Antique Transport Insurance: Collectibles Coverage (UK Guide)

Introduction

Moving antiques and collectibles is one of the highest-risk moments in the life of an item. A cabinet can be stable in a climate-controlled showroom for years, then suffer a single impact during loading. A painting can be fine on a wall, then be exposed to moisture, temperature swings or theft while travelling. Whether you’re a dealer, auction house, private collector, museum, interior designer, or a specialist courier, antique transport insurance is designed to protect high-value items while they’re being moved.

This guide explains what antique transport insurance typically covers, how claims are assessed, what to watch for in exclusions, and how to set up a policy that actually responds when something goes wrong.

What is antique transport insurance?

Antique transport insurance (sometimes described as collectibles in transit cover, fine art transit insurance, or goods in transit for high-value items) is insurance that protects antiques and collectibles while they are being:

• Collected from a seller or auction house

• Transported by road, sea or air

• Loaded/unloaded

• Temporarily stored during the journey

• Delivered to a buyer, gallery, museum, or private residence

It can be arranged as:

• A standalone transit policy

• An extension to a wider commercial policy (e.g., commercial combined)

• A specialist fine art/collectibles policy with transit included

Who needs collectibles transport cover?

Antique transport risks aren’t limited to antique dealers. Common policyholders include:

• Antique dealers and galleries moving stock between premises, fairs and buyers

• Auction houses arranging delivery for buyers

• Collectors moving items after purchase, inheritance, relocation or restoration

• Museums and institutions transporting items for exhibitions and loans

• Interior designers moving high-value decorative pieces for client projects

• Specialist couriers and removals firms carrying antiques as part of their service

• Restorers and conservators receiving and returning items

If your business touches antiques at any point in the supply chain, you should assume standard courier cover is not enough.

What does antique transport insurance typically cover?

Coverage varies by insurer and by how the policy is structured, but the core protections often include:

Accidental damage in transit

This can include impact damage, crushing, breakage, scratches, dents, and damage caused by poor handling.

Theft

Theft can occur during stops, overnight parking, loading/unloading, or from temporary storage. Policies may also address:

• Theft from a locked vehicle

• Theft involving forced and violent entry

• Theft by deception (often excluded unless specifically included)

Loss

Loss can mean a missing package, misdelivery, or items that disappear during multi-leg transport.

Fire and major incidents

Fire, collision, overturning, and other serious incidents are usually included, but conditions may apply.

Temporary storage during transit

Some policies include cover while items are:

• In a storage facility awaiting delivery

• In a secure depot

• Held overnight due to delays

This is often time-limited and subject to security requirements.

Common antiques and collectibles insured

“Antiques” and “collectibles” can mean many different things, and insurers may define categories differently. Examples include:

• Fine art (paintings, prints, sculpture)

• Antique furniture and cabinets

• Ceramics and glassware

• Jewellery and watches

• Rare books and manuscripts

• Vintage musical instruments

• Coins, medals and stamps

• Memorabilia and historical artefacts

• Collectible toys and models

If you’re transporting mixed loads (e.g., furniture plus artwork), make sure the policy doesn’t quietly exclude certain classes.

How claims are valued: agreed value vs market value

Valuation is one of the biggest differences between standard goods-in-transit cover and specialist collectibles cover.

Agreed value

An agreed value basis means you and the insurer agree a value for the item before the journey. If there’s a total loss, the claim is typically settled at that value (subject to policy terms).

Best for:

• Unique items

• Pieces with volatile auction prices

• High-value items where you want certainty

Market value

A market value basis means the insurer pays what the item was worth at the time of loss, based on evidence such as recent sales, auction results, and expert opinion.

Best for:

• Stock where values fluctuate and are frequently traded

• Lower-value items where agreed value administration is heavy

Proof of value

Insurers may ask for:

• Purchase invoices

• Auction receipts

• Professional valuations

• Condition reports

• Photographs

• Provenance documentation

If you can’t evidence value, settlement can be delayed or reduced.

Key policy features to look for

When arranging antique transport insurance, these features matter more than the headline premium.

All risks vs named perils

• All risks (with exclusions) is usually preferred for antiques.

• Named perils cover only specific events (e.g., fire, theft, collision). This can leave gaps for common losses like accidental damage.

Single item limit and any one vehicle limit

Policies often cap:

• The maximum value for any one item

• The maximum value for all items in one vehicle

Make sure these limits match your real-world loads.

Packaging and handling conditions

Insurers may require:

• Professional packing standards

• Crating for certain items

• Use of blankets, straps, corner protection

• Two-person handling for heavy or fragile pieces

If you don’t follow the conditions, claims can be disputed.

Security requirements

Common conditions include:

• Vehicle alarms and immobilisers

• Locked, enclosed vehicles (not open flatbeds)

• No unattended vehicles, or strict rules if unattended

• Overnight parking in locked compounds

• Tracking for high-value loads

Security warranties are a common reason claims fail, so they must be practical for your operation.

Worldwide cover and customs risks

If you ship internationally, consider:

• Air/sea freight cover

• Transit via multiple carriers

• Customs delays and storage

• War/terror exclusions

• Sanctions and restricted territories

Pair and set clause

If one item from a set is damaged (e.g., a pair of antique chairs), the policy may:

• Pay only for the damaged item, or

• Consider the reduction in value to the set

This clause can materially change claim outcomes.

Partial loss and restoration

For antiques, “repair” isn’t always the right outcome. Policies may address:

• Conservation/restoration costs

• Diminution in value after repair

• Specialist restoration providers

Common exclusions and pitfalls

Antique transport insurance can be specialist, but it still has exclusions. Watch for:

• Wear and tear or gradual deterioration

• Inherent vice (items that naturally degrade, e.g., unstable materials)

• Poor packing or inadequate protection

• Mechanical breakdown (relevant for vintage machinery)

• Mysterious disappearance (loss with no evidence of theft)

• Theft from unattended vehicles (or strict time limits)

• Dishonesty by employees or subcontractors (may require separate cover)

• Delay and consequential loss (e.g., missed exhibition opening)

If you use subcontracted couriers, confirm whether the policy covers subcontractors or requires them to carry their own specialist cover.

Risk management: how to reduce losses (and premiums)

Insurers price antiques transit based on how you move and protect items. Practical steps include:

• Documented packing procedures and checklists

• Pre-journey condition reports with photos

• Use of specialist crates and shock indicators

• Vehicle tracking for high-value loads

• Route planning to reduce stops and overnight parking

• Staff training in manual handling and fragile item movement

• Clear chain-of-custody processes (signatures at every handover)

These steps don’t just reduce premiums. They also make claims smoother because you can evidence good practice.

Antique transport insurance for businesses: what to include

If you’re a business moving antiques, transport cover usually sits alongside other essential protections.

Goods in transit and stock cover

• Stock at premises (fire, flood, theft)

• Stock at exhibitions and fairs

• Stock in transit

Public liability and employers’ liability

If you’re loading/unloading at client premises or using staff, liability cover is critical.

Professional indemnity (for certain services)

If you provide valuations, authentication, or advisory services, professional indemnity may be relevant.

Motor insurance and hired-in vehicles

If you use vans, ensure your motor policy aligns with your goods-in-transit cover, especially around:

• Carriage of high-value goods

• Use of hired or borrowed vehicles

• Overnight parking conditions

Antique transport insurance for collectors: what to check

Private collectors often assume home insurance will cover items while moving. Sometimes it will, but often with limitations.

Check:

• Whether your home policy includes “personal possessions” away from home

• Any single item limits

• Whether professional removal is required

• Whether antiques are specified items

• Whether transit is excluded during house moves

For high-value pieces, a specialist collectibles policy with transit cover is usually safer.

How to arrange cover: the information insurers will ask for

To quote accurately, insurers typically want:

• Type of items transported (art, furniture, jewellery, mixed)

• Typical and maximum values per item

• Maximum value per vehicle/load

• Frequency of trips and typical routes

• Vehicle type (panel van, Luton, temperature-controlled, etc.)

• Security features (alarm, immobiliser, tracking)

• Overnight parking arrangements

• Packing methods and who packs (in-house vs professional)

• Use of subcontractors

• Claims history

The more precise you are, the less chance of a dispute later.

What to do if an antique is damaged in transit

If something happens, early actions can protect both the item and the claim.

• Photograph the item and packaging immediately

• Keep all packaging materials for inspection

• Record the time, location and circumstances

• Obtain witness statements if relevant

• Notify the insurer/broker promptly

• Do not attempt repairs until agreed (unless emergency stabilisation is needed)

• Arrange a condition report and restoration estimate from a specialist

A good broker will help you present the claim clearly and avoid common mistakes.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is standard courier insurance enough for antiques?

Often no. Standard courier cover can have low limits, strict exclusions for fragile items, and may not reflect agreed values or restoration needs.

Can I insure antiques for their auction estimate?

Sometimes. Insurers may accept auction estimates, but for high-value items they may request independent valuations or agreed value scheduling.

Are antiques covered if I use a subcontracted carrier?

It depends on the policy. Some cover subcontractors automatically; others require named carriers or evidence of the subcontractor’s own insurance.

Does transit cover include loading and unloading?

Many policies do, but not all. Confirm that loading/unloading is included because many losses occur during handling.

What if only part of a set is damaged?

A pair-and-set clause may apply, which can affect settlement. Always ask how sets are treated.

Can I get cover for international shipping?

Yes, but you’ll need to confirm the method (air/sea/road), packaging, carriers, and any storage during customs delays.

Does antique transport insurance cover temperature and humidity damage?

Sometimes, but it may be excluded as “gradual deterioration” unless you have specialist climate-controlled transit and clear evidence of a sudden event.

How much does antique transport insurance cost?

Cost depends on item values, security, frequency, routes, and claims history. The cheapest option is rarely the best if exclusions are tight.

Final thoughts

Antiques and collectibles can be irreplaceable, and the financial value is only part of the story. The right antique transport insurance should match how you actually move items, reflect realistic values, and include practical security conditions you can comply with.

If you regularly transport high-value collectibles, it’s worth arranging specialist cover and documenting your packing and chain-of-custody processes. That combination is what turns insurance from a “paper policy” into real protection when something goes wrong.