Handing your whole household to a team of people you met ten minutes ago takes a fair bit of trust. So it makes sense that one of the first things people ask is: do removalists have insurance? The short answer is yes, most professional removalists carry insurance. The longer answer is that their insurance usually protects their business, their trucks and the public, and it often covers far less of your furniture than people assume.
That gap catches a lot of people out. A scratched dining table, a cracked TV screen or a box of glassware that arrives in pieces might not be covered at all, depending on what policy the removalist holds and what caused the damage. Knowing the difference before moving day is what turns “I hope it’s covered” into real peace of mind.
In this guide we’ll walk you through the types of insurance removalists carry, what those policies typically leave out, how transit insurance and your home contents policy fit in, and the questions worth asking before you book. We’ll also explain exactly how cover works when you move with Good Mates, because we think you deserve a clear answer rather than a vague “fully covered”.
Do Removalists Have Insurance? The Short Answer
Most established removalists in Australia carry some form of business insurance, but there’s no single standard policy and no law that says a removalist must insure your belongings. NSW Fair Trading’s guide to choosing a removalist puts it plainly: removalists are not required by law to provide insurance for your property during a move, and it recommends getting your own cover.
Closer to home, the Queensland Government’s advice on using a removalist notes that most removalists only have insurance for their own vehicles in case of an accident, so you’ll likely need your own cover for loss or damage to your goods.
In other words, “Are you insured?” is the wrong question to ask a removalist. Almost everyone will say yes. The better question is “What does your insurance actually cover, and what doesn’t it cover?”
The Types of Insurance Removalists Usually Carry
Removalist insurance isn’t one policy. It’s usually a mix of several, each protecting something different. The Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) requires its members to hold public liability insurance, third party property insurance, motor vehicle insurance and carrier’s legal liability insurance, which is a useful benchmark for what a well-run removalist should have in place.
Public liability insurance
Public liability covers injury to other people and damage to third-party property caused by the removalist’s work. Think of a crew member accidentally knocking a neighbour’s letterbox while reversing, or a passer-by tripping over equipment on the footpath. It’s essential for any business that works in people’s homes, but it isn’t designed to pay for the contents of your boxes.
Carriers legal liability insurance
This is the policy most people mean when they assume their goods are “covered”. Carriers legal liability protects the removalist if they’re legally responsible for loss or damage to goods they’re carrying. The catch is in the detail. Cover is often limited to situations where the removalist was proven negligent, and some policies only respond to specific events such as fire, a collision or the truck overturning. A wardrobe scuffed while being carried down the stairs may fall outside it entirely.
Motor vehicle insurance
Removalists insure their trucks like any commercial fleet. This protects the vehicle itself. It’s important for the business, but on its own it does very little for the furniture inside.
Transit insurance (goods in transit cover)
Transit insurance, also called goods in transit insurance or removals insurance, is the policy built to protect your belongings during a move. Many removalists can arrange it for you through a specialist insurer, or you can buy it yourself. It usually comes in two forms:
- Full or comprehensive cover: protects against accidental loss or damage from most external causes, including during packing, loading and unloading.
- Restricted cover: only responds to named events, typically fire, flood, collision, overturning and theft of a whole package.
Transit insurance isn’t compulsory, but if you want your belongings protected against everyday accidents, it’s the cover that does that job.
What a Removalist’s Insurance Usually Won’t Cover
Every policy is different, so always read the terms you’re given. That said, these are the common gaps that surprise people after moving day:
- Accidental damage during loading and unloading: unless you’ve arranged full transit cover, knocks and drops while carrying items are often excluded from a removalist’s own policy.
- Boxes you packed yourself: if the removalist didn’t pack it, they usually can’t verify how it was packed, so breakages inside owner-packed cartons are commonly excluded or only get restricted cover.
- Fragile and mechanical items: televisions, appliances, glassware, marble, ceramics and flat-pack furniture are frequently carried at the owner’s risk.
- Internal or mechanical faults: a fridge that stops working or a piano that needs tuning after a move is rarely covered, even when the outside looks perfect.
- Pre-existing damage: scratches, wobbly joints and wear that were already there before the move.
- Cash, jewellery and important documents: these should travel with you, not on the truck.
- Items moved by friends or family: if your mates help carry things on the day, damage from their handling usually isn’t the removalist’s responsibility.
None of this means professional removalists are careless. A good crew will pad, wrap and strap every item to stop damage happening in the first place. It simply means insurance and care are two different things, and it pays to understand both.
Removalist Insurance vs Transit Insurance vs Home Contents Insurance
Three different policies can come into play when you move house, and it’s easy to mix them up. Here’s how they compare:
| Type of cover | Who holds it | What it’s designed to protect | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public liability | The removalist | Injury to people and damage to third-party property | Doesn’t cover your belongings |
| Carriers legal liability | The removalist | Goods in their care, where the removalist is legally liable | Often limited to proven negligence or named events |
| Transit insurance | You (sometimes arranged by the removalist) | Your belongings while packed, moved and unloaded | Choose full or restricted cover, and replacement or market value |
| Home contents insurance | You | Your belongings at your home address | Some policies include limited transit cover, so check yours first |
Before buying a separate policy, call your home contents insurer. Some policies include a limited amount of transit cover, some let you add it, and some cover your belongings at both addresses for a short period around the move. Let your insurer know your new address and moving date either way, since some policies require it.
Your Rights Under Australian Consumer Law
Insurance isn’t your only protection. Under the Australian Consumer Law, services come with automatic consumer guarantees. The ACCC explains that service providers must carry out all services with an acceptable level of care and skill, and that these basic rights can’t be taken away by anything a business says or does.
In practice, that means a removalist who damages your goods through careless handling may owe you a remedy whether or not their insurance responds. One exception is worth noting: the ACCC says services to transport or store goods for business purposes aren’t covered by the consumer guarantees, so commercial and office moves rely more heavily on the contract and insurance in place.
Consumer law gives you a right to a remedy. Insurance gives you a fast, clear path to repair or replace something. For a valuable household, having both is the safest position.
What to Ask a Removalist Before You Book
A trustworthy removalist will be happy to answer these questions in writing. If you get a vague answer or “don’t worry, you’re fully covered”, keep asking until you have specifics.
- What insurance policies do you hold? Ask them to name each one, not just say “we’re insured”.
- Are my belongings covered for accidental damage during loading and unloading? This is the gap that matters most for everyday knocks and drops.
- Is there a limit per item or per move? High-value furniture, art and pianos may need to be declared separately.
- Is there an excess, and who pays it? Find out before you need to make a claim, not after.
- Are boxes I pack myself covered? If not, consider professional packing for fragile rooms like the kitchen.
- How and when do I report damage? Some removalists need damage reported in writing within 24 hours of delivery.
- Can you arrange transit insurance, and what does it cost? Compare it with a standalone policy and your contents insurer.
- Can I read your terms and conditions before I book? The insurance and liability clause tells you more than any sales pitch.
The Queensland Government also recommends checking whether a removalist is an AFRA member, reading online reviews and comparing quotes for the same type of service, which is good advice whatever you’re moving. If you’re weighing up quotes at the moment, our guide to how much removalists cost in Australia explains what a fair quote should include.
How to Protect Your Belongings on Moving Day
The best insurance claim is the one you never have to make. A few simple habits make damage far less likely and make any claim much easier if something does go wrong.
- Make an inventory: list the main items and note any existing scratches, dents or chips.
- Take photos: photograph valuable furniture, electronics and packed boxes before the truck arrives. Date-stamped photos are gold if you need to make a claim.
- Label and number your cartons: it’s easier to spot a missing box when they’re numbered.
- Pack fragile items properly, or have them professionally packed: double-wrapped glassware, padded corners and well-filled boxes stop items shifting in transit.
- Keep valuables with you: jewellery, cash, passports, hard drives and sentimental items should ride in your car.
- Prepare appliances: defrost the fridge, drain the washing machine and secure loose parts the day before.
- Check everything on arrival: unpack fragile boxes and inspect furniture as soon as practical, while any reporting window is still open.
What Happens If Something Gets Damaged?
Even with the best crew and careful packing, accidents can happen. If you find damage after your move, stay calm and work through these steps:
- Document it straight away. Take clear photos of the damage and the packaging it came in, and keep the item and box if you can.
- Report it in writing. Email the removalist with your booking details, photos and a description. Check their terms for the deadline, as some are as short as 24 hours.
- Notify your insurer. If you bought transit insurance, lodge a claim with that insurer and follow their process.
- Don’t throw anything out or arrange repairs yet. Insurers and assessors may need to inspect the item first.
- Escalate if needed. If you can’t resolve a dispute directly, the Queensland Office of Fair Trading can provide guidance on your options.
How Insurance Works When You Move With Good Mates
We’d rather be upfront about our cover than have you find out after moving day. Here’s how it works when you book with us as your Gold Coast removalists:
- Public and products liability insurance: covers proven accidental injury or damage to third-party property caused by our work.
- Carriers legal liability insurance: provides limited cover for your goods in transit or in storage where loss or damage results directly from our proven negligence, in specific incidents including fire, collision and vehicle overturning within Australia.
- Full accidental damage cover is not included in our rate: if you’d like your belongings covered on a full replacement basis, including knocks during loading and unloading, we recommend arranging your own transit insurance before moving day.
The full details, including per-item limits, excess and claim time frames, are set out in our terms and conditions, and our team is always happy to talk you through them before you book. If you have a piano, artwork or other high-value pieces, let us know their value when you request a quote so we can confirm what applies.
Insurance is the safety net, but care is what we’re known for. Our trained crew pads, wraps and secures every item, and over 1,400 five-star Google reviews tell you how seriously we take it. If you want extra confidence with fragile rooms, our professional packing and unpacking service means your boxes are packed by people who do it every day.
Storing goods between moves? Our secure storage facility in Arundel is monitored 24/7 with CCTV and alarms. Our terms require stored goods to be insured for their full replacement value, and we can point you towards trusted providers to arrange that cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are removalists required by law to have insurance?
No law requires a removalist to insure your belongings. Most professional removalists carry public liability and vehicle insurance, and AFRA members must also hold carrier’s legal liability insurance. Cover for your goods against everyday accidents usually comes from transit insurance, which you can arrange yourself or through your removalist.
Does home contents insurance cover moving house?
Sometimes, but usually only in part. Some contents policies include limited transit cover or let you add it, and some cover belongings at both addresses for a short time. Call your insurer before your move, confirm what’s included, and update your address so your policy stays valid.
Is removalist insurance worth it?
If you’re moving furniture, electronics or anything you couldn’t easily afford to replace, transit insurance is usually worth considering. A removalist’s own liability cover is often limited to negligence or specific events, so transit insurance is what protects you against ordinary accidents. For a small move of low-value items, your contents policy may be enough.
Does transit insurance cover boxes I pack myself?
Often not fully. Many policies only offer restricted cover for owner-packed cartons, because the insurer can’t confirm how they were packed. If you’re moving lots of breakables, professional packing can give you broader cover and fewer breakages.
Do I need insurance for items in storage?
Yes, it’s a good idea, and some storage providers require it. Storage is usually treated separately from the move itself, so check whether your transit policy can be extended or take out dedicated storage cover for the full replacement value of your goods.
Final Thoughts
So, do removalists have insurance? Most do, but it’s usually there to protect the business, the truck and the public, not every item in your home. The surest way to protect your belongings is to understand exactly what your removalist covers, fill any gaps with transit insurance or your contents policy, and choose a crew that treats your furniture like their own.
If you’re planning a move on the Gold Coast or into Brisbane, we’d love to help. Ask us anything about cover before you book, and request your free, no-obligation quote to get started.