It's an early start, dark outside, van's loaded, and you've got a tight run ahead. You've done it a hundred times. The load's worth a few grand, but you're focused on the traffic and hitting your first drop on time.
That's the job. Nobody gets into van work to read insurance policies. You sort the paperwork once and don't look at it again.
Problem is, that's where drivers get caught out. The second a load's in your van, it's your responsibility — not the client's, not the platform's. If it gets stolen, damaged, or dropped at the wrong address, someone pays to fix it. Without the right Goods in Transit cover, that someone is you.
So let's keep it simple. Here are five myths about GIT insurance that trip up drivers every day — and the truth that keeps your business in one piece.
Myth 1: "GIT insurance isn't legally required, so I can skip it."
The half-truth: Nobody's going to arrest you for driving without Goods in Transit cover. It's not the law, full stop. But here's the catch — the moment a load lands in your van, you're on the hook for it. Skip the insurance and you're not breaking a rule. You're just betting your whole business on nothing going wrong.
Let's walk through three real situations where that bet blows up in your face.
Applying for subcontractor work
You find a solid gig. A logistics firm needs a subbie for a regular run. You send your details, and the first thing they ask for is proof of Goods in Transit cover.
You don't have it. The conversation's over right there.
Major retailers, courier platforms, and freight forwarders almost always demand proof of GIT before they hand you a single job. It's a gatekeeper, plain and simple. No cover, no contract — doesn't matter how good your driving record is or how many years you've been on the road. You're locked out before you even start.
Registering on an exchange platform
Say you skip the direct contracts and go straight for an exchange platform to find loads. Same wall, different door.
Platforms verify your insurance during onboarding. On Courier Exchange, for example, you need a minimum of £5,000 in GIT cover just to get through the gate — and they check. (That number is their floor, by the way. Other clients and platforms set their own, sometimes way higher.)
No valid policy? You can't bid. You're staring at thousands of daily loads you're not allowed to touch. All that work, right there, and you can't get a foot in the door.
When your cover lapses mid-job
This is the one that keeps operators up at night.
You got the contract. Everything was fine. But somewhere along the way your policy expired — you forgot the renewal, the card bounced, whatever. Then it happens: the load gets damaged, goes missing, or you drop it at the wrong address and it's gone.
Here's where the Carriage of Goods by Road Act 1965 bites. The second that load is in your care, the law makes you responsible for it. With no active policy, that replacement cost comes straight out of your own pocket. A £5,000 load? That's £5,000 you're paying yourself.
There's one narrow escape hatch. The Act says you're off the hook if you can prove the damage was genuinely outside your control — something you couldn't have prevented no matter what. But that's a high bar, and "I let my insurance lapse" is nowhere near it.
And the money's only half the pain. Lose a load like that and the ripple hits everything: the client drops you, your platform feedback score tanks, and your onboarding status with other networks takes a hit. In this game your reputation is your income. One lapse can undo years of good work.
The bottom line: GIT isn't a legal box to tick. It's the price of admission. Skip it and you don't just risk a fine — you risk never getting the work in the first place, and losing everything if one thing goes sideways.
Myth 2: "My van insurance already covers the goods I'm carrying."
The truth: It doesn't. This is the biggest mix-up in the whole game, and it catches good drivers cold.
Your van insurance covers the van. That's it. It protects the vehicle, and it might cover your liability to other people on the road. But the stuff inside the van — the parcels, the pallets, the customer's goods? That's a whole different policy.
Think of it this way. Your hire and reward insurance keeps you legal to drive for pay. Your Goods in Transit cover protects what you're driving. Two jobs, two policies. One won't do the other's work.
Here's where it stings. A load gets stolen off your van overnight. You call your van insurer, ready to claim — and they tell you the goods were never covered. The van's fine. The £4,000 of stock that walked? That's on you.
Read your policy wording and hunt for the words "in transit", "loading and unloading", and whether it covers goods you don't own. If those aren't spelled out, assume you're not covered. Don't guess. Confirm it.
Myth 3: "GIT only covers theft."
The truth: Theft is just one slice. A proper GIT policy covers a whole lot more — and the stuff that isn't theft is often what gets you.
Think about everything that can go wrong on a run. A hard brake and the load shifts and smashes. A box slips off the tail lift during unloading. Rain gets in and soaks a shipment. A small fire in the cab. You drop a parcel at the wrong address and it's gone for good. None of that is theft, and all of it can cost you.
A good policy can cover theft, yes — but also accidental damage, loss in transit, fire, water, road accident damage, and loading and unloading mishaps. Some even cover goods left in the van overnight, though that usually comes with strict conditions like a locked, secure spot.
But here's the catch that separates a real policy from a paper one: the exclusions. Some cover won't touch fragile goods. Some carve out refrigerated loads. Some won't pay if they decide the packaging was poor. So don't just ask "am I covered?" Ask "what am I not covered for?" That's where the nasty surprises hide.
The move is simple: read the full list of what's included, then read the exclusions twice. That second list is your real cover.
Myth 4: "My customer's insurance covers their goods, so I don't need my own."
The truth: The second those goods are in your hands, they're your problem — not your customer's insurer's. This one's a trap, and it's a big deal for anyone subcontracting.
Your client might have their own cover. But that policy usually doesn't stretch to protect goods while a third party — you — is hauling them down the motorway. So when something goes wrong, everyone points at you. And under the 1965 Act, they're right to. You had custody, you carry the liability.
Now flip it around, because this cuts both ways. Say you're the one handing work to a subbie. If their cover is dodgy or lapsed and a load goes missing, guess who the client comes after? You. That's why some policies offer contingency cover — it backs you up if a subcontractor's insurance fails to pay out.
The fix is all about the paperwork. Contracts should spell out, in black and white, who's liable while the goods are moving. If you're the carrier, make sure your own GIT covers it. If you're passing work down the chain, insist on seeing your subbie's cover — and check it actually lines up with the job. A handshake isn't a policy.
Myth 5: "All Goods in Transit policies are basically the same."
The truth: Not even close. Two policies with the same price tag can cover wildly different things — and you only find out which one you bought when you try to claim.
This is where cheap gets expensive. One policy quietly excludes electronics. Another won't cover alcohol. A third caps overnight theft from an unattended van, or flat-out won't cover you the second you cross the Channel. Same headline price, totally different protection. If you pick on price alone, you're rolling the dice.
Before you sign, dig into the wording and get straight answers on a few things. What goods are excluded? What's the geographic cover — UK only, EU, worldwide? Are loading and unloading incidents in? What exactly are the rules for theft from an unattended vehicle? And if you run anything time-sensitive, are perishables covered?
The summary sheet won't tell you this. The full policy wording will. Read it — the boring paragraphs are where your money actually lives.
Right, here's your homework
We're not going to hit you with a sales pitch. Just do one thing.
When you finish reading, pull up your profile — whatever platform you run — and check your insurance. Is your GIT cover active? When does it renew? Does the amount match the loads you're carrying now, not the ones from two years ago?
Takes two minutes. Sort it while you're thinking about it, then get back out there and make your money.
Stay safe, drivers. 🚚
One last thing
Already a member of SDCN? Head to the platform and check the loads available near you today.
Not yet on Same Day Courier Network? Get in touch and we will help you get set up. Drop us a message at info@samedaycouriernetwork.com or give us a ring on 01202 511 559.