before the move takes place.

If you have items in these categories, taking action before moving day is essential, not optional.

Cover during storage may also differ from cover during transit, which is worth noting if your move involves a period in storage between leaving one property and arriving at another.

None of this is cause for alarm. It simply means knowing what you are working with and taking steps to close any gaps.

Ask your removals company to explain clearly during the pre-move survey.

MoveProtect: The Specialist Solution for UK Removals

One of the most positive developments in the UK removals industry over recent years has been the growth of dedicated moving protection products designed specifically for the risks involved in a house move.

The most widely used specialist solution is MoveProtect, developed by Basil Fry, the specialist insurance broker for the removals and storage industry. MoveProtect allows removal companies to offer their customers enhanced liability coverage as part of the service, going significantly beyond the standard limited liability found in most contracts.

Rather than having to source your own transit insurance separately, often through comparison websites where the small print can be complex, the removal company arranges the protection as an additional service.

This makes the process considerably simpler and removes a significant source of uncertainty.

Key Advantages of MoveProtect

MoveProtect carries no excess, which means customers do not face an upfront cost when making a claim, unlike many standard online insurance products.

The cover remains continuous throughout the transit and any associated storage period, so there is no risk of a policy lapsing during the gap between moving out and moving in.

MoveProtect is available for UK moves, European removals, and international shipments, making it relevant whether you are moving within Portsmouth or relocating further afield.

Claims under MoveProtect are handled by Basil Fry’s specialist in-house claims team, which settles thousands of customer goods claims each year and is widely regarded as the most experienced claims team in the UK removals sector.

To use MoveProtect, customers are asked to declare the total replacement value of their goods, review the operator’s terms and conditions, and pay the MoveProtect charges set by the removal company.

Good to Know: The key distinction between MoveProtect and a standard online transit policy is continuity. Online policies can lapse during storage, leaving your belongings without cover. MoveProtect remains in place throughout the full duration of transit and storage.

Does Your Home Insurance Cover a Move?

A surprisingly large number of people assume that their existing home contents policy will automatically cover their belongings during a move.

It is a perfectly understandable assumption and one that regularly turns out to be wrong.

Most standard home contents insurance policies protect your belongings within the home and sometimes in transit, but the conditions attached are often quite restrictive.

Cover during a professional removal is frequently excluded unless it is specifically mentioned in the policy wording. Even where some transit cover is included, it may only apply for a very limited period or may not cover a professional removal at all.

Before moving day, it is worth contacting your insurer directly and asking specifically whether your contents policy extends to goods in transit during a house move.

Do not assume. The ten minutes it takes to make that call could save you a significant amount of difficulty later.

If your current policy does not provide adequate cover, discussing your options with your removal company before confirming your booking is the practical next step.

You can find more details about removal insurance options on the Curtiss insurance page.

Items That Typically Need Special Attention

Whether you are relying on standard liability, a MoveProtect arrangement, or your own insurance policy, certain categories of items regularly require additional consideration. Being clear on these before your move will save you a great deal of trouble.

Jewellery, watches and cash are almost universally excluded from removals cover and should be transported personally rather than loaded into the removal van. Important documents, including passports, property deeds, wills and financial records, should travel with you for the same reason.

These items are simply irreplaceable in a way that furniture and appliances are not.

High-value items such as antiques, fine art, collectables and specialist items that exceed a certain replacement value will often need to be declared separately before the move and may require specialist handling arrangements.

If you are in any doubt about a specific item, the best course of action is always to ask your removal company in advance. A reputable company will be happy to advise.

Plants are excluded from removals liability, as their condition can deteriorate during transit through no fault of the removal team.

Perishable items and food are generally excluded for the same reason. Unusual or oversized items, such as pool tables or garden statuary, may also require a specific arrangement.

If your move involves storage, it is worth reading the Curtiss storage page to understand how belongings are protected during any storage period.

How Your Packing Method Affects Your Cover

This is one of the most practically important points in the entire guide, and one that a surprising number of people only discover after something has gone wrong.

Whether your belongings are packed by the removal company or by you personally can make a significant difference to the success of a claim.

When a professional removal team packs your belongings using appropriate materials and industry-standard methods, the removal company has full visibility of how items were prepared.

This makes it much easier for them to accept liability for any subsequent damage, as there is no ambiguity about the packing standard.

When you pack your own boxes, the removal company can reasonably argue that they had no control over how items were arranged or protected inside those boxes. Many will use that as grounds to decline a claim for internal breakage, even if the box itself was visibly mishandled.

This does not mean every customer must pay for a full professional packing service. But it does mean that if you choose to pack your own boxes, you should do so carefully, using good quality materials, and with a clear understanding of the implications for any potential claim.

Curtiss offers a full packing solutions service for customers who want their belongings professionally prepared for transit.

A hybrid approach, where the removal company handles your most fragile or valuable items while you pack everything else, can offer a practical balance of cost and protection.

For a detailed look at the pros and cons of professional packing versus DIY, the Curtiss packing service vs DIY blog covers the topic in full.

Practical Tips for Protecting Your Belongings on Moving Day

Good insurance or transit protection is a safety net, but your first priority should always be reducing the likelihood of anything going wrong in the first place.

A few straightforward steps on moving day can make a real difference.

Before the removal team arrives, make a written record of any items of significant value.

This inventory will be invaluable if you ever need to make a claim, making the process considerably less stressful.

If you are taking out MoveProtect or any other form of protection, ensure you declare the correct total replacement value of your belongings. Undervaluing your goods to reduce the premium can result in a proportionally smaller payout if a claim is made.

Read your removal contract carefully before you sign it. The terms and conditions set out exactly what the removal company is and is not liable for, and understanding them before the day removes uncertainty at a time when you have more than enough to think about.

If anything is unclear, ask. A good removal company will always be willing to explain.

Report any damage to your removal company as promptly as possible after the move and, where possible, include photographs.

Most contracts and protection products specify a timeframe within which damage must be reported, and missing that window can affect the validity of a claim. Keep photographs of any damage and follow up in writing.

Transport genuinely irreplaceable items, including jewellery, important documents and anything with significant sentimental value, with you personally rather than in the removal van.

This is the single simplest step you can take to protect the things that matter most.

Curtiss also offers a moving-house checklist that covers the full range of pre-move tasks, including insurance considerations, in a practical, downloadable format.

Choosing a BAR Accredited Removal Company in Portsmouth

If you want a clear, independently supported framework for how your belongings will be handled and what happens in the event of a problem, choosing a British Association of Removers-accredited company is the most sensible starting point.

BAR members are required to operate in line with a published Code of Practice that covers everything from pre-move surveys and written quotations to complaints handling and alternative dispute resolution.

This means that if something does go wrong, there is a clear and independent process for resolving it, rather than a dispute with no obvious mechanism for escalation.

You can verify whether a company is a current BAR member directly on the BAR website.

BAR members also have access to the Advanced Payment Guarantee, which protects any payments made in advance should a removal company become insolvent before your move takes place.

Any disputes that cannot be resolved directly can be referred to the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman, providing an additional layer of independent recourse.

For Portsmouth residents, this matters. The removals industry, like any other, contains companies of varying standards. BAR accreditation gives you a meaningful baseline of assurance before you commit.

Curtiss Moving & Storage has been a proud member of BAR throughout our long history in Portsmouth, and every move we carry out follows the BAR Code of Practice.

Curtiss Moving & Storage and Your Removals Insurance

Curtiss Moving & Storage has been helping families and businesses across Portsmouth and the wider South Coast move home since 1871.

That depth of local experience means we have seen almost every situation a house move can produce, and we understand that the customers who have the smoothest experience are invariably the ones who go into moving day with a clear understanding of what they are covered for.

When you book a free home survey with the Curtiss team, we take the time to walk you through our terms and conditions, discuss the protection options available for your specific move, and ensure you have a clear picture of exactly where you stand before anything is loaded onto the van. There are no assumptions and no nasty surprises.

We offer a full range of removal services across Portsmouth and Hampshire, including house removals, flat removals, long-distance removals, packing solutions and secure storage.

Whether you are moving locally in Portsmouth, relocating to another part of the UK, or planning a move to Europe, we can discuss the right level of protection for your circumstances.

Ready to plan your Portsmouth move? Get in touch with Curtiss Moving & Storage today for a free, no-obligation home survey and quote.

Frequently Asked Questions About Removals Insurance in Portsmouth

Is removals insurance the same as home insurance?

No. Removals insurance, or goods in transit protection, is a specific type of cover designed to protect your belongings during a house move. Most standard home contents insurance policies do not automatically extend to goods during a professional removal, though the position varies between providers. It is always worth checking your policy wording directly with your insurer before your move.

Does packing my own boxes affect my cover?

Yes, it can. Many removal companies will not accept liability for damage to items that were packed by the customer, on the basis that they had no control over how those items were prepared. If you pack your own boxes, be aware that you may have reduced recourse in the event of a claim for internal damage.

What should I do if something is damaged during my move?

Report any damage to your removal company as promptly as possible. Most contracts and protection products require damage to be reported within a specific timeframe. Take photographs and make a written record of what has happened. If you are a customer of a BAR accredited company and cannot resolve the matter directly, you can refer the dispute to the Furniture and Home Improvement Ombudsman.

Do I need to be present during the removal, or can someone else oversee it?

While it is strongly advisable to be present at both properties on moving day, it is not always possible. If you cannot be there in person, arrange for a trusted friend or family member to be on site to answer questions, sign off on the inventory, and hand over keys. Brief them thoroughly beforehand so they know exactly what is going, what is staying, and any access issues to be aware of such as parking restrictions or keypad codes.

What happens to my belongings if there is a delay between leaving my old home and moving into the new one?

This is where short-term storage comes in. Most reputable removal companies offer containerised storage facilities where your possessions can be safely held between moves. Your items are typically loaded into sealed containers, inventoried, and kept in secure, climate-controlled warehouses until you are ready for delivery. It is worth asking your removal company about this option at the quote stage and factoring the cost into your overall moving budget.