International removals insurance is strongly recommended for all overseas household moves; household goods are not automatically insured to their full value during international shipping, and the removals company’s own liability cover is not a substitute for a proper marine cargo policy. The correct policy type for international household shipments is marine cargo insurance (also referred to as transit insurance or removals insurance), which covers physical loss and accidental damage from the point of packing in the UK through to delivery at the destination.
PSS arranges specialist international removals insurance as part of the move planning process; this guide explains what that covers, what it costs and how to make sure your goods are properly protected before the container is loaded.
Key Takeaways:
- Household goods are not automatically insured to their full replacement value during international shipping; the removals company’s liability cover is capped per kilogramme and is not equivalent to full-value marine cargo insurance
- Marine cargo insurance (transit insurance) is the correct policy type for international removals; it covers loss or damage during packing, loading, transit, customs handling and delivery
- Two main policy types exist: all-risks (full-value) cover and total loss only cover; all-risks cover is strongly recommended for household goods
- The declared value must accurately reflect current replacement costs, not original purchase prices; underinsurance is one of the most common and financially damaging mistakes when arranging removals insurance
- Owner-packed (self-packed) items are typically subject to different exclusion terms than professionally packed items; this affects both the level of cover and the excess applied to any claim
- High-value items (antiques, fine art, jewellery, specialist electronics) require specific declaration and may need additional specialist cover beyond a standard marine cargo policy
Do I Need International Removals Insurance for My Move?
The direct answer is: not legally, but practically yes; for any household with goods of material value, moving internationally without adequate insurance represents a significant and unmitigated financial risk.
Marine cargo insurance for overseas moves exists because international sea freight creates risks that simply do not exist in a domestic move. A removal van travelling between two UK addresses for a few hours is a very different risk environment from a container ship carrying your belongings across an ocean for six to fourteen weeks, passing through multiple ports, customs authorities and third-party handling operations along the way.
Why overseas removals insurance is essential:
- Sea freight exposes household goods to humidity, condensation, vessel movement, port handling forces and extended transit durations that domestic moves never involve
- International removals involve multiple handovers between parties (removals company, freight forwarder, port operator, customs authority, destination delivery agent); each handover is a point of potential damage or loss that is outside the direct control of the company that collected your goods
- Customs inspections at the destination may require unpacking and repacking of items; this handling happens away from the removals company’s direct oversight
- Biosecurity inspections at destinations such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada involve additional physical handling of goods that can result in damage entirely unrelated to how well the items were packed
- Even with the most experienced removals company, unforeseen events (vessel incidents, container damage, port accidents, severe weather) can result in loss or damage that no level of operational care can prevent
What happens if you move without insurance:
Without adequate marine cargo cover, you bear the full cost of any damage or loss personally. The removals company’s liability under standard terms (BAR Overseas Conditions or equivalent) is typically capped at a fixed amount per kilogramme of lost or damaged goods; this is rarely sufficient to cover the actual replacement value of household furniture and effects. A sofa weighing 80kg at a £40-per-kg liability cap produces a maximum payout of £3,200; the actual replacement cost of a quality sofa in an overseas market may be considerably higher. For a typical household shipment, the financial exposure of moving uninsured is substantial.
Can I move overseas without insurance?
There is no legal requirement to hold insurance for an international removal. Moving without insurance is a legitimate choice, but it is not one PSS recommends for any household with goods of material value. The risk is real, the premium cost is modest relative to the declared value, and the peace of mind during a twelve-week ocean transit has genuine practical value.
Speak to a PSS specialist about marine cargo cover for your overseas move
For biosecurity-specific customs requirements by destination, PSS’s guidance is available at pssremovals.com/customs-information.
What Does International Moving Insurance Typically Cover or Exclude?
Understanding what a marine cargo policy actually covers (and what it does not) is the most practically useful thing you can know before selecting a policy. The coverage is broader than most people expect; the exclusions are specific and predictable.
What an all-risks marine cargo policy typically covers:
- Physical loss of goods during packing, loading, sea freight transit, customs handling and delivery
- Accidental physical damage to goods at any stage of the removal process
- Damage caused by sea water ingress into the container
- Fire or explosion affecting the container, vessel or warehouse during transit
- Total loss of a container or shipment due to vessel sinking, grounding or major incident
- Theft of goods from a container or warehouse during transit
- Damage caused by container handling equipment at port
What a removals insurance policy typically excludes:
- Damage to owner-packed (self-packed) items where the damage is attributed to inadequate packing by the customer (unless there is clear evidence of external impact on the outer packaging)
- Inherent vice: items that deteriorate due to their own nature during transit (perishables, certain liquids, items with pre-existing structural weakness)
- Mechanical or electrical derangement not caused by an insured peril; an appliance that stops working during transit without any physical damage to its exterior is typically not covered
- Wear, tear and gradual deterioration
- Moths, vermin and insect infestation
- Loss or damage caused by delay, however that delay arises
- Items not declared on the packing inventory or valued incorrectly on the declaration
- Prohibited or restricted items not declared to the removals company before shipment
Cover Types Compared: All-Risks vs Total Loss Only
| Feature | All-Risks (Full-Value) Cover | Total Loss Only Cover |
| Physical damage (individual items) | Covered | Not covered |
| Total loss of entire shipment | Covered | Covered |
| Sea water ingress damage | Covered | Not covered unless total loss |
| Theft of individual items | Covered | Not covered unless total loss |
| Owner-packed items | Covered with conditions | Covered with conditions |
| High-value item declaration | Required for full cover | Required |
| Premium cost | Higher | Lower |
| Recommended for household goods | Yes | No |
| Acceptable for low-value loads | Optional | Acceptable |
Total loss only cover is inadequate for most household removals. The probability of an entire container being a total write-off on a modern container shipping route is very low; the probability of individual item damage during a multi-week sea freight journey is considerably higher. Customers who select total loss only cover to reduce the premium are exposed to precisely the risk scenarios that are most likely to occur.
Full Cover Versus Total Loss International Removals Insurance
The difference between these two policy types is not a matter of degree; it is a fundamental difference in what is and is not claimable. Understanding it before you select a policy is the most important insurance decision you will make in planning an international removal.
All-risks (full-value) cover explained:
All-risks cover insures the declared value of every individual item in the shipment against physical loss or accidental damage at any stage of the removal process. The term “all-risks” does not mean every conceivable event is covered; named exclusions (wear and tear, inherent vice, owner-packing inadequacy) still apply. Critically, claims are assessed on the basis of individual item damage; a partial loss is fully claimable without the entire shipment being destroyed. This is the standard policy type recommended by PSS and all professional international removals companies for household goods.
Total loss only cover explained:
Total loss only cover pays out solely if the entire shipment is completely and irrecoverably lost; for example, if the vessel sinks with all cargo aboard, or the container itself is declared a total write-off. Individual item damage, however severe, is not claimable under a total loss only policy unless the entire container is simultaneously a total loss. Total loss events are extremely rare in modern international freight; this policy type is typically only adequate for very low-value shipments where the replacement cost of individual items is genuinely low.
Three scenarios that illustrate the difference:
Scenario A: A wardrobe door is cracked during container handling at the destination port. Under all-risks cover: the damage is claimable. Under total loss only: not claimable; no other items were damaged and the container itself was not a total loss.
Scenario B: A container sustains sea water ingress during a storm. Several pieces of furniture and a number of boxes of personal effects are water-damaged. Under all-risks cover: the damage to individual items is claimable. Under total loss only: not claimable unless the entire container is written off; partial water damage to contents does not qualify.
Scenario C: A vessel is involved in a major incident and the entire container is irrecoverably lost. Under all-risks cover: claimable. Under total loss only: also claimable. This is the only scenario where the two policy types produce the same outcome; and it is the least likely scenario by far.
How to Calculate the Value for International Removals Insurance
Declaring the correct value is arguably more important than selecting the right policy type. An all-risks policy with an underinsured declared value will not protect you adequately at claim stage; the insurer may apply an average clause that reduces the payout proportionately to the degree of underinsurance.
What declared value means:
The declared value is the total estimated replacement cost of all items in the shipment at current market prices. It is not the original purchase price; it is what it would cost to replace each item as new (or to equivalent quality) today. For older high-quality items, the current replacement cost may be significantly higher than what was paid years ago. Underinsuring by declaring a value below the true replacement cost is one of the most common and financially damaging mistakes made when arranging marine cargo cover for an overseas removal.
Step-by-step guide to calculating declared value:
Step 1: Work room by room through the property
List every item to be shipped from each room. For each item, research the current replacement cost: what would it cost to buy an equivalent item new today at the destination? Do not use the original UK purchase price as a proxy for this figure.
Step 2: Include all categories of goods
- Furniture (sofas, beds, wardrobes, dining sets, desks, shelving)
- White goods and appliances (washing machine, fridge, dishwasher, oven)
- Electronics (televisions, computers, audio equipment, home office equipment)
- Clothing and personal effects (estimated aggregate replacement value)
- Books, media and miscellaneous household items
- Artwork, decorative items and ornaments
- Antiques, jewellery and collectibles (obtain professional valuations for these; self-valuation is rarely accepted by insurers at claim stage)
Step 3: Total the replacement values
Sum all individual replacement values to reach the total declared value. Add a contingency margin of 10 to 15% to account for items that may have been missed or undervalued in the initial assessment; this is not padding, it is protection against the underinsurance clause.
Step 4: Declare high-value items separately
Any single item with a replacement value above the insurer’s single-item limit (typically between £1,000 and £2,500 depending on the policy) must be separately declared and individually described. Antiques, fine art, jewellery and specialist electronics typically require a professional valuation certificate before the insurer will include them at full value.
Step 5: Review the declared value against the completed inventory
Once packing is complete and the inventory is finalised, compare the declared value against the actual inventory. Adjust if additional items have been included or if the initial assessment was inaccurate; it is always better to correct the declared value before the container sails than to discover the discrepancy at claim stage.
Common valuation mistakes to avoid:
- Declaring the original purchase price rather than the current replacement cost; for older items, this routinely produces a significant underinsurance position
- Failing to include clothing, books and personal effects; these categories are consistently undervalued or omitted entirely
- Not obtaining a professional valuation for antiques, fine art or jewellery; without a valuation certificate, the insurer will apply their own assessment at claim stage, which may be lower
- Rounding down aggressively to reduce the premium; the premium difference between an accurately declared value and an underinsured one is usually very small relative to the claim risk it creates
Discuss your insurance valuation with a PSS international removals specialist
Is Mover-Provided Insurance Enough for Overseas Relocation?
This is the most common misconception in international removals, and it is one that leaves customers significantly underprotected without realising it. The removals company’s liability cover and a marine cargo insurance policy are not the same thing; they are fundamentally different in scope, basis and maximum payout.
Removals Company Liability vs Marine Cargo Insurance
| Feature | Removals Company Liability | Marine Cargo Insurance (All-Risks) |
| What it covers | Company’s legal liability for loss or damage caused by their negligence | Physical loss or accidental damage at any stage of transit |
| Cover basis | Per kilogramme of lost or damaged goods | Full declared replacement value of goods |
| Events covered | Limited to the company’s provable negligence | Broad: accident, sea water, fire, theft, port handling |
| Third-party handling | Typically excludes third-party actions | Includes damage during third-party handling |
| Owner-packed goods | Often excluded from liability | Covered with specific conditions |
| Maximum payout | Very limited; typically insufficient for household goods | Full declared value of the shipment |
| Is it a substitute for marine insurance? | No | Yes |
Key points on mover liability:
Under BAR (British Association of Removers) Overseas Conditions or similar standard terms, removals company liability is capped at a fixed amount per kilogramme of lost or damaged goods. To illustrate: a quality sofa weighing 80kg at £40 per kg liability produces a maximum payout of £3,200; the actual replacement cost of an equivalent sofa in Australia or Canada may be two to three times that figure. The liability cap applies regardless of the item’s actual value.
The removals company’s liability only applies where the company is demonstrably at fault. Damage that occurs at port, during a customs inspection or in transit between third-party handlers is typically outside the company’s direct liability; no-fault events are not covered by the removals company at all.
Are household goods automatically insured during international shipping?
No. Household goods are not automatically insured to their full replacement value during international shipping. The removals company’s liability cover provides minimal financial protection relative to the typical value of a household shipment. Customers must separately arrange marine cargo insurance; PSS arranges this for customers as part of the move planning process, but it is not automatically included in the removal quote unless specifically stated and confirmed in writing.
Insurance Requirements for Shipping High-Value Items Internationally
High-value items represent the greatest concentration of financial risk in a removal shipment; they are also the category most likely to require additional steps beyond a standard marine cargo policy.
Categories requiring separate high-value declaration:
- Antique furniture and objects (typically items over 100 years old)
- Fine art, paintings, sculpture and limited-edition prints
- Jewellery, watches and precious stones
- Specialist electronics and audio equipment above the single-item limit
- Musical instruments (particularly stringed and keyboard instruments)
- Wine and spirits collections
- Collectibles (stamps, coins, memorabilia)
- Bespoke or custom-made furniture above the single-item limit
What insurers require for high-value items:
- A professional valuation certificate issued within the last 12 to 24 months (the specific requirement varies by insurer)
- A detailed item description including provenance, age, dimensions and condition
- Photographic documentation of the item before packing begins
- For antiques and fine art: specialist packing using custom timber crating is typically a condition of full cover applying; standard wrapping is not sufficient
- For jewellery: specialist packing and, in many cases, separate courier or hand-carry arrangements; most marine cargo policies exclude jewellery from standard transit cover and a separate specialist policy is required
High-Value Item Insurance Requirements by Category
| Item Category | Professional Valuation Required | Specialist Packing Required | Separate Declaration Required | Notes |
| Antique furniture | Yes (within 2 years) | Yes (custom crating) | Yes | Age certificate may also be required |
| Fine art and paintings | Yes (within 1 year) | Yes (specialist art packing) | Yes | Condition report required |
| Jewellery | Yes | N/A (typically excluded from transit) | Yes | Usually requires a separate specialist policy |
| Specialist electronics | Proof of purchase | Professional packing recommended | Yes (if above single-item limit) | Serial numbers required |
| Musical instruments | Yes (for high-value instruments) | Custom crating for grands and harps | Yes (if above single-item limit) | Humidity management required during transit |
| Wine collection | Proof of purchase or value | Temperature-controlled shipping | Yes | Specialist wine transit required |
| Bespoke furniture | Original invoice or valuation | Custom crating if fragile | Yes (if above single-item limit) | Replacement cost basis |
Explore specialist packing supplies for high-value items with PSS
Best Type of Insurance for International Household Removals
The recommendation is straightforward: all-risks (full-value) marine cargo insurance arranged through or in consultation with your removals company, from an FCA-regulated insurer, covering the full transit from UK packing address to destination delivery address.
Recommended policy features for international household removals:
- All-risks (full-value) cover; not total loss only
- Cover in force from the moment packing begins at the UK address through to delivery and placement at the destination; not just during the sea transit stage
- Explicit inclusion of third-party handling stages (port, customs authority, destination delivery agent)
- A single-item limit adequate for the highest-value item in the shipment; if necessary, increase the standard single-item limit for specific items
- Clear written terms on owner-packed item coverage and the conditions that apply to those items
- An FCA-regulated UK-authorised insurer; marine cargo insurance policies must be issued by an FCA-regulated insurer to be legally valid for UK customers
- Clear claims procedure documentation provided before the policy is confirmed
Questions to ask before confirming an insurance policy:
- Does the policy cover owner-packed items and on what conditions?
- What is the single-item limit and can it be increased for high-value items?
- Is cover in force from the first point of packing through to delivery at the destination address?
- What is the claims process and what is the typical settlement timeline?
- Are there any destination-specific exclusions (war risk exclusions for certain regions, for example)?
- Is the insurer FCA-regulated and UK-authorised?
How Much Does Overseas Moving Insurance Cost?
Premiums for overseas marine cargo cover are calculated as a percentage of the total declared value of the shipment; typically between 1% and 3% depending on the insurer, the destination, the policy type and the nature of the items being shipped.
How premiums are calculated:
- The destination affects the rate: longer sea routes, higher-risk destinations and routes with more frequent port handling may attract slightly higher rates
- The policy type affects the rate: all-risks cover costs more than total loss only, but the additional protection is substantially greater
- Owner-packed items may attract a higher excess or a higher premium loading than professionally packed items
- High-value items declared separately may attract additional premium loading depending on the category and the insurer’s assessment
Indicative premium illustrations:
These figures are for guidance only; they are not fixed rates. Actual premiums vary by insurer, destination and shipment characteristics.
- Declared value of £20,000 at 1.5%: approximately £300 total premium
- Declared value of £35,000 at 1.5%: approximately £525 total premium
- Declared value of £50,000 at 1.5%: approximately £750 total premium
A premium of £300 to £750 to protect £20,000 to £50,000 of household goods across a six to fourteen week international transit represents significant value for money. Frame the cost of insurance not as an addition to an already large relocation budget, but as the cost of eliminating the financial exposure of moving without it.
Claim Process for Damaged Goods Under International Removals Insurance
Knowing the claims process before your shipment departs is not pessimism; it is preparation. The claims process works significantly better when customers have followed the right steps from the outset.
Steps to make a claim for damaged goods:
Step 1: Note damage at the point of delivery
Inspect all items at delivery and note any visible damage on the delivery receipt before the delivery team leaves the property. Do not sign the delivery documentation as “received in good condition” if any item has not been fully inspected. Photograph all damage immediately at the point of delivery.
Step 2: Notify the removals company and insurer promptly
Most marine cargo insurance policies require notification within a specified timeframe; typically 7 to 14 days of delivery. Check the specific terms of your policy. Notify PSS in writing as soon as damage is identified; the claims process begins at the point of notification.
Step 3: Document the damage fully
Photograph all damaged items from multiple angles. Photograph the outer packaging of damaged items to evidence any external impact. Retain all original packaging; insurers may request inspection of the packaging as part of the claims assessment. Disposing of damaged packaging before the insurer has inspected it is one of the most common and avoidable mistakes in the claims process.
Step 4: Complete the claim documentation
Complete the insurer’s claim form with a description of each damaged item, the apparent cause of damage and the claimed replacement value. Provide the original packing inventory as evidence that the item was included in the shipment. Provide photographic evidence of the item’s condition before packing if available; this is why pre-packing photographs are so important. For high-value items: provide the professional valuation certificate.
Step 5: Await assessment
The insurer will assess the claim; a loss adjuster may inspect damaged goods in person for higher-value claims. Repair costs may be covered in preference to full replacement if a damaged item can be restored to its original condition at a lower cost. Settlement is paid at the agreed declared value or repair cost, subject to the policy excess.
Critical claim mistakes to avoid:
- Failing to note damage on the delivery receipt; oral objections made after signing are considerably harder to substantiate at claim stage
- Disposing of damaged items or outer packaging before the insurer has inspected them
- Missing the claim notification deadline specified in the policy
- Not having photographed items before packing; the insurer may dispute whether damage was caused during transit or was pre-existing
Contact PSS to understand the full claims process for your international removal
Compare International Removals Insurance Companies and Policy Options
Comparing policies fairly requires knowing what to look for. Premium cost alone is not a useful basis for comparison; two policies at different price points may provide completely different levels of protection.
How to compare removals insurance policies fairly:
- Confirm the insurer is FCA-regulated; only FCA-regulated insurers can legally provide insurance to UK customers; this is not a technicality, it is a basic protection requirement
- Compare cover type before comparing premiums: all-risks versus total loss only; never compare prices without first confirming the cover type is equivalent
- Check the single-item limit: a policy with a low single-item limit may leave high-value items underprotected even if the overall premium appears competitive
- Confirm the territorial cover: the policy must cover the full transit from the UK packing address to the destination delivery address, including all intermediate handling stages
- Check owner-packing terms explicitly: what conditions apply to self-packed items and what excess applies to claims involving those items?
- Confirm whether the policy is a standalone marine cargo policy or a liability extension on the removals company’s own policy; a standalone marine cargo policy typically provides materially stronger protection than a liability extension
Learn how PSS arranges marine cargo cover for customers moving abroad
For official guidance on FCA-regulated insurance providers, the Financial Conduct Authority’s register is searchable at register.fca.org.uk. The Association of British Insurers publishes consumer guidance on moving insurance at abi.org.uk. Australia’s government consumer protection body ASIC provides information on insurance rights for goods in transit at moneysmart.gov.au. The Insurance Council of Australia provides guidance on transit and contents insurance at insurancecouncil.com.au.
Why International Removals Insurance Is the One Cost You Should Never Cut
In decades of international removals, the most financially damaging outcomes we see for customers are not caused by the sea journey or by poor handling at port. They are caused by customers who arrive at the destination with damaged goods and no adequate insurance in place to cover them.
The distinction that matters most is the one between the removals company’s liability cover and a marine cargo insurance policy. The company’s liability cover is a legal protection for the company; it is not a financial safety net for your goods. The per-kilogramme liability cap was never designed to replace the replacement value of a household shipment; it exists to define the legal exposure of the business, not to make the customer whole after a loss.
We understand that insurance feels like an additional cost at a time when relocation expenses are already significant. The way we would frame it is this: the premium for a typical household shipment is a fraction of one percent of the total value at risk. The financial exposure of moving without it is the full replacement value of everything in the container. That is not a risk-reward calculation that favours going without.
The claims process works most effectively when customers have prepared properly from the beginning: photographed everything before packing, declared accurate replacement values and used professional packing for fragile and high-value items. PSS discusses insurance at the first conversation about your move, not as an afterthought at the point of booking; because the decisions you make at the planning stage determine how protected you are if something goes wrong at sea.
Discuss your removal cover needs with PSS today
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need insurance for international removals?
Insurance is not legally required but is strongly recommended for all international household moves. Without marine cargo insurance, household goods are not protected to their full replacement value during international shipping. The removals company’s liability cover is capped per kilogramme of lost or damaged goods and does not substitute for a full-value marine cargo policy; for a typical household, the gap between mover liability and actual replacement value is substantial.
What does international moving insurance cover?
All-risks (full-value) marine cargo insurance covers physical loss or accidental damage to household goods during packing, loading, sea freight transit, customs handling and delivery. Common exclusions include damage to inadequately owner-packed items, inherent vice, mechanical derangement without physical damage, wear and tear, and items not declared on the packing inventory.
What is the difference between transit insurance and full-value insurance?
Total loss only (transit) insurance pays out only if the entire shipment is irrecoverably lost; individual item damage is not covered under this policy type. All-risks (full-value) insurance covers physical loss or accidental damage to individual items at any stage of the removal, regardless of whether the rest of the shipment is affected. For household goods, all-risks cover is the appropriate policy type; total loss events are extremely rare in modern international freight.
How much does overseas moving insurance cost?
Premiums are typically calculated at 1% to 3% of the total declared value of the shipment. The exact rate depends on the insurer, destination, policy type and declared value. For a £30,000 declared value at a 1.5% rate, the premium would be approximately £450. The premium cost should be assessed relative to the total financial value at risk during a six to fourteen week international transit.
Are household goods automatically insured during international shipping?
No. Household goods are not automatically insured to their full replacement value during international shipping. The removals company’s liability cover provides very limited financial protection relative to the replacement value of a typical household shipment. Customers must separately arrange marine cargo insurance; PSS arranges this for customers as part of the move planning process.
Does international shipping insurance cover damaged furniture?
Yes; under an all-risks marine cargo policy, accidental physical damage to furniture during any stage of the removal process is covered. Professionally packed items are typically covered without restriction. Owner-packed items are covered subject to specific conditions; damage attributed to inadequate packing by the customer (rather than external impact or handling) may be excluded from the claim.
How do I choose the best insurance for international removals?
Select an all-risks (full-value) marine cargo policy from an FCA-regulated insurer. Confirm the cover extends from packing at the UK address through to delivery at the destination. Check the single-item limit, the terms applying to owner-packed goods, and the claims notification requirements. PSS arranges marine cargo insurance for customers as part of the move planning process and can advise on appropriate cover levels for the specific shipment and destination.
How do I make a claim for damaged goods under international removals insurance?
Note damage on the delivery receipt immediately and photograph all damaged items and their packaging before anything is moved or disposed of. Notify the removals company and insurer in writing within the policy’s notification period (typically 7 to 14 days of delivery). Complete the claim form with photographic evidence, the original packing inventory and any professional valuation certificates for high-value items. Retain all damaged items and packaging until the insurer has completed their assessment.
Planning an international move and want to understand your insurance options in full? Book a free home or video survey with PSS and discuss insurance as part of your move planning from the outset, or use the PSS International Removals Cost Calculator for an initial overview of your move costs.
