Once you've requested removal quotes, the prices start arriving by email and phone. It's tempting to pick the lowest number and move on. But removal quotes are rarely like for like, and the differences hide in what each company has assumed about your move.
This guide walks you through comparing removal quotes properly, so the price you book is the price you pay.
Start with how the quote was worked out
A removal quote is only as accurate as the information behind it. Before comparing prices, check how each company arrived at theirs:
- In-home or video survey: the most reliable. The surveyor has seen your belongings, your stairs and your parking.
- Online inventory: reasonable if you were thorough, but easy to underestimate. Lofts, sheds and garages are the usual culprits.
- Phone estimate based on bedrooms: a rough guide only. Expect this figure to change.
If one quote is far cheaper than the rest and was given without a survey, treat it with caution. Ask the company to survey and confirm it in writing.
Check the volume and crew
Most removal companies size a job by volume, measured in cubic feet or cubic metres, and then decide how many vans and crew it needs. Two quotes for the same house can assume quite different loads.
- Is the estimated volume roughly the same across your quotes?
- How many crew are booked, and how many vans? A three-bed house usually needs three or four people.
- Is it a fixed price or an hourly rate? Hourly rates look cheaper on paper but can overrun.
Compare what's included, not just the total
Lay your removal quotes side by side and tick off each of these:
| Item | Questions to ask |
|---|
| Packing | Full packing, fragiles only, or none? Are boxes and materials included? |
| Furniture | Will they dismantle and reassemble beds and wardrobes? |
| Protection | Are mattress covers, sofa wraps and floor protection included? |
| Insurance | What is the Goods in Transit limit, and is it per item or per move? |
| Access | Have they allowed for stairs, lifts, narrow lanes or a long carry from the van? |
| Parking | Who arranges permits or suspended bays, and who pays for them? |
| Timing | Is there a charge if your completion is delayed and the crew has to wait? |
| Cancellation | What deposit is required, and what happens if your chain collapses? |
Read the insurance properly
Every reputable removal company should hold Goods in Transit and Public Liability insurance. What varies is the level of cover. Some quotes include cover up to a fixed amount per item, which may not be enough for an antique, a piano or a high-end TV. Others offer full-value cover for an extra fee.
Check whether items you pack yourself are covered. Many policies only cover owner-packed boxes for external damage, not breakages inside. Our removals insurance guide explains the common terms.
Watch for these red flags
- A price far below every other quote, with no survey
- A large cash deposit requested upfront
- No landline, no business address, or a mobile number only
- Vague wording such as "approx." against the total
- Pressure to book today to "hold the price"
Then ask the questions that settle it
If two removal quotes look similar, call both companies. How they answer tells you a lot. Ask who will actually turn up on the day, whether they use subcontractors, and how they handle a delayed completion. Ask whether they're members of a trade body such as the British Association of Removers, which offers a code of practice and dispute resolution.
Tip: get your removal quotes at least four to six weeks before your move. That leaves time for surveys and to compare properly, without being rushed into whoever has availability.
Compare removal quotes in one go
The easiest way to compare is to have several local removal companies quote for the same move at the same time. Request up to 6 free removal quotes with one form, then use the checklist above to choose the best value rather than the lowest number.
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