Box lorry cover
Box lorry insurance for deliveries behind closed doors
Box rigids and box trailers on parcels, pallets, retail and home delivery. A single short form leads to brokers who know box work.
- 7.5 to 26 tonne box rigids
- Tail lifts and box trailers
- Own goods or haulage
Quick answer
Box lorry insurance is HGV motor cover for a goods vehicle with a fully enclosed, hard-sided body, either a rigid box lorry or a box van trailer. The policy deals with the vehicle and its liability on the road. The goods inside, the tail lift and any work done at the customer's door are separate questions, usually answered with goods in transit (opens in a new tab) and public liability (opens in a new tab) cover.
Box lorry cover at a glance
- Insurers want to know what goes in the box: parcels, pallets, furniture, white goods or mixed retail stock.
- A retailer moving its own stock is rated differently from a carrier delivering for paying customers.
- Multi-drop town work means more stops, more reversing and more time with the rear doors open.
- Tall box bodies bring a real risk of striking low bridges, canopies and overhanging trees.
- A tail lift is lifting equipment, so its upkeep and who operates it can come up when cover is arranged.
What box lorry insurance covers
Box lorry policies usually start with standard HGV motor cover and add sections for the body, the tail lift and the goods. How much of that sits in one policy varies between insurers.
Box lorry types and what insurers look at
The weight, the body and what it carries shape how a box lorry is rated.
| Box lorry | Typical work | What insurers look at |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5 tonne box with tail lift | Multi-drop parcels, retail top-ups and home deliveries in towns | Number of drops, parking at stops, driver age and experience |
| 18 tonne box rigid | Pallet network collections and drops, and regional store deliveries | Load value, overnight parking, tail lift condition |
| 26 tonne box rigid | Bulky furniture, white goods and high-volume retail stock | Body height, routes, two-person crews and goods values |
| Box van trailer on an artic | Distribution centre to store runs and contract logistics | Trailer cover when uncoupled, yard security, trailer value |
Box bodies with fridge units are covered on our refrigerated lorry insurance page, and soft-sided bodies on curtainside lorry insurance. For the lighter end of the range, 7.5 tonne lorry insurance has more detail.
Delivering your own stock or carrying for others
The same box rigid can be insured in quite different ways depending on whose goods sit inside. Insurers look at who owns the load and whether you are paid to move it.
Your own stock
Furniture shops, appliance retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers delivering what they sell usually insure for carriage of own goods.
Carrying for customers
Parcel carriers, pallet network members and contract distributors move other people's goods for payment, which calls for haulage use. Haulier insurance covers that trade in more detail.
Which class of use fits a box lorry delivering pallets for a network?
- NoSocial, domestic and pleasureNot suited to any commercial box lorry.
- NoCarriage of own goodsOnly for stock your own business owns and sells.
- YesHaulage, or hire and rewardPallets and parcels carried for others in return for payment.
Household moves are different
Box lorries used to move people's homes carry a mix of personal belongings and packing work that insurers view separately. The removals lorry insurance page covers that trade. Above 3.5 tonnes, own goods operators usually hold a restricted operator licence and hauliers a standard one, and brokers will ask which you have.
What affects the price of box lorry insurance
A box lorry's premium reflects how much stop-start driving it does and how tempting its load is to thieves.
Around the vehicle
Tight urban streets, frequent reversing into loading bays, and the extra height of the body near bridges and canopies.
Around the load
High-value electronics or appliances, parking overnight with goods aboard, and rear doors left open at drops.
- What you carryMixed parcels, flat-pack furniture and branded electricals each carry a different theft and damage profile.
- Security fittedDeadlocks, door alarms, trackers and cameras can count in your favour where insurers ask about them.
- Drops per dayHeavy multi-drop schedules mean more manoeuvres and more chances for a slow-speed bump.
- Where it is keptA locked, lit yard is viewed more kindly than a lay-by or a street with the box still loaded.
- DriversAge, licence history and how long drivers have handled box lorries of this size.
- Claims recordPast bridge strikes, theft claims and loading bay damage all weigh in. Several lorries can sit together on HGV fleet insurance.
Cover that often sits alongside box lorry insurance
The motor policy rarely reaches everything a box lorry business is exposed to. These covers fill the usual gaps.
Before you buy
Questions worth asking about box lorry cover
Box lorry policies tend to differ on the load, the tail lift and the conditions attached to parking. Brokers can explain how each of these is handled on a quote.
- Is a bridge strike covered in full?Roof and body damage may be covered, but some policies carry a higher excess for height-related claims.
- What are the unattended vehicle conditions?Goods cover often depends on doors being locked and keys removed whenever the cab is empty.
- Is overnight parking restricted?Some insurers only cover a loaded box overnight in a secure yard or approved site.
- Are certain goods excluded or capped?Phones, laptops, alcohol and tobacco are often limited or need declaring separately.
- Does the tail lift have its own cover?Lift failure and injury on the platform may fall under different sections.
- Is work inside customers' homes covered?Carrying in, unpacking and fitting appliances can sit outside a standard liability policy.
- Is the box trailer covered when uncoupled?Third party cover usually follows the tractor unit, so a parked trailer may need its own policy.
- Is the lorry declared for the right use?Own-stock rounds and paid parcel or pallet work sit under different classes of use.
How it works
How to get a box lorry insurance quote
HGV Insure is an information site, not an insurer or a broker. We link you to MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that can put box lorry operators in touch with specialist brokers.
- 1
The quote form
Get my box lorry quote takes you to our partner, MyMoneyComparison.com.
- 2
Your box lorry and the work
The form asks about the vehicle, its weight and body type, your operator licence and who drives. The broker can then go through the goods, the tail lift and your delivery pattern.
- 3
Options from a broker
A specialist broker contacts you with options, subject to insurers' acceptance criteria. There is no obligation to buy.
FAQs
Box lorry insurance FAQs
What is box lorry insurance?
It is HGV motor cover for a lorry or trailer with a hard-sided enclosed body. It can be extended or paired with cover for the goods carried, the tail lift and liability when delivering to customers.
Does my box lorry policy cover the goods inside?
Usually not on its own. The load is normally insured under goods in transit insurance, which sets limits per vehicle and conditions for locking and parking.
Am I covered if the lorry hits a low bridge?
Damage to your own lorry is generally a comprehensive cover matter, and damage to the bridge is a third party claim. Bridge strikes can lead to costly claims from the bridge owner, so insurers take an interest in how drivers are briefed on vehicle height and route planning.
Is theft from the back of a box lorry covered?
It can be under goods in transit cover, provided the policy conditions were met. Thefts from an unlocked or unattended box, or from a vehicle parked somewhere the policy does not allow, are often refused.
Do tail lifts need to be inspected?
Yes. A tail lift is lifting equipment and is usually examined at set intervals by a competent person. Insurers and brokers may ask for recent reports along with any defects found.
Is a retailer's delivery lorry insured differently from a parcel carrier's?
Yes. A shop delivering its own furniture or appliances normally insures for carriage of own goods, while a carrier moving parcels for others needs haulage use.
Does box lorry insurance cover installing white goods?
Delivery and carrying in may be covered under public liability, but connecting appliances to water or gas supplies is often treated as separate work. It is a point for the broker if your crews do more than drop off.
Can I insure a box lorry as a new operator?
Many insurers will consider it, often asking about driver experience, the goods carried and where the lorry is kept. New operator HGV insurance has more on starting out.
Does HGV Insure sell box lorry insurance?
No. HGV Insure is an information site and an affiliate of MyMoneyComparison.com, which matches operators with specialist brokers. When you start a quote you continue to MyMoneyComparison.com, and we may be paid a small commission if you are matched with and speak to a broker.
Ready to get your box lorry covered?
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