Short answer
An interstate removalist or a backloading service. Two things differ from a local move: your goods usually travel on a shared load with a delivery window measured in days or weeks rather than a specific time, and some states have quarantine restrictions on plants, soil and produce that apply to household goods.
When it is someone else
Calling the wrong trade costs an attendance fee to be told so. These are the cases where this problem belongs to someone other than a Removalist.
the destination state's biosecurity agency
you have pot plants, soil, firewood or garden equipment. Several states restrict what may cross the border and inspections do occur.
your settlement dates do not line up, which on an interstate move they very often do not.
What to do before anyone arrives
- Establish whether it is a dedicated truck or a shared backload, and get the delivery window in writing.
- Check quarantine rules for the destination state. Pot plants and soil are the usual problem and the answer is often that they cannot go.
- Work out where you will be sleeping between the truck leaving and arriving, and what you need to keep with you for that period.
- Decide about storage early. Arranging it at the last minute costs more and often means double handling.
- Take photographs of everything valuable, and keep a numbered inventory.
What to ask when you book
- Is this a dedicated load or a backload, and what is the delivery window?
- Who handles the goods at each transfer point — how many times are they loaded and unloaded?
- What is the liability and transit cover for an interstate move specifically?
- What are the quarantine restrictions at the destination and who is responsible if something is seized?
- What happens if I am not ready, or the property is not available on the delivery day?
What changes the price
No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.
- Volume and distance.
- Dedicated truck versus shared backload, which is the single biggest price difference.
- Storage at either end.
- Access at both properties.
- How many handling points the load passes through.
What you can do yourself
Is this licensed work?
Not licensed. Heavy vehicle and interstate transport regulation applies to the carrier rather than to the removals service.
There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.
- NSWNSW Fair Tradingbuilders, electricians, plumbers and specialist trades
- VICBuilding and Plumbing Commission, and Energy Safe Victoria for electricalbuilding practitioners and plumbers; electricians are Energy Safe Victoria
- QLDQueensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)building and most trade contractor licences
- WABuilding and Energybuilders, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters
- SAConsumer and Business Servicesbuilding work contractors and supervisors
- TASConsumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)building and occupational licences
- ACTAccess Canberraconstruction occupations licensing
- NTNT Government building practitioner registrationbuilding practitioners and electrical workers
Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.
Common questions
- Who should I hire for an interstate move
- An interstate removalist or a backloading service. Two things differ from a local move: your goods usually travel on a shared load with a delivery window measured in days or weeks rather than a specific time, and some states have quarantine restrictions on plants, soil and produce that apply to household goods.
- What is backloading?
- Filling space on a truck that is already making the journey, usually returning from a delivery. It is substantially cheaper and the trade-off is that you fit their schedule: the pickup and delivery windows are wide, and the load may be transferred between vehicles. For a flexible move it is good value; for a move with fixed dates at both ends it is a risk.
- Can I take my pot plants interstate?
- Often not. Several Australian states have biosecurity restrictions on plants, soil and some produce crossing their borders, aimed at pests and diseases, and household removals are within scope. Check the destination state's requirements before you pack them, because the alternative is having them removed at an inspection point.
Find a Removalist near you
1,234 removalists in this directory, ranked on published evidence rather than on advertising.
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General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.