Get an early idea of your moving costs

How much your move actually costs in Australia depends heavily on which pricing model applies to it -- local moves and interstate moves are quoted in completely different ways, and interstate distances here range from a few hundred kilometres to well over three thousand. Getting a rough number early, before you start calling removalists, means you can actually judge whether a quote is reasonable once one arrives.

How to do it

1. Work out which pricing model applies to your move first. Local moves are quoted hourly; interstate moves are quoted by volume and distance instead, since a truck on a long-haul route can't just turn around for another job. See our removalist costs guide for real ranges under each model, or calculate your own moving costs for a range based on your own details.
2. Factor in the fuel levy. Most Australian removalists add a fuel levy of roughly 5-20% on top of the base quote -- ask for it upfront so it's in your budget, not a surprise on the final invoice.
3. Decide what's actually coming with you before you get quotes. Volume drives interstate pricing directly, and even a local hourly job moves faster with less to carry -- a smaller, decluttered load costs less either way.
4. Check whether a removalist is AFRA-accredited if you want a quality signal beyond price alone. AFRA members have met set standards for vehicles, insurance, and staff training -- worth knowing before you end up comparing quotes on price only.
5. Set a rough budget now, before quotes start coming in. Moneysmart's budget planner is a genuinely useful starting point if you want to see how the move fits into your wider budget, not just the removalist cost in isolation.

Common mistakes

• Comparing a local hourly quote against an interstate volume quote as if they're the same kind of number -- they're priced on entirely different models
• Not asking about the fuel levy upfront, then finding it added to the final invoice
• Not decluttering before getting quotes, then paying to move things you were going to get rid of anyway

Useful links

• AFRA: find an accredited removalist -- search AFRA's own directory of accredited members if you want that quality signal alongside price.
• Moneysmart: budget planner -- a free tool to see how your move fits into your wider budget, not just the removalist quote on its own.