Does contents insurance cover moving house?

Generally speaking, contents insurance protects your personal possessions inside your home, such as furniture, appliances, whitegoods, electronics and jewelry.

Contents insurance doesn’t cover anything that’s permanently fixed to the site or building (those usually come under home insurance) nor, in most cases, items that belong to anyone visiting your home that are accidentally lost or damaged on your premises.

It can but not always - it all depends on the provider and policy you have.

Some insurance providers offer a level of cover for your contents if damage or loss is caused by events such as theft, flood, fire or road accident while a vehicle is carrying your items to your new home. There can be limitations, however, such as only covering items in transit but not when they’re being loaded and unloaded from the vehicle.

Other policies may not cover you if you fail to tell your provider about your moving plans, or if you use a removalist that isn’t considered professional. There may also be an exemption if your belongings are stored in a facility. Some providers may restrict transit insurance, or will only provide this additional cover if you pay a premium.

Since policies can differ drastically, it’s important to take a close look at your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and other important documentation, and speak with your provider, to confirm if you’re covered (and to what extent).

Yes. If you’re not covered by your content insurance policy, there are other ways you can protect your belongings while moving - by taking out transit insurance with your removalist or a specialised provider.

Here are your other options for moving house goods in transit insurance:

Removalist transit insurance

You might be able to do a two-in-one and take out transit insurance directly from the removalist who’ll be transporting your belongings to your new abode. Removal companies aren’t legally required to provide transit insurance to cover your belongings but they may have insurance to cover themselves against legal claims.

If you’re up for this added protection, the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) recommends you ensure your removalist is properly qualified to offer you insurance. AFRA-accredited removal companies must have public liability, third-party property, motor vehicle and carriers’ legal liability insurance. These types of insurance may provide some cover for your items, should they be damaged or lost as a result of negligence by the removalist, but not due to other events or accidents (such as theft or fire).

If you get transit insurance through an AFRA-accredited removal company, it will typically come at an extra cost. This cost will vary depending on the:

• level of cover you take out (e.g. full replacement or value-only cover);
• types of belongings you're transporting;
• distance the belongings are being transported;
• method of transportation
• policy excess.

If your removalist offers transit insurance, they’ll need to provide a PDS and Financial Services Guide regarding the cover. Be sure to review these documents carefully before you sign up so you know exactly what you’re covered for, and whether it will suit your needs and budget.

Standalone transit insurance

There are also some specialised moving and storage companies who you may be able to take transit insurance out with. The cost will depend on several factors, including the value you put on your possessions and what circumstances you want to cover. 

Before buying one of these policies, it’s important to check the PDS and other documentation, or contact the provider directly, so you’re clear on the cover’s inclusions and exclusions.

Cover differs depending on the policy and provider you’ve chosen, but may include:

• loss or damage to your goods when being packed and unpacked
• loss or damage to your goods when being loaded or unloaded from a vehicle
• loss or damage to your goods caused by removalist mishandling
• loss or damage to your goods while in transit (e.g. from road accidents, fires, derailment, theft, impact or malicious damage, or grounding of vessels and crashes or forced landings for aircraft)
• incidental storage costs
• alternative accommodation expenses, if required.

The policy may be for domestic or international relocation, depending on what you need and the cover you choose.