The gap between what people assume a removalist insures and what the regulators say they insure.
Figures checked
In brief
Removalists are not required by law 1 to insure your belongings, and most insure their vehicle only 1 , according to the NSW Government. Transit cover insures goods during packing, moving and any storage 1 .
Queensland's advice is blunter: you will probably need your own insurance 2 .
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 hold insurance covering their vehicle only 1 in an accident. Consumer Protection WA has taken complaints that included false insurance claims 3 , so a verbal
"we're fully insured" is not proof. Ask for a copy of the Certificate of Currency 3 and read what the policy actually lists:
goods, or a vehicle.
What does each type of cover pay for?
Stages of a move and the cover each policy is described as providing.
Types of removal insurance and what each covers
Cover
What the regulator says it covers
Transit insurance (QLD description)
Transit insurance protects against damage or loss during transit, packing and unpacking, for moves within Australia or overseas 2
Transit cover (NSW description)
Transit cover insures your goods while they are being packed and moved by removalists, and this includes any storage 1
Storage insurance
Storage insurance is available for goods held in storage temporarily 2
Accidental insurance
Accidental insurance covers accidental damage you cause to your own items, for instance when you move cartons about the house to unpack 2
The removalist's own policy
Most removalist companies only have insurance that covers their vehicle if an accident occurs 1
How much does transit insurance cost?
Transit insurance price, by declared value
From Yes Movers, checked 16 September 2026. Each source is listed at the foot of the page.Show these figures as a table
Premium
Basic, $20,000 declared
$150-$300
Comprehensive, $50,000 declared
$300-$700
Those are Yes Movers' figures for a Sydney to Melbourne move, so treat them as one business's 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 pay out very differently for the same old lounge.
This page is general information drawn from government guidance and one published price guide. It is not insurance
advice. Read the product disclosure statement for any policy before you buy it.
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 1 . For a major problem you can terminate the contract and ask for a full refund 1 , 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 2 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 4 .
Last, read the contract's liability wording before you sign. Consumer Protection WA tells consumers to avoid a clause saying they take no responsibility for damage or loss 3 .
Checked
Each figure here was last matched against its source on .
How we source prices.