Public and Products Liability

Perfect for business owners or contractors, public & products liability insurance covering 140+ types of trade businesses

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THIS INSURANCE CAN COVER

Cover's 140+ types of general contracting businesses

Select from more than 140 types of construction, cleaning, landscaping businesses and sole trader professions

Cleaners
Window Cleaning Service (Below Three Stories)
Domestic Services - Predominantly Cleaning (Including any office cleaning)
Handyman / general maintenance
Landscape Gardening
Gardening Service
General Labourer
Painting Or Decorating Service (Excluding any work over 3 stories or 10m)
Panel Beating - Motor Body
Car Detailing Service
Carpenter, cabinet maker and renovations - Domestic Only
Carpentry
Bricklaying
Builder - Domestic Only
Joinery/cabinet Making - On-site Fabrication
Concreting (incl. pouring / repairing / drilling) - Commercial
Earth moving & Excavation (Excluding excavation below 3.5m deep)
Electrician and Air conditioning - Domestic Only
Repair Of Installed Fire Or Burglar Security Alarm Systems
Locksmith
Shop / office fitter
Solar Hot Water System Installation
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CLAIMS

Examples of claims usually covered under a public and product liability policy

Accidental damage to client property

Scenario: A tradesperson installing a wall fixture accidentally drills into a concealed pipe, causing water damage to the client’s flooring and cabinetry.

Why It’s Covered: The policy covers your defence costs and settlement payable for accidental damage to third-party property caused by your business activities.

Injury to a member of the public

Scenario: A tool falls from scaffolding and injures a pedestrian walking past the worksite.

Why It’s Covered: Public liability insurance covers your defence costs and settlement payable for personal injury to third parties resulting from negligence during your operations.

Damage to property in your care or control

Scenario: You offer to store your client’s valuable items while you provide services to their home. While the items were stored, they were damaged.

Why It’s Covered: Most policies include cover for damage to property temporarily in your care, custody, or control, subject to sub-limits and exclusions.

Damage during loading or unloading

Scenario: While unloading materials from a vehicle, a tradesperson drops a heavy item onto a nearby parked car.

Why It’s Covered: Standard public liability policies generally extend to liability for property damage occurring during the loading or unloading of vehicles used in the course of business.

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exclusions

What is usually not covered (exclusions) under public and products liability?

Faulty workmanship

The cost to fix or redo your own faulty work or defective products.

Dishonest or wilful acts:

Intentional wrongdoing or fraud

Professional services:

Professional advice/design

CLAIMS

Examples of claims usually excluded under standard public liability policies

Faulty workmanship or product defects

Scenario: A builder installs a set of custom cabinetry that later collapses due to poor construction, damaging the client’s belongings.

Why It’s Excluded: Public liability policies typically exclude the cost of rectifying faulty workmanship or defective products. The policy would cover the cost to repair any resulting property damage but not the cost to redo or repair the original work itself.

Dishonest acts

Scenario: A plumber deliberately damages a customer's existing pipes to create additional billable repair work.

Why It’s Excluded: Intentional property damage for fraudulent financial gain is not covered.

Professional advice provided for a fee

Scenario: A contractor provides a paid design consultation for a retaining wall. The wall later collapses due to structural flaws, causing damage to neighbouring property.

Why It’s Excluded: Liability arising from professional advice or design services provided for a fee is generally excluded and would require professional indemnity insurance.
WHY its important

Why is liability insurance important for trades professionals?

Mistakes can prove to be costly if you're a small business or contractor in the trades industry. This can be devastating - damaging your reputation, affecting your cash flow, and putting your business at financial risk.

You may be a construction contractor renovating your clients housing or a plumber helping them fix their bathroom fittings, or even a landscaper providing gardening and landscaping services - allegations of third party property damage, injuries to others and poor judgement on your side can derail everything you've worked for and have potentially devastating financial consequences.

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FAQs

Commonly asked by our customers

What Public & Products Liability insurance is available through upcover?

Through our Insurance Partners, we can find Public & Products Liability cover that fits your business needs. This insurance is there to protect you if someone gets hurt or their property gets damaged because of your business activities – whether that's a customer visiting your shop, someone tripping over your equipment at their workplace, or a product you've sold causing an injury. It covers the legal costs of defending yourself, plus any compensation you might need to pay if you're found responsible.
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Think of everyday scenarios: a customer slips on a freshly mopped floor, you accidentally damage a client's property while working at their site, or something you've sold doesn't work as expected and causes harm. These things happen, even in the best-run businesses. Your insurance would typically help with legal bills and compensation costs, though every policy is different – some situations won't be covered (like giving professional advice, which needs Professional Indemnity cover instead). If your business deals with customers face-to-face, works at other people's premises, or sells products, this cover is worth considering. The upcover team can help you understand what protection makes sense for your specific business.

What is Public and Products Liability insurance?

Public and Product Liability insurance protects you and your business in case your clients or any other third party sustains an injury and/or causes property damage during the course of your work. Business owners have a duty of care for any third party they interact with as part of their business activities.

By having an adequate level of cover, Public Liability insurance can help you avoid the stress of defending any claim yourself or paying any expensive legal fees so you can resume your business’ day-to-day operations without any hiccups.

What do I need to do to get a quote?

At upcover, we believe in simplicity. Just tell us your occupation, and your revenue and you'll get a price for the insurance in a matter of seconds. You’ll only need to answer a few more questions and you'll be able to buy a policy in minutes - not days or weeks or months!

Who is upcover and its insurance partners?

upcover is a digital insurance broker that offers access to great products for small businesses in Australia. upcover has done the hard work for you by sourcing great quality products and helping you buy them, and get answers to questions simply and easily all online with a hassle free purchase experience. The insurance products we offer are backed by A rated and APRA licensed insurance partners.

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.

How can I make a claim?

You can make a claim by filling up this online form here.

Just answer a few simple questions and submit your claims form in minutes.
© 2025 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.