Removals can be very challenging, no matter whether you’re about to move house, an office or the whole company. In every case, there’s a risk of your possessions getting lost or damaged in the process. Hiring a good removal company minimises it. Nevertheless, accidents can happen. That’s why you may be wondering if you should buy moving insurance. Here’s all you need to know.
How does moving insurance work?
First of all, moving insurance is a very general term that can be interpreted in various ways. In most cases, it refers to the insurance that the removal company can provide to their customers.
Trustworthy removal companies have their own liability insurance. If the one you want to hire has it too, you can be sure that if anything happens to your possessions during the removal – provided it’s the movers’ fault – you will be reimbursed for the damage. That’s why it’s so important to verify the removal company’s credentials before hiring them.
On top of that, you may consider additional moving insurance – the one you buy on your own. In Poland, it may be included in standard household insurance, or you can buy it as a separate service. That kind of insurance may provide you with a broader range of protection – also in situations when it’s not the movers who are to be blamed for the damage. It all depends on General Insurance Conditions.
When should you buy extra moving insurance?
There’s no easy answer to the question above. The decision depends on many factors, such as:
- the removal’s scale and type – if you’re moving to a new flat and have only a few possessions of moderate value to transport, you may “survive” without the extra insurance. But if it’s an office relocation and you’re about to move valuable belongings at long distance, it would be reasonable to get the extra protection,
- the value of your possessions – antique furniture, very expensive electronics, a large set of your grandmother’s china, fine art… if there are any of those items on your ‘to move’ list, make sure you have the right insurance.
It’s also about how much you trust the removal company and how much risk you are ready to take. It’s a very similar case to the one in which you consider whether to buy travel insurance or not. Theoretically, it’s very unlikely that you will get hurt during a two-week holiday, which means buying insurance is a waste of money. But on the other hand, if something bad happens, without insurance, you’ll pay a lot more. So, are you willing to take the risk, or do you prefer to minimise it by paying a small sum of money? It’s really up to you!
A good removal company is the best insurance
As you already know, removal companies have their own liability insurances. That kind of insurance protects the movers and their customers as well. It means that if, for example, a member of the moving crew drops a box with a TV and the device gets damaged, the owner will be fully reimbursed.
Choosing a company that has taken those safety measures, can make you feel secure. Nevertheless, you need to remember that the movers’ insurance won’t cover the damage unconditionally. Their liability has its limits. There are circumstances in which you won’t be reimbursed, such as:
- packing hazardous, dangerous or fragile materials for the movers without informing them about it – the reason is simple. If the team doesn’t know they’re dealing with perishable items, they may not be as gentle with it as they should,
- packing things on your own, ignoring the removal company’s requirements – for instance, when your movers tell you to wrap the TV in a lot of bubble wrap, but you decide not to, they can’t be blamed for scratching the screen or the case;
- failing to inform the crew about any items of high value.
As you can see, it’s very easy to avoid those situations by talking to the movers and listing all the belongings that need to be transported to the new place. It’s also important to properly label the boxes that contain any fragile or valuable items – it may save them from being damaged.
Apart from that, you can also be refused a reimbursement from the mover’s insurance when the damage or loss of your possessions was an effect of a natural disaster. They happen very rarely but it’s still a risk that you have to take when you don’t pay for the extra insurance.
How much does moving insurance cost?
The price of moving insurance depends mostly on the value of the insured items and the type of protection that the insurance provides. Apart from that, each insurance company has its own rates and service packages. Be sure, though, that your removal company can help you to find the best insurance option for you. If you need more information on that topic, feel free to contact us. Our experts will give you the details and help you to choose the type of insurance.