Your belongings are about to spend several weeks crossing the Tasman in a shipping container. For most people, that's a lifetime of accumulated furniture, electronics, sentimental items, and everyday essentials. The question isn't whether you should protect them — it's making sure you have the right cover in place before collection day.
Why Standard Carrier Liability Isn't Enough
Many people assume their belongings are automatically covered during a move. They're not — at least not in any meaningful way.
Standard carrier liability covers a very limited amount per item and is unlikely to reflect the real replacement value of your goods. If something is damaged or lost during transit, the payout under basic liability will rarely come close to what it would cost to replace it. For full details on our liability, you can read our Terms & Conditions.
Marine insurance is the only meaningful protection for your belongings during an international move. It covers the actual replacement value of your goods — which is what you actually need if something goes wrong.
What Marine Insurance Covers
A comprehensive marine insurance policy for household goods typically covers:
Total Loss
If your entire shipment is lost — in the rare event of a vessel incident or catastrophic event — your goods are covered for their full declared value.
Partial Loss and Damage
Individual items that are damaged or lost during loading, transit, or unloading. This includes breakage, crushing, and water damage caused by external factors.
Fire and Theft
Damage or loss caused by fire or theft during the shipping journey.
What's Usually Not Covered
Understanding the exclusions is just as important as knowing what's covered:
Owner-Packed Boxes
Items packed by you rather than by a professional team are typically excluded from damage claims. If a box you packed arrives with broken contents, the insurer will likely decline the claim on the basis that improper packing caused the damage.
This is one of the most important reasons to use Easy as™'s professional packing service — your goods are packed to the standard insurers require, which means your cover is actually meaningful.
Normal Wear and Tear
Scratches, dents, or deterioration that could reasonably be expected from regular use are not covered.
Undeclared High-Value Items
Jewellery, art, antiques, and other high-value items must be specifically declared and listed on your policy. If they're not declared, they may not be covered — or may only be covered up to a standard item limit.
Pairs and Sets
If one item from a matching set is damaged, insurers typically won't cover the cost of replacing the entire set.
High-Value Items — Declare Everything
If you're shipping anything of significant value — artwork, jewellery, a vintage watch, an antique piece of furniture — make sure it's specifically listed on your policy with an accurate replacement value. Take photographs of these items before packing, and keep any receipts or valuations in a safe place.
At Easy as™, we'll flag high-value items during our pre-packing inventory review so nothing is overlooked on your insurance declaration.
How to Get the Right Cover
The cost of marine insurance depends on a number of factors — the declared value of your goods, the level of cover you choose, and the specifics of your shipment. Rather than quoting a number that may not reflect your situation, we'd rather get it right.
When you request a quote with Easy as™, we work with our insurance broker on your behalf and present you with a clear, accurate quote based on your actual inventory and needs.
That's Where We Come In
At Easy as™, protecting your belongings is part of how we work — not an afterthought. Our professional packing standards are designed to meet insurer requirements, our inventory documentation supports your claims process if you ever need it, and we work with our insurance broker to get you the right cover before collection day.
Your job is to focus on your new chapter. Ours is to make sure everything arrives safely — and that you're covered if it doesn't.