A UK removal quote should state the move date and addresses, the inventory or property size, the crew and vehicle, the work included, travel and fuel, access assumptions, waiting time, insurance or liability terms, possible extra charges, payment terms, and whether the price is fixed or estimated. Ask for missing details in writing before booking.
Removal quote checklist: what should be included?
A useful removal quote lets you compare like with like. It should be detailed enough for another mover to price the same job on the same assumptions — not just show one headline number.
| Quote item | What should be stated | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Move details | Collection and delivery addresses, move date, property size, and an agreed inventory or survey. | The price is only meaningful when the mover understands the actual job. |
| Price basis | Whether the figure is a fixed quote, an hourly rate, or an estimate; whether VAT is included when applicable. | An estimate can change. A fixed quote should identify the circumstances that could alter it. |
| Crew and vehicle | Expected crew size, vehicle type or capacity, and whether more than one journey is assumed. | A smaller crew or vehicle can make a cheap quote take longer or require extra trips. |
| Core work | Loading, transport, unloading, and which rooms or items are covered. | Do not assume dismantling, packing, or furniture placement is included. |
| Travel costs | Mileage or travel time, fuel, return travel, tolls, ferries, parking, and clean-air or congestion charges where relevant. | Long-distance and city moves can be underpriced when travel assumptions are missing. |
| Access | Floors, lifts, stairs, long carries, restricted roads, parking distance, and any permits required. | Difficult access changes the time, vehicle position, and number of people needed. |
| Additional services | Packing materials, packing, dismantling, reassembly, storage, disposal, or specialist handling. | Each service should be clearly included, excluded, or separately priced. |
| Waiting and delays | The included waiting allowance and the rate or rule used if keys, access, or completion is delayed. | A late key release can turn a fixed moving day into several extra hours. |
| Protection and liability | The cover offered, limits, excesses, important exclusions, claim deadlines, and treatment of owner-packed items. | The word ‘insured’ does not explain what is covered or who carries the risk. |
| Payment and cancellation | Deposit, payment dates, accepted methods, quote validity, postponement terms, and cancellation charges. | Written terms reduce disputes about deposits, rescheduling, and last-minute changes. |
Is it a quote or an estimate?
A quote and an estimate are not the same. Citizens Advice describes a quote as an agreed price for the specified work, while an estimate is a rough guide that may change. A removal quote should therefore say which one it is and list the assumptions behind the figure.
Even a fixed quote can change if you request additional work or important information was missing. Tell the mover about lofts, garages, garden items, storage stops, awkward access, valuable items, and anything that will not appear in a basic property-size description.
Should travel, fuel, and return time be included?
The quote should explain how the journey is priced. For a local hourly move, confirm when the clock starts and stops. For a longer-distance move, ask whether outward and return travel time, fuel, mileage, tolls, ferries, parking, and road charges are already included.
This is especially important when a low quote appears to cover only loading and unloading. The crew and vehicle still need to reach the destination, and the mover may need to return to its operating area after delivery.
What insurance and liability details should you check?
Ask the mover to explain the protection offered in plain language. The written terms should identify the relevant cover or liability arrangement, the maximum amount, any excess, major exclusions, and the deadline and process for reporting damage.
Goods-in-transit cover and public liability cover address different risks. Cover can also depend on who packed an item, whether valuables were declared, and whether the item was suitable for transport. Do not rely on a badge or the single word ‘insured’; request the details that apply to your move.
Which access details affect a removal quote?
Access can change both the time and crew required. Tell every mover about stairs, floor numbers, lift size, long walks from the vehicle, narrow roads, low bridges, controlled parking, loading restrictions, steep drives, and whether a large van can stop safely near each entrance.
If parking permits or suspensions are needed, the quote should say who arranges and pays for them. Photos or a video survey can help, but they should support an accurate inventory rather than replace one.
What extra charges should be identified in advance?
Possible extras should be named before you accept the quote. Common examples include:
• additional items or an underestimated inventory
• extra floors, stairs, or long carries not previously disclosed
• waiting for keys or delayed access
• packing materials or last-minute packing
• dismantling or reassembly
• storage, redelivery, or an additional stop
• parking, tolls, ferries, or road charges
• work outside the agreed hours
• specialist handling for pianos, safes, antiques, or unusually heavy items
A fair comparison is not simply the lowest starting price. It is the price for the same inventory, access, journey, crew, and included services.
What should the contract say about deposits and cancellation?
Check the deposit amount, when the balance is due, how long the quote remains valid, and what happens if either party postpones or cancels. Government consumer guidance says cancellation terms and charges must be fair; a term is not automatically fair simply because it appears in a contract.
Ask how any charge is calculated and what happens to advance payments if the mover cannot perform the service. Keep the accepted quote, terms, payment records, and any agreed changes together. This guide is practical information rather than legal advice.
A useful industry benchmark
The British Association of Removers Code of Practice provides a useful benchmark for written removal contracts. For BAR members, it calls for the mover’s name and address, included and excluded services, the removal plan or schedule, payment terms, possible additional charges, cancellation and postponement terms, liability limits, claim deadlines, and protection for pre-payments.
Not every mover is a BAR member, but customers can still use that level of clarity as a comparison standard. Membership of any trade body should be verified with the body itself rather than assumed from a logo.
How many removal quotes should you compare?
Two or three properly detailed quotes are usually more useful than a long list of vague prices. Give each mover the same inventory, addresses, date, access details, and service requirements. Then compare the total price, inclusions, exclusions, protection, crew, communication, and terms side by side.
If one price is dramatically lower, ask what has been left out before treating it as a saving.
Questions to ask before accepting a removal quote
Before booking, ask:
1. Is this a fixed quote, an hourly rate, or an estimate?
2. What inventory and access assumptions did you use?
3. What crew and vehicle are included?
4. Are travel time, return travel, fuel, and road charges included?
5. What work is excluded?
6. When can extra charges apply?
7. What protection applies to my belongings, and what are the limits and exclusions?
8. What happens if keys or access are delayed?
9. What are the deposit, payment, cancellation, and postponement terms?
10. Will you confirm agreed changes in writing?
How MAZE fits into the process
A MAZE instant estimate is an early planning range based on the move details supplied. It is not the moving partner’s final quote. Matched partners assess the job and send their own terms and final prices.
Use the estimate to understand the likely scale of the move, then use this checklist to compare the final quotes on the same basis. The customer chooses which mover to use and should complete their own checks before booking.