Motor trade cover explained

Goods-in-Transit Cover for Towing Operators

For a towing operator, goods-in-transit or carrier’s-liability cover can protect customer vehicles being loaded, carried and unloaded. The schedule should say whether settlement is based on legal liability or physical loss, and define recovery work, roadside storage and per-load limits.

What is normally covered

  • Customer vehicles on a rollback, wheel-lift or approved trailer
  • Accidental loading and unloading damage if included
  • Collision, overturning, fire, theft or hijacking of the conveyance
  • Carrier’s legal liability up to the stated limit
  • Temporary custody at an approved yard where extended

What is normally excluded

  • Scratching or damage that existed before collection
  • Salvage, abnormal recovery or off-road work not declared
  • Inadequate chaining, strapping or equipment maintenance
  • Personal belongings inside the towed vehicle
  • Storage beyond the allowed period
  • Vehicles exceeding weight, dimension or value limits
Realistic claim example

A vehicle rolls off a rollback during unloading

A towing operator unloads an accident-damaged sedan at a panel beater. A securing point releases and the vehicle rolls into another customer’s car.

How cover may respond: Loading/unloading transit liability may cover damage to both customer vehicles, subject to the policy limit and safe-working conditions.

Important: Damage to the rollback equipment itself belongs under the operator’s own motor or plant cover.

Who needs this cover

  • Breakdown and accident towing operators
  • Roadside-assistance contractors
  • Vehicle recovery and repossession firms
  • Operators storing recovered vehicles temporarily

Information insurers require

  • Fleet list, rollback types and payload capacity
  • Annual towing turnover and number of movements
  • Maximum vehicle value and heavy-recovery exposure
  • Driver PDP/licence details and experience
  • Dispatch records, condition reports and photographs
  • Yard security and storage duration

What affects the premium

  • Per-load value and towing turnover
  • Accident-scene and heavy-recovery work
  • Driver and operator experience
  • Equipment, maintenance and load-securing controls
  • Radius, night work and claims record
Relevant trade pages

Cover should match the way you trade

Related cover

Get cover based on your actual risk

Tell us what vehicles you handle, where they are kept and how they are used. A specialist can compare suitable terms and explain the important conditions before you bind cover.

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This is a general explanation, not advice or a policy contract. Cover is subject to the insurer’s schedule, wording, limits, excesses and conditions.