Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance quotes from licensed Australian brokers
The cover most contracts, councils and landlords ask to see before you start work. Get quotes from brokers who write your trade.
- Licensed Australian brokers
- Free to use
- No obligation
Public liability is the cover that turns up as a condition of doing business. Principals want a certificate before you go on site, councils want one before you take a market stall, landlords want one written into the lease. It responds when someone is injured or their property is damaged because of your business, and it pays the legal costs of defending the claim as well as the settlement. CoverMy is free to use. Tell us what the business does and licensed Australian brokers come back with options.
What public and products liability covers
Public liability covers your legal liability for personal injury or property damage arising from your business activities. Products liability, usually bundled with it, covers the same thing where the cause is a product you have supplied, sold or installed. Together they handle the third party consequences of the work rather than the work itself.
- Personal injury to members of the public, clients or visitors
- Damage to property belonging to others, including property you are working near
- Legal defence costs, which often exceed the settlement on defended claims
- Products supplied, sold, installed or repaired by the business
- Cover at your premises and at client sites, subject to the territorial limits
- Optional extensions for property in your care, custody or control
Choosing a limit
Ten million dollars is the common baseline for small business. Twenty million is frequently specified by principals, government contracts, larger landlords and many councils, and some construction and infrastructure work requires more again. The limit is not really a judgement about how much damage you could cause, it is usually dictated by the contracts you want to sign. Check those first, since increasing a limit mid contract is more expensive and more awkward than setting it correctly at the start.
What it does not cover
This is where businesses get caught. Liability does not cover faulty workmanship itself, only the damage that workmanship causes to other property. It does not cover advice, which is professional indemnity. It does not cover injury to your own employees, which is workers compensation. It does not cover damage to your own property or tools. And property in your care, custody or control is commonly excluded unless the extension is bought. Your broker will map these boundaries against what you actually do.
What drives the premium
Occupation first, always. Underwriters classify by trade, and the difference between a bookkeeper and a scaffolder is enormous. After that comes turnover, since it proxies for exposure, then the limit you need. Working at heights, hot works, excavation, work on existing structures, anything near water or with children, and any export to the United States all attract loadings or specific questions. Your claims record over five years matters, and so does whether you use subcontractors and whether they hold their own cover.
How it works
- 1
Tell us what the business does and the limit you need
2 min form
- 2
Licensed brokers review and compete on your quote
- 3
Compare offers and choose
No obligation
Frequently asked questions
Is public liability insurance compulsory in Australia?
Not by law for most businesses, but it is required in practice. Contracts, leases, council permits and licensing regimes in several trades all make it a condition of working. In some occupations it is part of the licence requirements. The practical answer for most businesses is that they cannot operate without it.
How much public liability insurance do I need?
Ten million dollars is the usual starting point and twenty million is commonly required by principals and government contracts. The right answer usually comes from reading the contracts you intend to sign rather than from a general rule. Your broker can confirm the limit before you commit to work.
What does public liability cost?
It depends heavily on the trade and the turnover. A low hazard office based business may pay a few hundred dollars, while high risk construction trades pay substantially more. Working at heights, hot works and work on existing structures all move the price. A broker can put your details to several insurers at once.
Does it cover my own work if I do it badly?
No. Liability responds to injury and damage to other people and their property, not to the cost of redoing your own defective work. If your faulty work damages something else, that damage may respond, but rectifying the work itself does not. This distinction causes more disputes than any other in the policy.
Do my subcontractors need their own cover?
Generally yes, and most insurers expect it. If subcontractors are uninsured, their liabilities can flow back to you, and insurers will often rate as though their turnover is yours. Collecting certificates of currency from every subcontractor is basic housekeeping and it affects your premium.
Does CoverMy sell the insurance?
No. CoverMy passes your request to licensed Australian brokers who contact you directly. All advice, quotes and policies come from the broker you deal with. There is no cost and no obligation.
Get public liability insurance quotes
Tell us what the business does and licensed brokers will be in touch. Or call 1800 677 761.
Other cover you might need
This page is general information only. It does not take your situation into account and it is not a recommendation to buy any policy. Cover, limits and exclusions vary between insurers, so read the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination and refer to your broker for the full details of any policy.
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Important: CoverMy is not a comparison site and does not provide insurance. We connect you with licensed insurance brokers who provide advice and quotes based on your needs. All advice comes from your broker, using information you provide with your consent.
This page is general information only. It does not take your situation into account and it is not a recommendation to buy any policy. Cover, limits and exclusions vary between insurers, so read the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination and refer to your broker for the full details of any policy.
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