Transit Protection and vehicle damage: what customers need to know

Car Transport Express does not sell or arrange insurance for your vehicle. What you get instead is Transit Protection, which covers eligible claims of up to $80,000 per vehicle while your car is in our care. It is not comprehensive motor insurance, and we recommend you keep your own policy running for the whole move. This page explains what Transit Protection covers, what it does not, and the one thing you have to do at delivery for a claim to work.

What Transit Protection is

Your vehicle is protected by Car Transport Express’ Transit Protection while it is in our care during transit, providing cover for eligible claims of up to $80,000 per vehicle. Transit Protection is designed to protect you if your vehicle sustains physical damage as a result of the negligence of Car Transport Express or one of our contracted carriers. While we take every reasonable care with every vehicle we transport, Transit Protection is not comprehensive motor vehicle insurance. It does not cover every circumstance and does not apply to events outside our reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather and other exclusions set out in our Terms and Conditions. For complete peace of mind, we recommend maintaining your own comprehensive motor vehicle insurance throughout the transport period. Our commitment is simple: if we are responsible for damaging your vehicle, we will work with you to resolve your claim promptly, fairly and in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Who does what

Car Transport Express books and coordinates your move. The truck that arrives is operated by one of our contracted carriers, not by us. We stay your point of contact from quote through to delivery, and if something goes wrong you come to us rather than chasing the carrier.

• A reputable Australian car transport company will cover your vehicle while it is in their care, through a damage warranty or transit protection. Ask what theirs covers.
• Belongings left inside the vehicle are not covered by anyone. Empty your car before it is collected.
• Take timestamped photos before collection, and write any new damage onto the delivery paperwork before you sign it.

1. Know what cover comes with the job

A reputable Australian car transport company will cover your vehicle while it is in their care, usually through a damage warranty or transit protection rather than an insurance policy you can buy into. Ours is Transit Protection, described above. Before you book with anyone, ask what theirs covers, what it excludes and whether there is an excess, so you know where you stand rather than assuming.

2. Always get the agreement in writing

Your booking confirmation email and the Terms and Conditions that come with it are your written agreement, so keep them. If anything was agreed on the phone that sits outside the standard service, get that in an email too: delivery timelines, handling of a non-standard vehicle, or anything added to the job. An email with the terms attached is enough. Having it in writing is what protects you if there is ever a dispute.

3. Check with your own insurer

Most comprehensive policies already cover your vehicle while it is being transported, so this is usually a quick call rather than a problem. It is still worth making, just in case yours is one that does not. We recommend you keep your own cover running for the move regardless of Transit Protection, because the two do different jobs: yours covers your car, ours covers what we are responsible for.

4. Empty your vehicle before it is collected

Unless you have selected the goods in car option on your booking, take everything loose out of the cabin and the boot, including electronics, documents and anything not securely mounted. Personal effects left in a vehicle are not covered by Transit Protection, and our Terms and Conditions exclude them. An empty vehicle is also lighter, safer and much easier to inspect at both ends.

If you do want to send goods with the car, say so when you book. Goods in car is a quotable option on the right routes and carriers, it has its own conditions and price, and it is not something to decide on the day the truck arrives.

5. Be there when your vehicle is collected

Before it is loaded, the carrier records the vehicle’s condition, noting any existing scratches, dents or damage. Many carriers now do this with time-stamped photos rather than a written report. Either way it is the record every later question gets answered against, so be there for it if you can, look at what has been recorded, and speak up about anything it has missed. Take your own time-stamped photos from every angle as well, including the roof and the wheels. Two sets of photos cost you nothing and settle arguments.

6. What is covered, and what is not

If your vehicle is damaged while it is in our care and we accept liability, Transit Protection covers eligible claims up to $80,000 per vehicle. We will either repair the vehicle or pay its current market value, whichever is the lesser amount.

Transit Protection does not cover:

• Damage that was not recorded on the delivery condition report at the time of delivery
• Pre-existing damage, or a vehicle already in poor condition at pickup
• Hail, airborne objects and animal droppings
• Underside damage and damage to concealed areas
• Mechanical faults and wear and tear
• Personal belongings left inside the vehicle

It also does not remove your rights under Australian Consumer Law. Nothing in our terms excludes a guarantee that cannot lawfully be excluded.

If your vehicle is damaged

Write the damage onto the delivery paperwork before you sign, have the driver sign it too, and photograph it there and then. Then tell us in writing within 48 hours of delivery. We assess each claim on its own facts. We hold cover for damage we are responsible for, we recommend you hold your own comprehensive policy as well, and where we are liable we take it from there and liaise on your behalf so you are not left dealing with a carrier or an insurer yourself.

Ready to move your car?

Get an instant quote, or ring us and we will talk it through. If you have questions about what Transit Protection covers on your particular vehicle, ask before you book rather than after.

Reviewed by Skye McDermott, Customer Service Manager, Car Transport Express. Last reviewed 16 September 2026. Source: Car Transport Express Terms and Conditions, clauses 7 and 19.