Tradie insurance is a general term used for the different business insurance policies that may be relevant to tradespeople and trade contractors.

It is not necessarily one single policy.

Depending on the business, it may include Public Liability, tools, Commercial Motor, Plant & Equipment, Contract Works and other commercial insurance.

The insurance you may need depends on your trade, business structure, assets, contracts and the work you perform.

For many businesses, Public Liability is an important starting point, but tools, vehicles, machinery and other policies may also be relevant.

Public Liability is commonly held by Australian tradies and may be required by clients, worksites, contracts or certain licensing arrangements.

Requirements vary, so they should be checked for your specific occupation and jurisdiction.

Public Liability Insurance →

There is no one limit that suits every trade business.

The amount may depend on:

• the contracts you accept
• worksite requirements
• clients
• licence requirements
• the scale and nature of the work

If a contract specifies a liability limit, show it to your broker before accepting the work.

There is no single Australia-wide insurance requirement applying equally to every tradie.

Requirements vary by occupation, licence, state, contract and worksite.

Premiums depend on factors such as:

• trade
• activities
• turnover
• staff and subcontractors
• liability limits
• claims history
• vehicles
• tools
• machinery
• location

An accurate quote requires information about the actual business.

Tools may be insured under suitable Tools or Portable Equipment cover.

The policy conditions matter, particularly for theft, storage and equipment kept in vehicles.

Possibly, depending on the policy and circumstances.

Some policies have specific conditions applying to theft from vehicles.

Check the wording and security requirements rather than assuming every theft event is covered.

Yes, Plant & Equipment Insurance may be available for machinery such as excavators, skid steers, loaders and other mobile plant, subject to the individual risk and insurer appetite.

Plant & Equipment Insurance →

Commercial Motor Insurance may be available for work vehicles, trucks, utes, vans, trailers and fleets.

Commercial Motor Insurance →

Depending on the arrangement, cover may be available for plant and equipment hired under a hire agreement.

Priority can discuss blanket hired-in plant options where appropriate.

Not automatically.

A subcontractor having their own insurance does not necessarily remove your business’s contractual or liability exposure.

Both the subcontracting arrangement and your own insurance should be reviewed.

The requirements depend on the principal contractor and project.

You may be asked for evidence of Public Liability, workers compensation where applicable, Professional Indemnity for certain professional activities or other insurance.

Always review the site requirements before starting work.

A Certificate of Currency is evidence showing certain details about an insurance policy that is currently in force.

It may be requested by clients or principal contractors before you begin work.

You should tell your broker when your business activities materially change.

A new activity can affect insurer appetite, policy terms or the information originally supplied.

Potentially.

Many businesses perform several related activities.

The important part is accurately describing the complete operation to the insurer.

Priority works with a range of specialist and higher-risk businesses, including trades involved in construction, civil, plant and mining.

Availability depends on the individual risk and insurer appetite.

Yes.

Priority assists clients throughout the claims process and can help communicate with insurers and explain available steps.

Claim acceptance depends on the individual circumstances and policy terms.