The difference between the two is often hard to define and some insurers can offer hauliers substantial discounts, the following will explain what insurers class as haulier and what insurers class as couriers.

Courier

Insurance companies for the purpose of insurance will class a courier as anybody who is doing multi drops ie parcel delivery. If you do not know from one day to the next what you will be carrying and where it is to go in advance then you will need courier insurance, especially If you do more than 4 or 5 drops a day and they are small parcels - for instance delivering cataloge orders.

Haulier

Insurance companies for the purpose of insurance will class a haulier as somebody who has fixed contracts and is usually only doing 1 or 2 deliveries a day, they will usually know what they are carrying and will know who they are delivering to. For instance, if you have a contact with a furniture shop and you are delivering sofas on their behalf and you are doing no more than 3 deliveries a day you are entitled to buy haulier insurance.

Haulier insurance is - 9 times out of 10 - cheaper than courier insurance but you must purchase the right cover for what you are doing as purchasing a lesser cover will invalidate your insurance.