Removalist insurance: what is covered

This is the part that surprises people on moving day. Booking a removalist does not mean your things are insured. The truck almost certainly is.

Does my removalist's insurance cover my furniture?

Usually not. The NSW Government says most removalist companies only hold insurance covering their vehicle only↗ in an accident. Consumer Protection WA has taken complaints that included false insurance claims↗, so a verbal "we're fully insured" is not proof. Ask for a Certificate of Currency↗ and read what the policy actually lists: goods, or a vehicle.

What does each type of cover pay for?

How much does transit insurance cost?

Those are Yes Movers' figures for a Sydney to Melbourne move, so treat them as an industry guide rather than a market rate. Before you pick a declared value, check whether the policy pays replacement value or a depreciated value, because the two produce very different cheques for the same ten-year-old lounge.

What if something is broken anyway?

You still have rights without a policy. Under the consumer guarantees the NSW Government describes, removal services must be provided with due care and skill↗. For a major problem you can terminate the contract and ask for a full refund↗, or seek the difference between what you paid and what you got.

Two habits make any claim easier, and both cost nothing:

• Prepare an inventory with photos↗ before the truck arrives: note existing damage, photograph furniture, number the cartons.
• Keep the irreplaceable things with you. Consumer Affairs Victoria's advice is to keep valuables separate↗.

Last, read the contract for a clause saying the removalist accepts no responsibility for damage or loss. Consumer Protection WA tells consumers to avoid no responsibility clauses↗.