Insurance for Trades & Construction

Key risks

Common industry risks

Understanding the risks in your industry and how our comprehensive coverage responds to protect your business.

The Risks

Risks Response

Loading & Unloading of Registered Vehicles

Damage to someone else's property while loading or unloading your parked vehicle as part of your business activities, where you are legally liable for the loss.

Some Public Liability and Commercial Motor Vehicle policies may respond to property damage claims arising from loading or unloading your vehicle.

Care, Custody & Control

Damage to a client’s property while it is in your possession, not in relation to the services performed.

Public Liability can include coverage for third party property that is damaged while in your possession.

Vicarious Liability

Liability arising from the acts of contractors or sub-contractors carrying out trade work on your behalf.

Public Liability can include coverage for work done on your behalf that leads to a liability claim against you.

Products Liability

Liability from supplied materials, fixtures or products causing third party injury or property damage.

The policy is designed to cover defence costs and compensation for covered products liability claims.

Public Liability

Liability arising if trade or construction work causes third party injury or damage to others' property.

The policy is designed to respond to claims, defence costs and compensation linked to on-site trade work

Loading & Unloading of Registered Vehicles

The Risks

Damage to someone else's property while loading or unloading your parked vehicle as part of your business activities, where you are legally liable for the loss.

Risks Response

Some Public Liability and Commercial Motor Vehicle policies may respond to property damage claims arising from loading or unloading your vehicle.

Care, Custody & Control

The Risks

Damage to a client’s property while it is in your possession, not in relation to the services performed.

Risks Response

Public Liability can include coverage for third party property that is damaged while in your possession.

Vicarious Liability

The Risks

Liability arising from the acts of contractors or sub-contractors carrying out trade work on your behalf.

Risks Response

Public Liability can include coverage for work done on your behalf that leads to a liability claim against you.

Products Liability

The Risks

Liability from supplied materials, fixtures or products causing third party injury or property damage.

Risks Response

The policy is designed to cover defence costs and compensation for covered products liability claims.

Public Liability

The Risks

Liability arising if trade or construction work causes third party injury or damage to others' property.

Risks Response

The policy is designed to respond to claims, defence costs and compensation linked to on-site trade work

Important: Scenarios are examples only. Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Limits and sub-limits might apply. Policy wordings vary between insurers. Refer to the PDS or Policy Wording for details.

Products

Coverage for Trades & Construction

Public & Products Liability, Tools of Trade, and more for Trades & Construction from leading insurers

Public & Products Liability

Covers injury & property claims from your services, products or at your business

Tools of trade

Covers theft, damage or loss to work tools and equipment incl power tools, machinery and laptops

Commercial Motor Fleet

Covers business vehicles for damage to your vehicle or a third party’s, property damage or injuries to others (excl CTP)

Tax Audit

Covers professional costs in responding to a tax audit or tax dispute, this does not cover any tax penalty

Claims examples

Common claims against Trades & Construction

Real-world examples of how our insurance may help protect trades & construction industry and their clients

Tool Theft

SCENARIO

A tradie's vehicle is broken into overnight while parked at home. Thieves force entry through the locked canopy, stealing power tools and equipment valued at several thousand dollars.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Tools of Trade insurance is designed to cover theft from a securely locked vehicle where there is evidence of forced entry, helping you replace essential equipment.

Fence damage

SCENARIO

Backing a trade ute into a site driveway, you clip the client's fence and crack several palings. They ask your business to pay for the repairs.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Commercial motor vehicle insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from your insured vehicle where you are legally liable for the loss.

Public Injury

SCENARIO

A tool falls from scaffolding and injures a pedestrian walking past the worksite. They require medical treatment and later make a claim against the business for pain, suffering and related expenses.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Public Liability insurance is designed to respond to claims for personal injury to third parties arising from your business activities.

Client Property Damage

SCENARIO

A tradesperson installing a wall fixture accidentally drills into a concealed pipe behind the wall, causing water damage to the client's flooring and cabinetry. The client requires repairs and later makes a claim against the business for repair costs and related expenses.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Public Liability Insurance may respond to third party property damage claims arising from your business activities.

SCENARIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

Support person trip

SCENARIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

WHY IT’S COVERED

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

SCENARIO

A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.

IS THIS COVERED?

Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.

FAQs

Trades & Construction insurance queries

How do I make a claim?

You should notify your insurer as soon as you become aware of a claim or circumstance that may give rise to a claim which could include a client complaint, you discovering an incident or an allegation of harm. Claims should be made in writing and handled in line with the claims notification requirements which will be outlined in your policy wording.

Learn More

How do I make a claim?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

A Certificate of Currency is issued by an insurance company and is something you can use as proof that your existing insurance policy is valid. It contains all the information regarding your policy. You may be asked from time to time to prove your insurance - for loans to your business, for landlords of your premises, or for certain clients you might have. The moment you purchase your insurance from upcover you can send your proof of insurance to whoever requires it, at just a click of a button.

Learn More

What is a Certificate of Currency?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

You should notify your insurer as soon as you become aware of any incident, claim, or circumstance that may give rise to a claim. Professional Indemnity insurance typically operates on a "claims made and notified" basis, meaning both the claim must be made against you AND you must notify the insurer during the active insurance period (or discovery period if applicable). Late notification after policy expiry may not be covered unless you have purchased an extended discovery period. Prompt notification is essential to protect your rights under your insurance.

Learn More

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

What is a retroactive date?

A retroactive date is the earliest date from which a claim can arise and still be covered under your policy. Professional Indemnity and certain other claims-made policies will only respond to claims arising from acts, errors or omissions that occurred on or after the retroactive date listed in your policy schedule. If an incident occurred before your retroactive date, it typically will not be covered even if the claim is made during the current policy period. Maintaining continuous cover without gaps helps protect your retroactive date — check your policy schedule or ask your broker if you are unsure of your retroactive date.

Learn More

What is a retroactive date?

Insight

From our blog

Coverage, risk management and compliance, explained in plain English.

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© 2026 upcover Pty Ltd ABN 17 628 197 437, Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078. upcover arranges insurance products with selected insurers and underwriters. upcover does not compare all general insurers or insurance products available in the market.

The information contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your individual needs, objectives and financial situation. It should not be relied upon as advice. All insurance products are subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions contained in the relevant policy wording and Product Disclosure Statement. Before deciding whether a particular insurance product is right for you, please consider your personal circumstances and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination, Policy Wording, and Financial Services Guide.

Insurance for Trades & Construction

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Common industry risks

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

The Risks

Risks Response

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Coverage for Trades & Construction

Common claims against Trades & Construction

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SCENARIO

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Trades & Construction insurance queries

How do I make a claim?

How do I make a claim?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

What is a Certificate of Currency?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

How quickly do I need to report an incident to my insurer?

What is a retroactive date?

What is a retroactive date?

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