Most people only move house a handful of times in their life, which means most people have never had to properly vet a removal company before. The result is that a lot of people choose on price alone, or pick the first name they find, and some end up paying more than they agreed on moving day, or watching their belongings arrive damaged with no clear route to a claim.
This guide tells you exactly what to check, what to ask, and what to walk away from. It takes about ten minutes to read and could save you a significant amount of money and stress.
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what to look for
A good removal company surveys your home before giving you a price. They confirm that price in writing. They carry genuine goods-in-transit and public liability insurance. They own their vehicles and employ their own crew. They answer your questions clearly and without pressure. Their reviews are recent, specific, and mention real details. And if your completion date slips, they offer storage between homes rather than leaving you without a plan.
Everything below tells you how to check each of these points in practice.
How to find removal companies worth considering
Start with three sources: Google reviews, Trustpilot, and the British Association of Removers (BAR) member search. BAR membership means the company has been audited against industry standards, carries the required insurance, and has access to a formal disputes resolution scheme if something goes wrong. It is not a guarantee of a perfect move, but it filters out a significant number of unreliable operators.
Other trade bodies worth recognising are the National Guild of Removers and Storers (NGRS) and Move Assured. A company with any of these credentials has passed a basic vetting process.
If a company has no accreditation, no verifiable address, and only a mobile number on their website, that alone is a reason to keep looking.
Once you have a shortlist of two or three companies, get each one to survey your home before they quote. A reputable house removals firm will not give you a fixed price based on a bedroom count over the phone. They need to see the volume, the access, and any challenges before committing to a number.
What to check before you book
Check they own their own vans and crew
This matters more than most people realise. Some removal companies are brokers. They take your booking and pass the job to whoever is available on the day, which means you have no idea who is actually turning up. Ask directly: “Do you use your own vehicles and your own employed crew, or do you subcontract?”
A company that uses its own vehicles and trained crew has much more control over quality. The people who turn up know the company’s standards, know the equipment, and are accountable to the business. Agency workers hired on the morning of your move are not.
Check their insurance in detail
Every legitimate removal company should carry goods-in-transit insurance and public liability insurance. Goods-in-transit covers your belongings if they are damaged while being moved. Public liability covers damage to your property, such as a wall, a door frame, or flooring.
The cover limits vary by company and policy. Always ask:
- What is the goods-in-transit cover limit?
- Are items I have packed myself covered?
- What is the claims process if something is damaged?
- Is there an excess on the policy?
Owner-packed boxes are often excluded from cover, or covered at a lower level. If you plan to pack your own boxes, ask about this directly before booking. A reputable company will explain clearly. If you want full cover with no gaps, a professional packing service means the company packs everything and is fully responsible for how it is wrapped.
Confirm whether the quote is fixed or an estimate
This is the most important financial question. There are two types of removal quote.
A fixed price is based on a survey of your home. The company has seen your volume, your access, and any challenges. That price is what you pay.
An hourly estimate is based on an assumption about how long the job takes. It can change. If the job runs longer than expected, the clock keeps running.
Always ask: “Is this a fixed price or an hourly estimate?” If the price was given after a phone call and a bedroom count, it is not genuinely fixed. Get the distinction clear before you commit.
Read reviews properly
A five-star rating is not enough on its own. Here is how to read removal company reviews in a way that actually tells you something.
Look at recent reviews, not just the overall score. A company that had 200 good reviews three years ago and 10 in the last year may have changed significantly.
Look for specific detail. Real reviews mention names, specific challenges overcome, and real outcomes. Generic five-star reviews that just say “great service, would recommend” are hard to verify.
Look at how they respond to negative reviews. A professional company acknowledges problems and shows they have resolved them. A defensive or dismissive response to criticism is more revealing than ten positive ones.
Watch for fake review patterns: a sudden surge of reviews in a short period, identical phrasing across multiple reviews, or a very high score with very few reviews and no detail.
Verify the company on Companies House
This takes two minutes and is worth doing. Search for the company name at find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. You can confirm they have a registered address, check how long they have been trading, and verify the business is active. None of the competitor guides mention this step, but it is the simplest way to confirm a company is real and established.
The 8 questions to ask before you book
Ask every company on your shortlist these questions. Write down the answers and compare.
1. Will you carry out a survey before giving me a price? A written fixed price based on a proper survey is what you want. If they say they do not need to see the home, that is a red flag.
2. Is the price fixed, and what exactly does it include? Confirm whether packing, dismantling, parking suspensions, waiting time, and VAT are included or charged separately. Compare the actual scope across quotes, not just the headline figure.
3. Do you use your own vans and your own employed crew? You want yes to both. Subcontracted drivers or agency labour reduce accountability on moving day.
4. What insurance do you carry and what are the cover limits? Ask specifically about goods-in-transit and public liability, and whether owner-packed boxes are covered. Ask to see the certificate.
5. Are you BAR registered or a member of a recognised trade body? Not essential, but a strong positive. It gives you a formal route if something goes wrong.
6. What happens if my completion is delayed and keys arrive late? Completion day delays are common in a chain. Ask whether they charge waiting time and what that rate is.
7. What is your cancellation and date-change policy? Moving dates shift, often at short notice. Know the policy before you sign. If you are planning a long distance move, also ask about overnight accommodation costs for the crew on routes over 150 miles.
8. Can I see a copy of your insurance certificate? A legitimate business provides this without hesitation. Reluctance to share it is a warning sign.
Red flags: when to walk away
These are the signs that a removal company is not worth booking.
A quote with no survey. Any price given without seeing your home is not genuinely fixed. It is a guess, and it can change on the day.
Cash only, no VAT invoice. No paper trail means no legal recourse if something goes wrong. Walk away.
No physical business address. A company that only lists a mobile number and a vague area name is harder to hold accountable. Check Companies House.
Pressure to book immediately. “This price is only available today” is a sales tactic, not how reputable removal companies operate.
A quote far below every other. In removals, a price significantly lower than three other quotes for the same job almost always means something is missing: insurance, an experienced crew, or the full scope you actually need.
Unmarked vans. This is often a sign of subcontracting. The people arriving may not be the company’s own trained crew.
Vague answers to direct questions. If asking about insurance, survey process, or crew employment gets an evasive response, trust that.
No recent reviews, or reviews that look fake. A company trading for years with fewer than 20 reviews, or reviews that all appeared in the same week, is worth questioning.
A large upfront deposit before any survey or written confirmation. A reasonable holding deposit is normal. A request for 50% or more upfront is not.
Red flags checklist: quick reference
| Signal | What it means |
| Quote with no survey | Not a real fixed price |
| Cash only, no invoice | No legal recourse |
| No physical address | Hard to hold accountable |
| Pressure to book now | Sales tactic, not standard practice |
| Price far below others | Something is likely missing |
| Unmarked vans | Possible subcontracting |
| Evasive on insurance | Cover may not be in place |
| Large upfront deposit | Financial risk before confirmation |
| No recent reviews | Unverifiable track record |
What a good removal quote looks like
A properly produced removal quote should include all of the following in writing before you commit:
- The collection and delivery addresses
- The confirmed moving date
- A clear description of what is included (loading, transport, unloading, packing if agreed, dismantling if agreed)
- Whether VAT is included or added on top
- The total fixed price
- What happens if dates change or completion is delayed
- The company’s cancellation policy
If the quote is missing any of these, ask for them before signing.
How to compare three quotes properly
Once you have three fixed-price quotes based on proper surveys, compare them like this.
First, check that all three cover the same scope. If one includes packing and two do not, they are not comparable at face value.
Second, check whether VAT is included in each. A quote of £900 plus VAT is £1,080. A quote of £1,020 inclusive is cheaper for the same job.
Third, check what each says about waiting time, parking, and completion day delays. A quote that looks lower may become more expensive if they add waiting-time charges the others absorb. For a full breakdown of what removal costs include, read our removal cost guide or use the free removal cost calculator to estimate your range before you start getting quotes.
Fourth, check the recent reviews of all three. Price should not be your only factor. A company with slightly higher rates and consistently excellent recent reviews is usually the better choice than the cheapest firm with patchy feedback.
How to choose a removal company in the South East
If you are moving in or around Aylesbury, Reading, Oxford, Maidenhead, or Slough, the same checklist applies with a few local additions worth knowing.
Parking bay suspensions. Streets in central Oxford (OX1 to OX4), Reading town centre (RG1), and most of central London require a council suspension for a removal van to park legally. Ask whether the company arranges this for you and how much notice they need. An operator unfamiliar with the South East may not flag this until moving day itself.
ULEZ and the Congestion Charge on London moves. If your move involves London, ask whether the company’s fleet is ULEZ compliant. A non-compliant van adds £12.50 per day to your costs. The Congestion Charge adds £18 per day for central London from January 2026. Ask upfront whether these are included in your quote or charged separately.
Local route knowledge. For moves along the M4 and M40 corridor, ask whether the company operates this route regularly. Knowledge of the A40, the Oxford ring road, and the M25 junctions around Slough genuinely affects how smoothly your day goes.
At Shiftify, our fleet is ULEZ compliant, we arrange parking suspensions with the relevant council as part of the booking, and we operate all South East routes regularly. When you ask us the questions in this guide, we will answer every one of them directly.
Are removal companies worth paying for?
For a full house move, especially a 3-bedroom home and above, the additional cost compared to a man and van is usually justified. A trained crew with the right vehicle clears a full house in a day. The same job with a man and van takes longer, involves more physical risk, and typically carries less comprehensive insurance cover.
The people who regret using a removal company mostly chose on price alone without checking what was included. The people who regret not using one usually moved a full family home themselves and underestimated how long and difficult it was.
For a fuller comparison, read our guide on man and van vs removal company.
About Shiftify Removals
We are based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and have been moving homes and offices across the South East for over 10 years. Every move is surveyed before we quote, every price is fixed in writing, and every job is carried out by our own trained, background-checked crew in our own vans. We carry goods-in-transit and public liability cover on every move, arrange parking suspensions with the relevant council, and our fleet is ULEZ compliant.
If you want to see how we measure up against the checklist in this guide, call us or request a free video survey and we will answer every question on it.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I find a reputable removal company?
Start with the BAR member search, Google reviews, and Trustpilot. Get at least three written quotes based on proper surveys. A company that surveys your home, confirms a fixed price in writing, owns its own vehicles, and has consistent recent reviews is worth considering.
What are the main red flags in a removal company?
The main ones: a quote with no survey, cash-only payment, no physical business address, pressure to book immediately, a price far below competitors, unmarked vans, vague answers to insurance questions, and a large upfront deposit before any written confirmation.
Is BAR membership important when choosing a removal company?
It is a strong positive signal. BAR-registered companies have been audited, carry required insurance, and have access to a disputes resolution scheme if something goes wrong. A company without accreditation is not automatically bad, but membership gives you a formal route if it does.
What insurance should a removal company carry?
Goods-in-transit insurance covering your belongings if damaged during the move, and public liability insurance covering damage to your property. Always ask for the cover limits and whether owner-packed boxes are included. Ask to see the current certificate before booking.
Should I always get three quotes?
Yes, where possible. Three quotes for the same scope after a proper survey lets you compare price, service level, and what is included. It also helps you spot a quote that is suspiciously low.
What should a removal quote include in writing?
The addresses, the moving date, what is included, whether VAT is included, the total fixed price, the policy on date changes, and the cancellation terms. If any of these are missing, ask before you sign.
How do I check if a removal company is legitimate?
Search on Companies House to verify a registered address and trading history. Check their BAR or NGRS membership if claimed. Request an insurance certificate and confirm it is current.
What happens if something is damaged during my move?
Report it to the company as soon as possible, as claim windows can be short. Photograph the damage and keep any packaging. A reputable company will explain the claims process. This is exactly why asking about the process before you book matters.
How do I compare removal quotes fairly?
Make sure all quotes cover the same scope (packing, dismantling, parking, waiting time), check whether each is VAT-inclusive or exclusive, and read the recent reviews of each firm. Price alone is not a reliable guide to the quality of service.
