Is Your Stuff Insured During an Interstate Move? What to Check

Your goods are usually covered during an interstate move, but the cover is not automatic and the level varies by crew. Reputable interstate removalists carry transit insurance, which protects your belongings against loss or damage while they are on the truck. What it covers, the sum insured and whether high-value items need extra cover all differ between quotes, so you must confirm the detail before you book. This guide explains the types of cover, what a good policy includes, and how to check it when you compare interstate quotes from vetted crews.

Key takeaways

• Vetted interstate crews carry transit insurance, but the cover level varies, so always confirm it.
• Transit cover protects goods on the truck; it is not the same as full replacement-value cover.
• High-value, fragile and antique items often need extra cover named on the policy.
• Owner-packed cartons may be treated differently to crew-packed ones, so check the terms.
• Always get the sum insured and exclusions in writing before you book.

The types of cover explained

There are two things people mean by "insurance" on a move, and they are not the same.

Transit insurance covers your goods against loss or damage while they are being carried on the truck. This is the standard cover reputable interstate crews hold. It is what protects you across the corridor, whether that is the 730km Adelaide to Melbourne run or the 2,700km Nullarbor crossing.

Full-value or replacement cover goes further, insuring items for their replacement value rather than a capped amount. It usually costs extra and is worth it for high-value households. Moneysmart's plain-English overview of how insurance works is a useful primer on the difference between capped and replacement-value cover.

ADL Removalists does not insure or move your goods: we connect you with vetted crews and let you compare their cover alongside their price, so you choose on the full picture. Start on the complete interstate guide or go straight to the quote calculator.

What a good policy should include

When you read a quote's insurance terms, check for:

• A clear sum insured. The maximum the policy will pay. Make sure it reflects the real value of your household.
• What is covered. Loss, damage in transit, and ideally handling damage at both ends.
• The excess. What you pay per claim before cover kicks in.
• High-value item cover. Whether art, antiques, jewellery and electronics are covered, and whether they must be listed individually.
• The claims process. How to lodge a claim, the time limit, and what proof you need.

The owner-packed trap

One detail catches people out on interstate moves. If you pack your own cartons, some policies limit or exclude cover for what is inside them, on the basis that the crew cannot verify how they were packed. Crew-packed items are usually fully covered.

This does not mean you should never pack yourself, since owner-packing saves money. It means you should pack carefully using the interstate packing guide, and ask the crew directly how owner-packed cartons are treated under their cover. For genuinely irreplaceable items, consider having the crew pack them so the cover is not in question.

Extra cover for high-value items

Standard transit cover often caps individual items or excludes certain categories. If you own anything valuable, meaning art, antiques, a piano, high-end electronics or collectables, ask about additional cover that names those items specifically. It is cheaper to add a rider than to discover a cap after a claim. Note the value of your key items before you quote so crews can price cover accurately.

How to confirm cover before you book

1. Ask for the insurance terms in writing, not just a verbal "you're covered".
2. Check the sum insured against your household's real replacement value.
3. Confirm how owner-packed cartons are treated.
4. List high-value items and ask about extra cover for them.
5. Read the exclusions and the claims process.

The ACCC's guidance on comparing services and quotes is a good reminder to compare cover on a like-for-like basis, not just headline price. Consumer and Business Services SA also recommends getting all terms in writing before you commit to a service contract.

Compare interstate removalists

Cover is only easy to weigh when you can see several quotes side by side. Get matched with vetted crews and compare 3 free, no-obligation quotes, insurance terms included. Work through the interstate checklist as you go, and start with the interstate quote calculator.