A business hands a bag of takings to a driver and assumes the money is insured from that moment. Often it is, but only up to a limit nobody has checked. Anyone comparing cash in transit services in the UK should ask what insurance sits behind the service before asking about routes or price. This article explains which policies matter and which questions show whether a provider's cover fits your cash volumes.
Cash in Transit Insurance in UK: The Policies That Matter
Start with what the law requires. A provider with employees must hold employers' liability insurance, set at a minimum of £5 million under the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969, and its vehicles need motor insurance. Neither protects your money. That job falls to a dedicated cash policy. Terms vary between insurers, which is why any cash in transit insurance in the UK policy deserves a read in full, not a glance at a brochure. Public liability cover, which responds to third-party injury or damage, is not compulsory but is a reasonable thing to expect.
Where the Limit Actually Applies
The figure that matters is the limit per load or per vehicle. Picture a van collecting from twelve sites and carrying £400,000 by the afternoon. If the policy limit is £250,000, the difference is exposure someone has to absorb, and your contract decides who. Ask whether the limit applies per carry or per day, and whether cover depends on conditions such as crew size or the vehicle never being left unattended. Ask too whether losses involving a provider's own staff are covered, since some policies exclude them.
Cash in Transit Providers in the UK: What to Ask
Cover also has to run for as long as your cash is in someone else's hands. For cash in transit providers in the UK, ask when responsibility transfers, whether at collection or only after the count is credited to your account. Any gap between the two should be closed in writing. Licensing is a second check. Staff carrying out licensable cash and valuables in transit activities generally need the appropriate SIA licence, while the SIA's Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is a voluntary accreditation scheme that some security companies choose to join. Not all cash in transit companies describe their cover the same way, so request the certificate and policy wording rather than a summary, and confirm the insurer and expiry date.
About BDI Securities
BDI Securities UK Limited provides secure cash and coin collection services for businesses across the UK. With experience supporting businesses that handle regular cash collections, the team can discuss your collection requirements and explain the service arrangements, including relevant cover and liability considerations.
Conclusion
Before signing, compare the provider's applicable policy limit with the most cash you expect to move in a single collection round, then get the cover terms and the point of responsibility written into the contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is employers' liability insurance enough for a cash in transit provider?
No. It covers claims from employees injured at work, not the cash being carried. Cash cover is a separate policy.
2. Who pays if cash is stolen during collection?
That depends on the policy and the contract. Check where liability passes to the provider and whether the policy limit covers the amount involved.
3. How do I verify a provider's insurance?
Ask for the certificate and policy wording, then confirm the insurer, limits and expiry date directly.
4. Are coins covered on the same terms as banknotes?
Not always. Coins are heavier and bulkier, so ask whether the policy treats them the same way and whether the limit reflects the value you actually carry.
