The short answer

Two removalists in navy workwear carrying a blanket-wrapped armchair down sandstone garden steps, the sea behind them
A blanket-wrapped armchair on its way down garden steps

An AFRA-accredited removalist has had to meet set standards, and NSW Fair Trading says such a mover carries public liability cover and can offer transit insurance for your goods. That is worth knowing, because removalists are not required by law to provide insurance for your property during a move.

Accreditation is one signal, not the whole test. Before you sign with anyone, do three things:

  1. Check the accreditation claim on AFRA's own directory, not the logo on a website.
  2. Ask, in writing, what insurance covers your belongings while they are on the truck.
  3. Get an itemised written quote, and a contract that lists your inventory and dates.

The rest of this guide from Vaucluse Removals walks through each step, and covers what to do if a move goes wrong anyway.

What AFRA accreditation actually checks

What AFRA accreditation checks Four tiles around a shield marked AFRA standards: equipment, vehicles, premises and staff training. A note under the shield reads: smaller removalists may not be part of AFRA. Equipment Vehicles Premises Staff training AFRA standards Smaller removalists may not be part of AFRA.
Source: nsw.gov.au

AFRA, the Australian Furniture Removers Association, calls itself the peak industry body regulating and supporting the Australian removals industry. It says it works through advocacy, compliance, education and training.

The useful part for you is what membership requires. NSW Fair Trading puts it plainly: removalists who are accredited by AFRA must meet certain standards covering four things:

  • equipment
  • vehicles
  • premises
  • staff training

AFRA's own wording is that joining means a business makes a commitment to excellence in service, staff training and operations.

What it doesn't tell you is how a particular crew will handle your sideboard on a steep driveway. Standards set a floor. Reviews, the quote and the answers you get to direct questions tell you the rest.

How to confirm a removalist is really accredited

Checking an AFRA claim, step by step Step 1: see an AFRA logo or claim on a website or quote. Step 2: open AFRA's Find an accredited removalist search. Step 3: search by your suburb or postcode and look for the business in the results. Step 4a, listed: note it and move on to the insurance questions. Step 4b, not listed: ask the business directly, and weigh reviews, quote and insurance answers instead. 1 See an AFRA logoor claim on awebsite or quote. 2 Open AFRA's"Find an accreditedremovalist" search. 3 Search by yoursuburb orpostcode and lookfor the businessin the results. 4a Listed:note it and move onto the insurancequestions. 4b Not listed:ask the businessdirectly, and weighreviews, quote andinsurance answersinstead. Checking an AFRA claim, step by step Step 1: see an AFRA logo or claim on a website or quote. Step 2: open AFRA's Find an accredited removalist search. Step 3: search by your suburb or postcode and look for the business in the results. Step 4a, listed: note it and move on to the insurance questions. Step 4b, not listed: ask the business directly, and weigh reviews, quote and insurance answers instead. 1 See an AFRA logo or claim on awebsite or quote. 2 Open AFRA's "Find an accreditedremovalist" search. 3 Search by your suburb orpostcode and look for thebusiness in the results. 4a Listed:note it and moveon to theinsurancequestions. 4b Not listed:ask the businessdirectly, andweigh reviews,quote andinsuranceanswers instead.
AFRA has more than 250 members operating in hundreds of locations across Australia.Source: afra.com.au

A logo costs nothing to paste onto a website. The check costs you two minutes.

AFRA runs a public search where you can find an accredited removalist in your area. Search by your suburb or postcode and look for the business in the results. If the business is listed, note it and move on to the insurance questions. If it isn't, ask the business why before you rule it in or out.

AFRA says it has more than 250 members operating in hundreds of locations across Australia, and that it has supported the Australian removals industry for over 30 years. That leaves plenty of movers outside it, and NSW Fair Trading is upfront about this.

Keep in mind that smaller removalists may not be part of AFRA.

NSW Fair Trading

Its advice is to compare removalists, check reviews and check whether the removalist is accredited by the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA) but keep in mind that smaller removalists may not be part of AFRA. So a missing listing isn't a red flag on its own. A false claim of one is.

The insurance question to ask before you sign

What is insured on a moving truck A moving truck on the road between two houses, its cargo area cut away to show boxes and furniture. Mark 1 is on the cab and chassis, mark 2 on the footpath and the people beside the truck, mark 3 on the goods in the cargo area. The numbered notes below the drawing explain each mark. 1 2 3
  1. 1Vehicle insurance: most removalist companies only have cover for their vehicle if an accident occurs.
  2. 2Public liability: AFRA-accredited removalists will have it.
  3. 3Your goods: removalists are not required by law to insure them. AFRA-accredited removalists can provide transit insurance. Ask.
Source: nsw.gov.au

This is the gap most people find out about after something breaks.

According to NSW Fair Trading, most removalist companies only have insurance that covers their vehicle if an accident occurs. The truck is covered. Your grandmother's mirror in the back of it may not be.

The same page says that if a removalist is accredited with AFRA, they'll have public liability insurance and can provide transit insurance for all goods being moved. Note the wording: "can provide". NSW Fair Trading recommends you get your own insurance for your move, so ask whether transit cover is included or separate.

Whoever you're talking to, accredited or not, ask these in writing:

  • What insurance covers my belongings while they are loaded, in transit and unloaded?
  • Is that cover included in the quote, or is it an extra?
  • What is excluded? Items packed by me, fragile pieces, art, pianos?
  • Is there a limit per item, and how is a claim made?

If you're moving paintings, antiques or anything irreplaceable, these questions matter even more. Our guide to how art and antiques travel covers the handling side.

What an itemised quote and contract should show

Quote

Contract

NSW Fair Trading's rule is short: always ask for a written quote before hiring a removalist company, and make sure the quote is itemised and the removalist can account for every charge.

The contract should then show the full service details, a household inventory, pick-up and delivery addresses, dates and times, payment terms, and any extra storage costs for delays. The storage line is easy to skip. If settlement slips a day, you want to know now what a night in storage costs.

Sealed moving cartons lined up beside dust-sheeted furniture, with a printed list and a pen on a timber table
Sealed cartons and a printed list on the table

The inventory does double duty. AFRA advises building a full inventory so a quote can be accurate, and it is also the list you'll check against when the truck is unloaded. If you'd rather not build it room by room yourself, a packing service can take that on.

Around Vaucluse, the line most worth reading twice is access. A battle-axe drive, a long run of stairs or no kerb space can change how a job is done and how long it takes. If a quote doesn't mention your access at all, ask. Our notes on street access and on getting a truck down a battle-axe drive explain what to describe when you ask for a price.

What the law already gives you

The consumer guaranteeWhat it means on move day (our plain reading)
Provided with due care or skillHandled competently
Fit for any specified purposeDoes what you agreed it would do, such as a piano or a specific delivery
Provided in a reasonable time when no time is setNo open-ended delays when no time was fixed

Whether or not your mover is accredited, removalist services are covered by the consumer guarantees in Australian Consumer Law. NSW Fair Trading lists three that apply: services must be provided with due care or skill, fit for any specified purpose, and provided in a reasonable time when no time is set.

"Specified purpose" is where a clear quote helps you. If you told the removalist the piano goes upstairs, and that's written down, there is no argument later about what was agreed.

If a move goes wrong

If a move goes wrong: three stages Stage 1: raise it with the removalist directly, in writing, with photos and your contract. Stage 2: if it isn't resolved, lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading. Stage 3: lodge online, or by mail to PO Box 972, Parramatta NSW 2124. Questions by phone, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm. 1 2 3 Raise it with the removalistdirectly, in writing, withphotos and your contract. If it isn't resolved, lodge acomplaint with NSW FairTrading. Lodge online, or by mailto PO Box 972,Parramatta NSW 2124.Questions by phone,Monday to Friday,8:30am to 5pm. If a move goes wrong: three stages Stage 1: raise it with the removalist directly, in writing, with photos and your contract. Stage 2: if it isn't resolved, lodge a complaint with NSW Fair Trading. Stage 3: lodge online, or by mail to PO Box 972, Parramatta NSW 2124. Questions by phone, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm. 1 2 3 Raise it with the removalistdirectly, in writing, with photosand your contract. If it isn't resolved, lodge acomplaint with NSW Fair Trading. Lodge online, or by mailto PO Box 972,Parramatta NSW 2124.Questions by phone,Monday to Friday,8:30am to 5pm.
Source: nsw.gov.au

Start with the removalist. Put the problem in writing, attach photos, and refer to the inventory and contract. Clear paperwork makes this stage much easier.

If it isn't resolved, NSW Fair Trading takes complaints online or by mail to PO Box 972, Parramatta NSW 2124, and answers questions by phone 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Keep copies of everything you send.

Ask us the same questions

Everything above applies to whoever quotes your move, including the partner removalist we refer you to. When you're ready for a price, send Vaucluse Removals your addresses, dates and what's moving through our enquiry page, and put the accreditation, insurance and quote questions to us in the same message. If you're aiming for the NSW summer school holidays, which run 18 December 2026 to 27 January 2027 for the eastern division, it pays to start comparing quotes well ahead.

Sources