Your removalist or a contents policy might provide additional protection for your belongings during travel. Relocating to a new home or apartment and finding broken furniture, shattered glassware, or missing clothing is frustrating and expensive. There are alternative insurance plans you may look into if this one doesn’t work for you.
What does “transit insurance” entail?
Depending on where you’re relocating to and what kind of coverage you need, you may acquire transit insurance as a standalone product from a specialized insurance provider, removalist, or freight firm. While certain transit insurance plans may include coverage similar to that of contents insurance or removalist insurance, it is important to remember that these are three separate forms of insurance.
What is covered by transportation insurance?
Transit insurance policies and providers offer varying degrees of coverage. Potentially covered events are:
- Your items may be lost or damaged during the packing and unpacking processes.
- Things are lost or broken while being put into or unloaded from a moving vehicle.
- Any storage fees incurred as a result of loss or damage to your belongings due to removalist negligence
- costs associated with staying elsewhere if necessary.
- Depending on your needs and the level of coverage you select, the policy might apply to either an international or local move.
How can you acquire transit insurance for moving house in Australia?
Removalist insurance, independent transportation or moving insurance, and contents insurance are all available choices for protecting your things throughout a relocation.
- Property insurance
The level of protection afforded by various contents insurance policies during transit varies widely. Certain insurance providers will pay for repairs or replacements if your property is lost, stolen, or destroyed while in transit. However, there may be limitations and restrictions. Some insurance may protect your belongings while they’re in transit, while others may not cover them while you’re loading or unloading the car.
- Removalist Insurance
Check with your removalist to see if they provide insurance for your valuables in transit if your existing contents coverage does not cover them. While movers may have insurance to protect themselves from liability, they are not compelled to provide you with coverage for your personal property.
- Insurance coverage specifically for the process of moving or transporting goods
Some specialized moving and storage firms may also offer transit or moving insurance if you are not pleased with the insurance cover offered by your contents insurance provider or licensed removalist or if you determine that these choices are not suited. The cost of such a policy will be determined by several variables, such as the total worth of your possessions and the types of coverage you seek.
Is there anything that won’t be protected in transit?
According to online research, several Australian contents insurance carriers explicitly state that they will not cover any loss or damage incurred to cash, smart cards, phone cards, or papers that may be paid or sold while in transit. Independent transportation or relocation insurance providers may also impose coverage limits or exclusions on certain products.
Animals, plants, and restricted or hazardous objects are just some things that your removalist may not be able to transport per AFRA regulations (e.g. firearms). The removalist firm may not be able to transfer your things; if they can’t, they won’t be covered by transit insurance. For further details, contact your mover and read the policy’s PDS.
Where can I find out how much transportation insurance typically costs?
AFRA warns that the price you pay for transit insurance, whether through your removalist or elsewhere, will vary for several reasons, including but not limited to the following:
The type of goods being carried, the distance they need to go, the mode of transportation being used, the policy excess, and the amount of coverage selected (whether “full replacement” or “market value” is selected).
What if I leave the country or want to return to Australia?
The shipping, freight, or cargo firm you choose and an insurance provider specializing in international transit protection may offer transit insurance if you are migrating overseas or returning to Australia and plan to send your things. Policy alternatives for transit insurance can be researched online or discussed with an insurance broker.
Once you’ve moved into your new house, what about insurance?
There may be changes to your home and possessions insurance that need to be discussed with your provider, so be sure to get in touch with them if you plan on moving soon. For instance, if you move to a different area or buy additional things for your new house, you may need to increase the amount your property is insured for. Review your policy documentation or contact your insurer to find out how long after your relocation date your current insurance will continue to cover your valuables.
Moving house? Don’t take unnecessary risks. Contact Nuss Removals for removals insurance in Australia.
