What courier goods in transit cover actually pays, the exclusions that sink most claims, when enhanced cover is worth it and how to make a claim that succeeds.
Most businesses only think about courier insurance after something has gone wrong: a laptop arrives with a cracked screen, a box of machined parts goes missing, or a sample case turns up crushed. At that point the question is simple. Who pays? The honest answer depends on the goods in transit insurance on the booking, the value you declared, how the item was packed and how quickly you claim. This guide explains, from the sender's side, what courier cover actually pays out, what it never covers, when it is worth paying for enhanced cover, and how to make a claim that succeeds.
Quick answer: Goods in transit (GIT) cover pays for physical loss of or damage to your consignment while the courier has it. It is usually capped per consignment, so you must declare the real value and buy enhanced cover for anything worth more than the standard limit. At CourierFly every job includes £50 of cover free, enhanced cover up to £2,500 costs £12.00 at checkout, and higher values are arranged before booking. Claims must be made in writing within 7 days.
What goods in transit insurance covers
The basic idea
Goods in transit insurance protects goods while they are being moved, from the moment the driver collects them to the moment they are handed over at the delivery address. If the consignment is lost, stolen or physically damaged in that window, cover pays the value of the loss up to the limit on the booking. It is different from the courier's own public liability insurance, which covers injury or damage to third parties and property, not the goods on board.
Professional couriers carry GIT cover as part of running a hire and reward business, so the question for a sender is not whether cover exists but how much of it applies to your job. That is set by the courier's terms and by the level of cover you choose when you book.
Why the limit matters more than the policy
Every courier caps what it will pay per consignment unless you declare a higher value and pay for it. The cap protects the courier from carrying unknown risk on a job priced for a low-value parcel. For the sender, it means a £1,500 item sent on standard cover is still only covered for the standard amount, however well insured the courier is overall. Declaring the value is what moves the risk from you to the courier's insurer.
CourierFly cover levels explained
Standard and enhanced cover
Every CourierFly booking, whether same day, next day or a dedicated van, includes goods in transit cover. You choose the level at checkout.
Cover level | Maximum cover | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard | £50 per consignment, or the actual value if lower | Included free | Documents, samples and low-value goods |
Enhanced | Up to £2,500 per consignment, against the value you declare | +£12.00 at checkout | Electronics, tools, parts and stock worth more than £50 |
High value | Agreed per job | Quoted before booking | Anything worth more than £2,500, artwork, prototypes, IT equipment in bulk |
When you choose enhanced cover you enter a declared value for the goods. That figure is what a claim is measured against, so make it the real replacement cost, not a round guess. For anything above £2,500, contact the team before you book through the high value courier service so cover can be confirmed for that specific consignment, often on a secure dedicated van with no other collections on board.
A worked example
Say you send a refurbished laptop worth £1,200 to a remote employee. On standard cover, if it is lost the most you can recover is £50. On enhanced cover with a declared value of £1,200, the same loss is covered up to £1,200 for an extra £12.00. Put another way, enhanced cover costs one percent of the item's value here. For most business goods worth more than a few hundred pounds, that is an easy decision.
What courier insurance does not cover
The common exclusions
Most claims that fail do so because of an exclusion, not because the goods were not damaged. Under CourierFly's terms and conditions, as with most UK couriers, cover does not extend to:
- Consequential or economic loss. If a part arrives late or damaged and your production line stands idle, the cover pays for the part, not for the lost production or a missed contract.
- Inadequate packaging. Damage caused because the item was not packed well enough for road transport is excluded.
- Prohibited or undeclared items. Cash, precious metals and stones, firearms and other prohibited goods are never covered, and hazardous goods must be declared and agreed in advance. Our ADR dangerous goods courier handles those properly.
- Anything above the declared value where enhanced cover was bought.
- Events outside reasonable control, such as severe weather or other force majeure.
- Safe place or neighbour deliveries that you authorised. Once the goods are left where you asked, liability for them ends.
- Delay on its own. Delivery times are estimates, so lateness is not a loss the cover pays for.
Where your own insurance comes in
Because courier cover is capped and excludes consequential loss, many businesses also hold their own goods in transit or stock cover as part of a commercial policy. If you regularly send high-value goods, or a late delivery would cost you far more than the item itself, ask your broker whether your policy covers goods while they are with a third-party carrier and what it pays for business interruption. The two policies work together: the courier's cover for the goods, yours for the wider loss.
How to make sure a claim succeeds
Before you book
Run through this checklist on any consignment worth more than £50. It takes two minutes and decides whether a future claim is paid.
- Declare the real value and choose enhanced cover, or contact us first if it is above £2,500.
- Check it is allowed. Make sure nothing in the box is prohibited, and declare anything hazardous such as lithium batteries, aerosols or paint.
- Pack for the road. Use a strong outer box, wrap fragile items individually, fill empty space and seal liquids in leak-proof containers with an over-wrap.
- Photograph the goods and the packing before sealing, including serial numbers for electronics.
- Keep proof of value: an invoice, purchase order or replacement quote.
- Give a named recipient and avoid safe-place delivery for anything valuable.
If something goes wrong
Every CourierFly delivery is recorded with proof of delivery, usually a time-stamped photo, which shows the condition the goods were handed over in. If a consignment arrives damaged, ask the recipient to photograph the outer packaging and the item straight away and keep all the packing material. Then put the claim in writing within 7 days of the delivery date, or the expected delivery date if the item is lost, with your booking reference, photographs, proof of value and a short description of what happened. Claims made after 7 days are not considered, so do not wait for the end of the month.
Business account customers can raise the issue with their account manager, who already has the job history and proof of delivery in the business portal. If you send regularly, our guide to business courier accounts explains what else an account adds.
Choosing the right cover for what you send
By type of consignment
Legal documents and envelopes usually sit comfortably within standard cover, though the real risk there is confidentiality and timing, which a legal document courier with signed proof of delivery handles better than insurance. Replacement IT spares, power tools and automotive parts are typically worth hundreds or a few thousand pounds and are the clearest case for enhanced cover. Prototypes, artwork, bulk IT equipment and anything irreplaceable should be discussed before booking so cover, vehicle and handling can be agreed together.
A simple rule for teams that send every week
When several people book couriers, cover is usually chosen by whoever happens to be at the keyboard, and that is how a £900 tool ends up on standard cover. The fix is a written house rule that everyone follows. A good starting point is this: anything worth more than £50 goes on enhanced cover with its real value declared, and anything worth more than £2,500, or anything irreplaceable, is phoned through before booking. Put the rule next to the booking login, add it to your purchasing or dispatch procedure, and make it part of onboarding for new staff on reception or in stores.
It also helps to keep a short list of the items you send most often with their current replacement values, so nobody has to guess under time pressure. Review it every few months, because the replacement cost of electronics and parts moves. If a claim ever does arise, a consistent rule and an up-to-date value list make it far easier to show what was sent and what it was worth.
Insurance is the last line of defence
Cover pays when something goes wrong, but the cheapest claim is the one that never happens. A direct, single-vehicle journey with no hub sorting means fewer handling points, and every handling point is a chance for damage. Choosing the right service, packing well and declaring the value together do more to protect your goods than any policy on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is goods in transit insurance included with every courier booking?
At CourierFly, yes. Every consignment includes £50 of goods in transit cover as standard at no extra cost. You can add enhanced cover up to £2,500 per consignment for £12.00 at checkout.
How much does enhanced courier insurance cost?
Enhanced cover at CourierFly is a flat £12.00 per consignment and covers up to £2,500 against the value you declare. Goods worth more than £2,500 need cover agreed before booking, so contact the team first.
What happens if I do not declare the value?
The standard limit applies, which is £50 per consignment or the actual value if that is lower. Declaring a higher value without buying enhanced cover does not raise the limit.
How long do I have to make a claim?
Claims must be made in writing within 7 days of the delivery date, or the expected delivery date for lost items. Include photographs, proof of value and your booking reference.
Does courier insurance cover late delivery?
No. Goods in transit cover pays for physical loss or damage, not for delay or the knock-on cost of a late delivery. Your own business interruption insurance is where that kind of loss is usually covered.
Can I insure items worth more than £2,500?
Yes, but it is arranged per job before booking rather than at checkout. Tell the team what the item is, its value and the route, and they will confirm cover and a fixed price.
Insurance should never be an afterthought on a valuable consignment. Declare the real value, pack it for the road, keep your photographs and claim quickly if anything goes wrong. For goods worth more than the standard cover, book with enhanced cover in a few clicks, or call 0330 341 3180 to arrange high value transport with cover confirmed before collection.
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