Comparing removal quotes side by side only works if you are actually comparing like with like, and VAT is one of the more common reasons two quotes that look close on paper end up meaningfully different once you get to the invoice. It is a simple thing to check, but easy to overlook when you are juggling several quotes and a moving date at the same time.
Why this is worth checking before you shortlist quotes, not after
The most useful point to raise VAT status is right at the quote-request stage, when you first contact a removal company, rather than after you have already mentally ranked quotes by headline price. Asking every company on your shortlist the same direct question, “is this quote inclusive of VAT,” at the same stage of the process, is what actually makes a fair comparison possible, since otherwise you are relying on each company’s own convention for how they present a figure, which is not consistent across the industry.
The basic VAT position
Removal services in the UK are subject to standard-rate VAT, currently 20%, when supplied by a VAT-registered business. Whether that applies to your quote depends entirely on whether the specific removal company is VAT registered, which in UK law is generally required once a business’s taxable turnover exceeds the current VAT registration threshold, though a business can also register voluntarily below that threshold. Smaller, owner-operated “man and van” businesses are more likely to sit below the threshold and not charge VAT at all, while larger, established removal firms are almost always VAT registered.
Why this makes quote comparison harder than it looks
A quote of £600 from a VAT-registered company and a quote of £600 from a non-VAT-registered company are not the same offer if one figure is VAT-inclusive and the other simply doesn’t have VAT to add, or worse, if one company has quoted excluding VAT and expects to add 20% at invoicing stage. This is the scenario that catches people out: a quote that looks like the cheapest option on comparison can become the most expensive once VAT is added at the final invoice, if the comparison wasn’t done on a genuinely like-for-like basis in the first place.
The straightforward fix is to ask every company you get a quote from to confirm explicitly whether the figure quoted is VAT inclusive or exclusive, and if exclusive, what the VAT-inclusive total will actually be. A reputable company should be able to answer this immediately and put it in writing as part of the formal quote, rather than leaving it as a verbal aside.
What this means for the cheapest-looking quote
It is worth being specifically cautious of a quote that comes in noticeably lower than every other quote you have received, since one explanation, alongside genuinely competitive pricing, is a non-VAT-registered operator whose price looks better partly because there is no VAT to add, rather than because the underlying service cost is actually lower. This is not a reason to avoid smaller operators, many of whom offer genuinely good value and service, but it is a reason to check registration status and get written confirmation of the final, all-in price before booking, rather than assuming the headline number is directly comparable to a VAT-inclusive quote from a larger firm.
Other charges that sit alongside VAT
VAT is usually the largest single addition to a headline quote, but it is not the only one. Additional charges for stairs, long carries from the vehicle to the property, ultra-early or weekend bookings, and packing materials are common and should also be confirmed in writing before booking, since these, like VAT, are the kind of addition that turns an attractive quote into a disappointing final invoice if they were not clarified up front. Asking for a single, itemised, VAT-clear written quote before you commit is the simplest way to avoid all of these surprises landing at once on moving day.
Why VAT registration status is also a useful screening question
Asking whether a company is VAT registered has a secondary benefit beyond price comparison: it is a quick, factual way to gauge the scale and established status of a business, since VAT registration becomes compulsory once turnover passes the government threshold, meaning a registered company has, by definition, reached a certain trading volume. This is not a guarantee of quality on its own, and there are excellent smaller operators trading below the threshold, but it is one more data point worth combining with checking accreditation, such as membership of the British Association of Removers, insurance cover, and reviews, rather than relying on price alone when comparing quotes.
If a company is VAT registered, they are legally required to issue a proper VAT invoice showing their VAT registration number, the VAT rate applied, and the VAT amount separately from the net cost, once the job is complete. Keeping this invoice is useful beyond the move itself, particularly if any part of your move is being claimed as a business expense, such as a work relocation package, where a compliant VAT invoice may be required by your employer or accountant to process reimbursement correctly.