Best Removalists in Melbourne

How we ranked Melbourne's removalists

We looked at 123 removalists across Melbourne and kept the 71 that have at least 50 Google reviews, a working website of their own and a real operation in Australia. That is a crowded field with strong reviews: the average rating among those 71 is 4.78 stars. With so many movers sitting close to five stars, the raw star figure tells you very little, which is why this list is ordered by a score instead.

The score blends each mover's public Google Maps rating with a fixed cautious starting point of 4.5, and the more reviews a removalist has, the more its own rating counts. A perfect 5.0 from 60 customers scores about 4.62, while 4.9 from 2,000 scores about 4.86. Companies with several depots count once, through the Melbourne branch with the best reviews. The 10 listed run from 4.93 down to 4.76. Nobody can pay to move up.

How the score works →

How much do removalists cost in Melbourne?

Local moves are nearly always charged by the hour for a truck and crew. In Melbourne, two movers and a truck generally cost between $115 and $230 an hour, and a third mover lifts that to somewhere between $170 and $260. A bigger crew finishes sooner, so for a house with three or more bedrooms the dearer hourly rate can still produce the smaller bill.

As a guide to totals, a house with three bedrooms moved within Melbourne commonly comes to between $1,400 and $2,200 with three movers. Expect a minimum booking of two to four hours, and higher rates on weekends, public holidays and at the end of the month, when surcharges of 20 to 30 per cent are common. A midweek date in the middle of the month is the easiest saving on offer.

An hourly figure is only half the quote. Ask when the clock starts and stops, because some companies bill from their depot and back while others bill door to door or add a flat callout fee. Check the billing increment after the minimum, whether fuel and tolls are included, and what is charged for each flight of stairs, a long carry from the truck, or a piano.

How do you check a removalist before you book?

Consumer Affairs Victoria keeps its advice on choosing a mover short: do not simply take the lowest quote, look at what each one includes, and consider a company accredited by an industry body such as the Australian Furniture Removers Association (AFRA). Accreditation is voluntary and plenty of smaller operators sit outside it, so its absence is not a warning sign by itself. Its presence is at least something you can verify.

Accredited members have to meet AFRA standards for equipment, vehicles, premises and staff training. The logo alone proves nothing, because AFRA warns that some businesses display it without being members. Search the company on the Find a Removalist page of the AFRA website, and contact AFRA if the name is missing. Whoever you choose, get the quote in writing and itemised, so every charge on the final invoice can be traced back to it.

• Does the hourly rate start at my door or at your depot, and is the trip back charged?
• How many movers and what size truck are included, and is the crew your own staff or a subcontractor?
• What is the minimum booking, and in what increments do you bill once it is used up?
• Do you take a deposit, and what happens to it if settlement moves and I have to change the date?
• Which items will you refuse to carry, and what do you charge for stairs, a long carry or a piano?

Does a removalist's insurance cover your furniture?

Usually not in the way people assume. Removalists are not required by law to insure your belongings during a move, and most only carry cover for their own vehicle in case of an accident. The words "fully insured" on a website therefore say nothing about your sofa. Ask which policy would respond if a carton is dropped or a table leg snaps, and ask to see the certificate before the day.

Cover for the goods themselves is called transit insurance. AFRA accredited removalists hold public liability cover and can provide transit insurance for the load, normally as a paid extra, and independent insurers sell it too. If you plan to rely on your home contents policy instead, ring the insurer first and confirm in writing that it covers both loss and damage during a move, at replacement value.

Two habits make any later claim easier. Before the truck arrives, list what is being moved and photograph existing scratches and dents. Keep jewellery, passports and similar valuables with you in the car. Remember too that movers generally will not accept liability for breakages inside cartons you packed yourself, so either pack fragile things properly or pay the crew to pack the pieces that matter most.

What can you do if a removalist damages your things or overcharges?

A mover's terms and conditions do not switch off the Australian Consumer Law. Every household removal carries an automatic guarantee that the work will be done with due care and skill, which includes taking the care needed to avoid loss or damage, and within a reasonable time. Office relocations are different: services that transport goods for business purposes fall outside these guarantees, so the contract and the insurance carry the weight.

Raise the problem with a manager straight away, then put it in writing with photos and the quote attached, saying what you want done. Consumer Affairs Victoria advises acting quickly, because delay can affect your rights. If you paid by credit card and the company will not engage, ask your card provider about a chargeback. Consumer Affairs can contact the business for you, although it cannot force an outcome.

Only a court or tribunal can make a binding order, and for most people that means VCAT, which hears goods and services disputes. You generally have six years to apply, the fee depends on the amount claimed, and for claims under $15,000 lawyers are generally not allowed to speak for either side, so it is built for people running their own case. Claiming against a company means supplying an ASIC extract, which is another reason to note the legal name on your quote.

Do you need a parking permit or a lift booking for moving day?

Every minute the crew spends hunting for a park or carrying furniture an extra fifty metres is billed time. In the City of Melbourne you can apply for a reserved parking permit that sets kerbside bays aside for the truck. Applications need to be in more than five business days ahead, a daily fee applies per bay, and residents moving at their own address may receive a 50 per cent reduction.

Each bay is counted as six metres, so a long truck with its tail lift down needs two or more, and permits are not issued for clearways, No Stopping areas or laneways. Other councils run their own schemes, so check with yours. In an apartment building, book the goods lift and loading dock with the building manager when you book the mover, and pass on the height limit of the car park entry.