Home Removals Insurance

The cost of home removals insurance depends mainly on the value of the household goods, vehicles, boats or caravans you declare, where they are going, and whether they travel by road, rail, sea or air. Home moving cover is priced instantly on FIS International’s online platform, so you can enter your move details and see the price before deciding. Declaring full replacement value helps avoid a reduced claim payment.

Standard home and contents policies are designed for belongings kept inside your home. Some include limited cover in transit, but generally not everyday removal accidents, such as a television dropped on the stairs or furniture scratched during loading. Your removalist usually holds carriers legal liability cover, which only pays if the removalist was legally liable, so it may not respond if, for example, another vehicle hits the truck. Home removals insurance protects your belongings directly, subject to the policy terms, conditions and exclusions.

Full accidental damage cover protects against drops, breakages and handling scratches. Restricted perils cover pays only for major events such as a truck crash or fire.

• Packing: if you pack your own boxes, accidental breakage of the items inside is usually excluded.
• Storage: goods held in storage between homes are covered only if you add a storage extension.
• Valuables: jewellery, fine art and collections have item limits and must be declared individually with valuations.
• Inventory: keep a full inventory that matches the packing list signed by the removalists, in case items go missing.
• Claim timing: report damage quickly, because there is a strict window after delivery.

For general guidance on insurance, visit ASIC’s MoneySmart. If something is damaged, lodge it through our claims page or call 1800 656 836.

Once you have booked your removalist and know your moving dates. The cover must be in place before your belongings are packed and collected, so arrange it a few days ahead rather than on moving day.

Insure them for what it would cost to replace them with similar new items, not their second-hand value. If the total is too low, a claim payment can be reduced. List valuable items, such as jewellery, art and collections, separately with their values.

Yes. A car, boat or caravan can be insured for a single transit even when no household goods are moving, within Australia or overseas. The quote asks for each item, its value and whether it travels by road, rail, sea or air, and cover is subject to the policy terms and conditions. If you are also moving household goods, they can be included on the same home moving quote.

Yes. International relocations by sea or air can be covered from collection to delivery, as set out on your certificate of insurance. Customs inspections and quarantine handling can have limits or conditions, so check the policy wording before you move.