Moving insurance: How your contents policy covers moving house

Moving insurance (sometimes called moving house insurance) protects your belongings while you move house. You might already have it: most contents insurance policies include some cover for moving, but what's included differs a lot between insurers. The tables below compare how 16 Australian insurers cover a move, based on their product disclosure statements (PDSs). We checked all policy wording in 2026.

Does home and contents insurance cover moving house?

Usually, in part. Most contents policies keep covering your belongings at both your old and new home for a short window while you move, but many limit or exclude cover while your things are on the truck. There are three types of cover to look for:

• Cover at both addresses. Your contents are insured at your old and new home for a set number of days after you start moving. Every insurer we checked offers this, but some only if you tell them you're moving.
• Contents in transit. Covers your belongings while they're being driven to your new home, usually only for specific events such as fire or a collision or overturning of the vehicle.
• Accidental damage in transit. Covers mishaps like dropping your TV while loading the truck. Only NRMA and Bendigo Bank include this as standard, though a few others extend their optional accidental damage cover to it.

Breakage while packing, loading or unloading is a common gap. A listed-events transit benefit won't cover it, so check whether your policy or your removalist's insurance does.

How do Australian home insurers cover moving house?

Every insurer below covers your contents at both addresses for a limited time, but they differ on what's covered in transit and whether a professional removalist can do the moving. Always read the current PDS before you rely on it.

Insurer	Contents in transit	Cover at old and new address	Goods moved by a professional removalist	Get a quote
Budget Direct	Up to 20% of your contents sum insured, for fire or collision or overturning of the vehicle	Up to 14 days after you first start to move	Not covered in transit	Get quote
Youi	Up to 20% of your contents sum insured, for a vehicle accident or fire	Up to 14 days from the day you start your move	Covered (only applies inside a professional removalist's truck)	Get quote
Real Insurance	Top cover: up to 20% of your contents sum insured, for fire or collision or overturning of the vehicle. Essential cover: not covered	Up to 14 days from the day you start moving	Yes, on Top cover	More info
Westpac	Only with optional accidental damage cover	Up to 14 days after you first start to move, if you tell Westpac and give your new address	Only with optional accidental damage cover	More info
St.George	Only with optional accidental damage cover	Up to 14 days after you first start to move, if you tell St.George and give your new address	Only with optional accidental damage cover	More info
Kogan	Only with optional accidental damage cover	Up to 14 days after you first start to move, if you tell Kogan and give your new address	Only with optional accidental damage cover	Get quote
Coles	Up to 20% of your contents sum insured, for fire or collision or overturning of the vehicle	Up to 14 days after you first start to move	Not covered in transit	Get quote

Kogan's terms are for policies bought on or after 16 June 2025. Older Kogan policies have a different underwriter and PDS.

• How other insurers cover moving house

  Insurer	Contents in transit	Cover at old and new address
  AAMI	Not covered	Up to 14 days from when any of your contents first arrive at the new address
  Allianz	Not covered	Up to 14 days after you first start to move, if you tell Allianz and give your new address
  Bendigo Bank	Covered for listed events such as fire, theft after forced entry, storm, flood and collision of the vehicle. Accidental damage is also covered, up to $10,000 per incident	Up to 14 days from the day you start moving, if you give Bendigo Bank your new address within that time
  Everyday (Woolworths)	Comprehensive cover: up to 20% of your contents sum insured, for fire or collision or overturning of the vehicle. Standard cover: not covered	Up to 14 days from the day you start moving
  ING	Up to 20% of your contents sum insured, for fire or collision or overturning of the vehicle. Not covered if a removalist business moves your goods	Up to 14 days after you first start to move
  NRMA	Covered for listed events such as fire, theft after forced entry, storm, flood and collision of the vehicle. Accidental damage is also covered, up to $10,000 per incident	Up to 14 days from the day you start moving, if you give NRMA your new address within that time
  QBE	Covered in a motor vehicle for fire, theft with forced entry, collision or overturning, or flooding of the vehicle. Breakage of brittle items and scratches or dents aren't covered	Up to 60 days from the day you start moving
  RACV	Covered within your contents sum insured if the vehicle collides, catches fire or is stolen	Up to 14 days from the day you start moving, if you give RACV your new address within that time
  Suncorp	Covered up to your general contents sum insured, for fire, flood, or collision, overturning, accident or theft of the vehicle	Up to 14 days from when any of your contents first arrive at the new address

Do removalists have insurance for your belongings?

Not necessarily. Removalists aren't required by law to insure your belongings during a move, and the Queensland Government says most only insure their own vehicles in case of an accident. Removalists accredited with the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) can provide transit insurance for the goods they move. Removalist insurance, usually sold as transit insurance, covers your goods while the removalist packs and moves them.

Removalists still have to provide their services with due care and skill under the Australian Consumer Law, so you may be able to claim against them if they damage your things through carelessness. That's a dispute rather than an insurance claim, and it won't help with damage that isn't their fault, such as another driver hitting the truck.

Before you book, consumer protection agencies suggest you:

• Get written, itemised quotes from more than one removalist.
• Ask exactly what their insurance covers and ask for a copy of the Certificate of Currency.
• Read the contract. It shouldn't say the removalist takes no responsibility for loss or damage.

If their cover is limited, you may need your own transit insurance. Our guide to removalist costs covers what to expect to pay.

Expert insight: Why moving insurance really matters

"Moving home is both an exciting and stressful experience, and with so much to manage, it's easy to overlook insurance. Many people mistakenly believe that all removalists have insurance to cover their belongings during a move. However, this isn't always the case and can lead to a false sense of security. We strongly advise that anyone moving enquires about specific Goods in Transit Insurance (also known as Moving Insurance) so they're covered for all eventualities."

Ed Burton

CEO, UpMove

How do you get moving insurance?

There are three ways to cover your belongings for a move. Start with the policy you already have, then fill any gaps.

1. Check your contents policy. Look for "moving", "transit" or "change of address" in the PDS, or call your insurer. Ask whether goods moved by a removalist are covered and whether accidental damage applies on the road. If your policy has no transit cover, ask whether it can be added.
2. Buy transit insurance through your removalist. Many removalists can arrange transit insurance for the move. Ask for the PDS so you can see what it covers and whether it includes damage during packing and unpacking.
3. Buy standalone transit insurance. Specialist moving insurers sell one-off cover for a single move, which can suit you if you don't have contents insurance or you're moving overseas.

Our expert says: Don't assume your policy moves with you

"Moving is one of the riskiest times for your belongings. Things get dropped, damaged in the truck or go missing between homes, and many people only find out their policy doesn't cover transit when they go to make a claim. Some contents policies include limited cover for moving, while others only offer it as an optional extra. A quick call to your insurer before moving day can save you a lot of stress and money during an already emotionally charged time."

Ceyda Erem

Senior writer

What isn't covered when you move house?

Exclusions vary, but these are the ones that come up most often in the PDSs we checked:

• Accidental breakage. Dropping or knocking items while packing, loading or unloading usually isn't covered unless you have accidental damage cover that extends to moving.
• Goods moved by a removalist. Budget Direct, Coles and ING exclude contents transported by a removalist business from their transit cover.
• Moves that aren't by road within Australia. Transit cover generally applies only to moves to a new address in Australia, and some policies exclude goods transported by sea.
• Cover after the window ends. Once the both-address cover ends, your contents are only insured at the new address if your insurer agrees to cover it.
• Contents in storage. Storage often needs separate or optional cover, and the trip to and from the storage facility may be excluded.

Are your belongings covered in storage while you move?

Only if your policy includes storage cover or you add it. Some insurers include contents in a commercial storage facility, some sell it as an option, and many only pay for storage after an insured event makes your home unliveable. Check the facility meets your insurer's conditions. Allianz and Suncorp, for example, require it to be fully enclosed, lockable and accessible only by you or someone you authorise.

• Storage cover by insurer

  Insurer	Contents in commercial storage
  Allianz	Optional extra, up to $50,000 per claim. Contents in transit to or from storage aren't covered
  Bendigo Bank	Covered in storage in Australia if you tell Bendigo Bank before storing your things and it agrees to cover them
  Budget Direct and Coles	Optional Commercial Storage cover. Contents in transit to or from storage aren't covered
  NRMA	Covered in storage in Australia if you tell NRMA before storing your things and it agrees to cover them
  RACV	Covered in storage in Australia if you give RACV the value of the items and the storage address
  Suncorp	Included for insured events if the facility meets Suncorp's security conditions
  Youi	Optional extra for fire, earthquake, explosion, riot, storm, impact and intentional damage, up to $20,000 per claim

Do you need to tell your insurer you're moving?

Yes. Most insurers we checked need you to tell them when you move, and for some it's a condition of the moving cover. Westpac, St.George, Kogan and Allianz won't cover your contents at both addresses unless you tell them you're moving and give your new address as soon as reasonably possible. Bendigo Bank, NRMA and RACV need your new address before their both-address cover ends, and AAMI and Suncorp ask you to change your insured address by then if you want your cover to continue. QBE needs you to tell it if you want cover at the new home after its both-address cover ends.

Your premium may change once your insurer knows the new address, because location affects the price of cover. A move is also a good time to compare home insurance: the policy that suited your old home may not be the best value for your new one. You can cancel your home insurance at any time and switch.

Do you need new insurance for your new home?

It depends on whether you're buying, renting or moving into an apartment.

• Buying a house. You'll need building insurance on the new home from the point it becomes your risk, which depends on your contract. Your lender may also ask for proof of cover before settlement, and a home insurance cover note can show you're covered.
• Selling your old home. Keep building cover on it until settlement. Some policies limit cover if a home is left unoccupied for a long time.
• Renting. You only need contents cover. See our guide to renters insurance.
• Buying an apartment or townhouse. The building is usually covered by the body corporate's strata insurance, so you'll need contents cover for your belongings.
• Moving out of a property you'll rent out. Look at landlord insurance rather than a standard home policy.

What if you're moving overseas?

Australian home and contents policies generally only cover moves to a new address in Australia. To insure belongings being shipped overseas, you'll need transit insurance through your international removalist or a specialist international moving insurer. Check whether the policy covers the full journey, including sea freight, customs inspection and any storage at either end.

How to protect your belongings on moving day

1. Check your PDS a few weeks out. See what's covered in transit and at both addresses.
2. Tell your insurer you're moving. Give your new address and get your cover confirmed in writing.
3. Make an inventory. Photograph valuable items and note their condition before they're packed, so you have evidence if you need to claim.
4. Keep valuables with you. Carry jewellery, documents, laptops and phones yourself rather than putting them on the truck. Portable contents cover can protect them away from home.
5. Check your removalist's insurance. Ask for their Certificate of Currency and the PDS for any transit insurance they sell.
6. Inspect everything on arrival. Note any damage before the removalist leaves, and contact your insurer or the removalist as soon as possible.
7. Move your policy to the new address. Do it before the both-address cover ends, and check your sum insured still fits.

Our moving house checklist covers your energy, internet and other accounts.

How do you claim if your things are damaged during a move?

Who you claim from depends on what caused the damage and what cover you have. Report it as soon as you can, and keep your photos, inventory and removalist paperwork as evidence.

• Your home and contents insurer. Claim on your own policy if the damage was caused by something it covers, such as a crash or fire during the move. Your excess usually applies.
• The removalist's transit insurance. If you bought transit insurance through your removalist, claim under that policy. Its PDS explains how to lodge a claim.
• The removalist. If the removalist damaged your things through carelessness, raise it with them first. If they don't fix the problem, you can complain to your state's fair trading or consumer protection office.

If you're unhappy with how an insurer handles your claim, complain to the insurer first. If it can't resolve your complaint, you can take it to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), which offers a free, independent dispute resolution service.

Frequently asked questions

• Is moving insurance worth it?

  It depends on what your contents policy already covers and how much you're moving. If your policy covers your goods in transit for the way you're moving, extra cover may add little. If it excludes removalist moves or doesn't cover transit at all, transit insurance can fill the gap, particularly for long-distance moves and valuable furniture.

• How much does moving insurance cost?

  Adding moving cover to an existing contents policy may cost little or nothing, because many policies already include it. Standalone transit insurance prices vary with what you're moving and how far, so get a quote from your removalist or a specialist insurer and compare what each covers.

• Does my insurance cover a DIY move in a hired truck?

  Some home and contents policies cover contents in transit whoever drives, as long as the loss is caused by a listed event such as fire or a collision. Others, like Youi, only cover goods inside a professional removalist's truck. A hire vehicle's insurance usually covers the vehicle, not your belongings, so check your contents policy first.

• Can I claim if I break something while moving?

  Usually only if you have accidental damage cover that applies away from your home or during a move. Standard transit cover is limited to listed events such as fire or a vehicle collision, so a dropped TV or a cracked mirror generally isn't covered. If a removalist broke it through carelessness, you may be able to claim against them.

• What happens if my move takes longer than the cover period?

  Once the both-address cover ends, your contents are generally only insured at the address on your policy. If the move is taking longer, or your things are stuck in storage, contact your insurer before the cover ends to update your address or arrange cover for where your contents are.

Written by

Brad Buzzard

Writer

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Brad Buzzard was a content writer at Finder working across insurance including travel, life, health, business, car, pet and home. Brad brought with him a wealth of experience as a journalist, content writer, social media manager and researcher, being in the industry for almost 2 decades by the time he joined. Before working for Finder, Brad’s expertise could be seen across TLC Marketing, Reborn, DDB Group, We Are Social, Nielsen and Wheeling News- Register, varying across Australia and the United States. See full bio