From sole-trader electricians to residential builders, we arrange the right cover for Melbourne tradies and construction businesses — comparing across more than 230 insurers, with bilingual advice in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Tradies and builders carry a different set of risks depending on their trade, the size of the projects they take on, and whether they work as a principal or sub. We start with those details before approaching the market.
Public liability is the foundation of every tradie's insurance programme. It covers your legal liability for injury to a third party or damage to their property caused by your work — whether you are on site, working in a client's home, or a finished job that causes a problem later. Most head contractors and licensing bodies require a minimum of $5M to $20M. We review your contracts and trade to make sure the limit and wording are right.
Contract works insurance covers the structure under construction — including materials, temporary works and hired-in plant — against accidental damage, theft and weather during the build period. Whether you need to arrange it yourself or it sits under a principal contractor's policy depends on the contract. We read the contract with you and fill any gap.
Tools are the business. A specialist tools and equipment policy covers your hand tools, power tools, machinery and plant against theft, accidental damage and fire. Most policies include cover while tools are in your vehicle, though the unattended-vehicle condition and any sub-limit must be clearly understood before a claim arises.
A ute or van used for work needs a policy that covers business use — carrying tools, attending sites, towing trailers. Standard private motor policies exclude this. We arrange commercial vehicle and fleet policies that reflect how the vehicle actually operates, with correct cover for tools in transit where needed.
Sole traders and working directors typically fall outside WorkCover. If you are injured and cannot work, a personal accident or income protection policy pays a weekly benefit or lump sum during the recovery period. For anyone whose income depends entirely on their ability to work on tools, this is the cover most people wish they had taken before they needed it.
Builders who also design, owner-builders managing their own construction, and design-and-construct contractors can face professional indemnity claims for errors in the design component of their work. This sits outside standard public liability cover and requires a dedicated policy.
Construction and trade policies contain conditions that matter most when something goes wrong on site. Knowing what is and is not covered before that moment is the whole point of having a broker review the wording.
Patterns we see regularly across residential builders, subcontractors and sole-trader tradies. If any of these sound familiar, it is worth a conversation.
Registered builders must hold public liability insurance as a condition of their registration with the Victorian Building Authority. Domestic builders working on projects above $16,000 must also arrange domestic building insurance through the VMIA on behalf of their clients.
WorkCover is mandatory once annual remuneration exceeds the WorkSafe threshold or an apprentice is employed. While tools insurance and contract works cover are not legally required, they are frequently required by head contractors before work can begin on site.
Contract works insurance covers the works under construction against accidental damage, theft, fire and weather during the build period. It also covers temporary structures, plant, materials and hired-in equipment.
Whether you need it depends on the nature of the work and the head contract. For residential and commercial builders undertaking significant projects, contract works cover is almost always required.
Tools stolen from an unattended vehicle overnight are excluded under most policies. A specialist tools and equipment policy will often have an unattended vehicle sub-limit, meaning a set amount is covered even when the vehicle is unattended, provided it was locked and the tools were concealed.
The sub-limit and conditions vary by insurer. If your tools are your livelihood, it is worth checking your current policy wording for exactly what is and is not covered.
Public liability covers your legal liability for injury to a third party or damage to their property. Contract works covers the works themselves — the structure, materials and plant under construction.
Both covers are usually needed on a construction project; they respond to different types of loss and are not interchangeable.
Yes. Most head contractors require subcontractors to carry their own public liability insurance as a condition of engagement. A subcontractor working under the head contractor's policy may find themselves uninsured for claims arising from their own work.
It is standard practice for every subcontractor to carry their own liability cover regardless of what the head contractor holds.
Working directors and sole traders typically fall outside the scope of WorkCover. If you are injured on site and cannot work, a personal accident or income protection policy responds — paying a weekly benefit or lump sum depending on the policy.
We strongly recommend sole traders and working directors review their income protection position, because the gap between WorkCover and what you actually need can be significant.
Send us your current schedule of insurance and a real broker will benchmark it against the market — line by line, with no review fee and no obligation. If you choose to place cover through us, we may earn commission from the insurer as set out in our Financial Services Guide.
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