How much does electrician insurance costs in Australia?

Most electricians on a monthly plan pay from around $96 to $113 a month for public liability insurance. The typical cost is around $105, based on policies reviewed. Entry-level cover can start from around $41 a month at a $5 million limit, as a separate illustrative quote.

Public liability insurance is designed to cover claims if someone is injured or their property is damaged in connection with your electrical work. Many builders and commercial clients ask for a certificate of currency before work starts. The figures below are for public liability, which is usually the core cover in electrician insurance. Other covers, such as tools of trade or professional indemnity, are separate costs covered further down.

Cover depends on the policy and insurer you choose. Check the policy wording and its terms and conditions for what is and isn't included.

Key takeaways

• Monthly plan: $96 to $113 a month for most electricians, typically $105.
• Paid annually: $640 to $1,343 a year for most, typically $884.
• Entry-level quote: from $41 a month at a $5 million limit.
• Higher limits: about $69 a year more for each step from $5 million to $10 million to $20 million, in the illustrative quote.
• Queensland: contractor licence holders need $5 million public and products liability plus $50,000 consumer protection insurance.
• Design or advice work: professional indemnity is a separate cover some electricians consider.

How much is public liability insurance for electricians?

Public liability insurance for electricians can start from around $41 a month. That figure is a separate illustrative quote for a business with around $10,000 in annual revenue. The annual cost for that quote at each limit was:

• $5 million cover: $439 per year
• $10 million cover: $508 per year
• $20 million cover: $577 per year

Across the policies reviewed, here is what electricians pay more broadly:

1. Paid annually: most electricians pay from around $640 to $1,343 a year, with a typical cost of around $884. Some pay as little as $636.
2. Monthly plan, total over 12 months: most pay from around $1,146 to $1,360, with a typical cost of around $1,255. Some pay as little as $681.
3. Monthly instalment: most pay from around $96 to $113 a month, with a typical cost of around $105. Some pay as little as $57 a month.

A small number of higher-turnover or higher-risk businesses pay more than these ranges. They are not representative of a typical sole trader, so they are left out of the figures above.

These figures are based on policies arranged through upcover. They are indicative only, are not a quote and may not reflect your business. Your cost depends on factors such as turnover, work type, claims history and cover limit.

How these figures were prepared

Electrician cost figures on this page come from public liability policies for electricians arranged through upcover. "Most pay" means the middle 50% of policies reviewed, from the 25th to the 75th percentile. "Typical cost" is the median. The highest annual premium was $2,660 and the highest 12-month total on a monthly plan was $16,755. These outliers are not representative.

Electrician insurance cost by cover limit

Electricians commonly hold public liability limits of $5 million, $10 million, $20 million or more. In the illustrative quote above, moving from $5 million to $10 million added around $69 a year. Moving from $10 million to $20 million added around $69 more.

In some states, a minimum public liability limit is a condition of an electrical contractor licence. In Queensland, the policy must include public and products liability of at least $5 million. It must also include consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000, under the Electrical Safety Regulation, as set out by WorkSafe Queensland. Builders, principal contractors and commercial clients may ask for $10 million or $20 million in their contracts. For the full state-by-state breakdown, including Queensland's additional consumer protection requirement, see public liability insurance for electricians.

What drives the cost of electrician insurance?

• The type of work you do: Insurers commonly ask whether you do domestic, commercial, industrial, solar or high-voltage work, and the type of work may change the cost.
• Your turnover: Insurers commonly ask for your annual turnover, and it is one of the factors in your cost.
• Your state: Licence conditions differ between states. Queensland contractor licence holders need consumer protection insurance as well as public liability.
• Your claims history: Insurers consider past claims when pricing cover at quote and at renewal.
• Cover limit and employees: Higher limits generally cost more. If you employ staff, workers compensation is a separate cost where your workers fall within the relevant state or territory scheme.

Electrical contractor insurance cost: solo or with staff

Solo electricians and sole traders working mainly on domestic and small commercial jobs may sit towards the lower end of the range. This is more likely where turnover is modest and the work avoids high-voltage or industrial sites.

Electrical contracting businesses with staff face a different cost structure. Beyond public liability, workers compensation applies where you have workers who fall within your state or territory scheme. Staff numbers and combined turnover are also factors in the public liability cost. Tools of trade cover, designed to cover portable tools against theft or damage, may also come into play. So may commercial motor insurance, designed to cover vehicles used for business. These sit outside public liability but add to the total insurance cost.

For a full breakdown of what electricians typically hold beyond public liability, see what insurance electricians need in Australia.

Does professional indemnity add to the cost?

Professional indemnity can add to the cost if your work includes advice, inspections, specifications or design sign-off. When you install or repair electrical systems to someone else's design, public liability is generally the main cover electricians focus on.

Professional indemnity insurance is designed to cover claims that your advice, service or work caused a client financial loss, including legal defence costs, compensation and any settlement you are legally liable to pay. Professional indemnity claims generally involve an allegation such as negligence, and any financial loss that may have arisen from this. Refunds or the cost of redoing your own work are commonly excluded.

Public liability is designed for claims about injury or property damage connected with your physical work. An electrician who writes inspection reports or signs off compliance has a different risk profile from one who only installs to someone else's plans.

What might electrician public liability insurance not cover?

Exclusions commonly include, but are not limited to:

• injury to your own workers, which generally sits with workers compensation
• loss or damage to your own tools and equipment, which may sit with tools of trade cover
• the cost of fixing or redoing your own faulty work
• claims that your advice or design caused a client financial loss, which generally sit with professional indemnity
• accidents involving a registered vehicle, which generally sit with motor insurance

Important: This list is not exhaustive. Exclusions vary between insurers. Always refer to the policy wording and its terms and conditions for the exclusions that apply to you.

How to manage your electrician insurance costs

• Describe your work accurately. Your policy schedule lists the activities you do, such as domestic, commercial or industrial work. If a client makes a claim about work your schedule leaves out, the insurer may consider declining it if they were not aware of the activity and would not have accepted it as covered under the insurance policy.
• Check what your licence and contracts ask for. Licence conditions and client contracts may set a minimum limit. An upcover representative or a broker can talk through what different limits mean for your business.
• Compare annual and monthly payment. In the policies reviewed, paying annually typically costs less than the 12-month total on a monthly plan.
• Update your cover as your business changes. Telling your insurer about new types of work, staff or turnover keeps your schedule accurate.
• Consider arranging covers together. Public liability alongside tools of trade or commercial motor cover can simplify administration, though it doesn't always lower the combined cost.

How to compare electrician insurance quotes

Comparing electrician insurance quotes is clearer when each quote is built on the same details. A lower price can reflect a lower limit, a higher excess or narrower cover.

• The same limit. Check each quote uses the same public liability limit, such as $5 million, $10 million or $20 million.
• The same work description. Domestic, commercial, industrial, solar and high-voltage work may be described differently between insurers.
• The excess. The excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays.
• What is excluded. Exclusions vary between policy wordings, so read the policy wording and its terms and conditions for each quote.
• Licence conditions. In Queensland, each policy includes the consumer protection insurance a contractor licence requires.
• Payment options. Compare the annual price with the 12-month total on a monthly plan.

What do you need for an electrician public liability insurance quote?

Having the following ready makes it faster to get an accurate quote:

• Your state and the type of electrical work you do (domestic, commercial, industrial, solar, high-voltage).
• Your annual turnover.
• Whether you are a sole trader or employ staff.
• Your chosen cover limit ($5 million, $10 million or $20 million).
• Any contract or licence requirements for your limit.
• Claims history, if any.

How upcover can help

upcover arranges public and products liability insurance for electricians across Australia. upcover works with 80+ insurance partners and can arrange quotes from a range of insurers.

• 70,000+ businesses covered across Australia.
• 4.9/5 customer rating.
• Certificate of currency available once your policy is confirmed.

If you already know your cover limit and state requirements, get an electrician insurance quote. Queensland electricians can start with insurance for electricians in Queensland. For claim examples and state licensing requirements, see public liability insurance for electricians.

Frequently asked questions

How much does electrician insurance cost per month?

Most electricians on a monthly plan pay from around $96 to $113 a month, with a typical cost of around $105. Entry-level cover can start from around $41 a month at a $5 million limit, as an illustrative quote.

How much does electrician public liability insurance cost per year?

Paid annually, most electricians pay from around $640 to $1,343 a year, with a typical cost of around $884. Some higher-turnover or higher-risk businesses pay more.

Is it cheaper to pay for electrician insurance monthly or annually?

In the policies reviewed, paying annually typically costs less than the 12-month total on a monthly plan. How this compares for you depends on the policy and payment terms offered.

Do Queensland electricians need extra insurance?

Queensland electrical contractor licence holders need public and products liability of at least $5 million and consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000. Whether this changes your cost depends on the policy and insurer.

Does the cover limit affect how much I pay?

The cover limit is one of the factors in your cost. In the illustrative quote, each step from $5 million to $10 million and from $10 million to $20 million added around $69 a year.

Do electricians need professional indemnity insurance too?

Electricians who install or repair someone else's design commonly focus on public liability. Those who give advice, inspections or design sign-off may consider professional indemnity as well.

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_{The information in this article is general information only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Cost figures are based on policies arranged through upcover. They are indicative only, are not a quote and may not reflect your business. Licensing requirements and minimum cover levels vary by state and can change, so check with the relevant licensing authority. Before deciding whether a product is right for you, read the policy wording and its terms and conditions. For commercial motor vehicle insurance, also read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD) and Financial Services Guide (FSG). upcover arranges insurance products with selected insurers and underwriters and does not compare all general insurers or insurance products available in the market.}