Plumber Insurance Cost in Australia: Typically $111 a Month

Most plumbers on a monthly plan pay from around $102 to $119 a month for public liability insurance. The typical cost is around $111, based on policies reviewed. Entry-level plumber insurance can start from around $64 a month, 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 plumbing 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 plumber insurance. Other covers, such as tools of trade or professional indemnity, are separate costs discussed 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: $102 to $119 a month for most plumbers, typically $111.
• Paid annually: $546 to $1,930 a year for most, typically $1,070.
• Entry-level quote: from $64 a month, in a separate illustrative quote.
• Victoria: licensed plumbers give the regulator evidence of public liability insurance of at least $5 million.
• Certification or design work: professional indemnity is a separate cover some plumbers consider.

How much is public liability insurance for plumbers?

Public liability insurance for plumbers can start from around $64 a month, as a separate illustrative quote. Across the policies reviewed, here is what plumbers pay more broadly:

Paid annually: most plumbers pay from around $546 to $1,930 a year, with a typical cost of around $1,070. Some pay as little as $429.

Monthly plan, total over 12 months: most pay from around $1,222 to $1,433, with a typical cost of around $1,331. Some pay as little as $977.

Monthly instalment: most pay from around $102 to $119 a month, with a typical cost of around $111. Some pay as little as $81 a month.

A small number of higher-turnover or higher-risk plumbing businesses pay more than these ranges. They sit above the ranges quoted and are not representative of a typical sole trader.

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.

Plumbing insurance cost by cover limit

Plumbers commonly hold plumbing insurance with public liability limits of $5 million, $10 million, $20 million or more. Higher limits generally cost more, and a quote shows the difference for your business and work type.

In Victoria, a minimum public liability limit is a condition of a plumbing licence. Licensed plumbers must give the regulator a certificate of currency showing public liability cover of at least $5 million. The minimum is set by a Ministerial Order (Building and Plumbing Commission).

Victorian plumbers can start with insurance for plumbers in Victoria.

Builders, principal contractors and commercial clients may ask for $10 million or $20 million in their contracts. An upcover representative or a broker can talk through what different limits mean for your business.

What drives the cost of plumber insurance?

Plumber insurance cost depends on factors such as your work type, turnover, state, claims history, cover limit and staff. Insurers weigh these together when they price a quote.

• The type of work you do. Insurers commonly ask whether you do domestic, commercial, gas fitting or backflow prevention 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, including any minimum public liability limit.
• Your claims history. Insurers consider past claims when pricing cover at quote and at renewal.
• Cover limit. Higher limits generally cost more.

Plumbers insurance cost: solo or with staff

Solo plumbers and sole traders working mainly on domestic maintenance and small renovation jobs may sit towards the lower end of the range. This is more likely where turnover is modest and the work avoids gas fitting or large commercial sites.

Plumbing businesses with staff face a different cost structure. Workers compensation insurance, designed to cover workers injured at work, is required where workers fall within the relevant state or territory scheme (Safe Work Australia). 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 such as a work ute or van. These sit outside public liability but add to the total insurance cost.

For a broader look at what tradespeople commonly hold, see what insurance tradies need in Australia.

Does professional indemnity insurance for plumbers add to the cost?

Professional indemnity can add to the cost if your work includes compliance certification, backflow prevention sign-offs or system design advice. When you install, repair or maintain plumbing systems, public liability is generally the main cover plumbers focus on.

Professional indemnity insurance is designed to cover claims that your advice, service or work caused a client financial loss. It may include legal defence costs, compensation and any settlement you are legally liable to pay, subject to the policy terms.

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.

What might plumber public liability insurance not cover?

Plumber public liability insurance commonly leaves out injury to your own workers, your own tools and the cost of redoing your own work. 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 plumber insurance costs

Managing plumber insurance costs starts with an accurate work description, a limit that matches your licence and contracts, and a look at payment options.

• Describe your work accurately. Your policy schedule lists the activities you do, such as domestic, commercial, gas fitting or backflow 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 plumbers insurance quotes

Comparing plumbers 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, gas fitting and backflow prevention 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 Victoria, the certificate of currency carries the Ministerial Order notation the regulator asks for.
• Payment options. Compare the annual price with the 12-month total on a monthly plan.

What do you need for a plumber insurance quote?

A plumber insurance quote is faster to arrange with your state, work type, turnover, staff, limit and claims history ready:

• Your state and the type of plumbing work you do (domestic, commercial, gas fitting, backflow prevention).
• 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 plumbers 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 plumbers insurance quotes online. For licence steps in Victoria, see plumbing licence requirements in Victoria.

Frequently asked questions

How much does plumber insurance cost per month?

Most plumbers on a monthly plan pay from around $102 to $119 a month for public liability insurance, with a typical cost of around $111. Entry-level cover can start from around $64 a month, in a separate illustrative quote.

How much is public liability insurance for plumbers per year?

Paid annually, most plumbers pay from around $546 to $1,930 a year for public liability insurance, with a typical cost of around $1,070. Some higher-turnover or higher-risk businesses pay more.

Is it cheaper to pay for plumber 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 Victorian plumbers need public liability insurance?

Licensed plumbers in Victoria must hold public liability insurance of at least $5 million under a Ministerial Order. The Building and Plumbing Commission asks for a certificate of currency at licensing and renewal.

Does the cover limit affect how much I pay?

The cover limit is one of the factors in your cost, and higher limits generally cost more. A quote shows the difference between $5 million, $10 million and $20 million for your business.

Do plumbers need professional indemnity insurance too?

Plumbers who install, repair or maintain systems commonly focus on public liability. Those who give compliance certification, backflow sign-offs or design advice may consider professional indemnity insurance 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.}