Electricians Insurance
Get your electrical business covered with Viz - Certificate of Currency emailed instantly, no fees for paying monthly, and a real person on the phone when you call.
Why do electricians need insurance?
Your work takes you into clients' homes and businesses, where drilling in the wrong spot can find a pipe nobody knew was there. A Viz public & products liability insurance policy is designed to cover your business for third-party injury and property damage claims arising from your electrical business activities.
Most builders and principal contractors usually ask to see a Certificate of Currency as proof your cover is in place before they'll let you start on site.
What can you get covered for as a sparky?
Viz is built for how sparkies actually work.
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Pay Monthly at no Extra Cost
Cashflow matters. No fees or interest for paying monthly.
One Policy. Multiple Occupations.
Put multiple occupations under one policy and one premium.
Get your Viz Tradie Pass
A Certificate of Currency & insurance hub in your phone's digital wallet.
What can Electricians Insurance cover?
Third party property damage
Third party property damage
If your work accidentally damages a client or other third party's property, public liability insurance can cover the costs you're liable to pay. For electricians, that might mean accidentally causing an overvoltage which damages thousands of dollars of appliances and electronics.
Injuries to third parties
Injuries to third parties
If someone is accidentally injured because of your work, public liability insurance can cover the costs you're liable to pay. For an electrician, that could mean someone injured in a house fire caused by faulty switchboard work.
Legal costs
Legal costs
If there is a claim made against your business that you might be legally liable to pay, the public liability in your electrician's policy can cover the legal costs incurred to defend or settle it.
When a client holds you liable for something that you don't necessarily think was your fault, this can come in handy.
Theft of your tools
Theft of your tools
If you add Tools of Trade cover to your Viz policy, you can insure up to $50,000 of tools and equipment against theft from a securely locked vehicle or building.
Damage to your tools
Damage to your tools
If you add Tools of Trade cover to your Viz policy, your gear can also be insured for damage from fire, explosion, flood, or a car collision on the way to a job.
QLD Electrical Contractor requirements
Qld Electrical Contractor requirements
Viz's public liability insurance policies meet the requirements of the Qld Electrical Safety Office.
The necessary $50,000 of consumer protection cover is automatically included when 'Electrician' and 'Qld' are selected on your quote.
What can't electricians insurance cover?
Every insurance policy has exclusions - they keep premiums fair and help reserve cover for genuine, unexpected events. We've listed some of the exclusions that every insured electrician should be aware of.
Injury to your employees
Injury to your employees
Public liability covers damage and injury to third parties - not injury to your own employees.
If you employ workers, you’ll generally need workers compensation insurance, which is designed to provide support if they’re injured or become ill because of their work. The requirements vary between states and territories, so check the rules that apply to your business.
Faulty workmanship
Faulty workmanship
Public liability can cover the damage faulty work causes, but not the cost of redoing the work itself. If a connection you made fails and damages a client's oven, redoing the connection isn't covered. The repair to the oven can be.
Tools theft from open air
Tools theft from open air
If your tools or testing gear are taken from an open job site or an unlocked vehicle, they won't be covered. Viz's tools cover only applies to theft from a securely locked building or vehicle where there's evidence of forced entry. Covering open-air theft would mean every policyholder's premium pays for the few who don't lock up, so it's left out.
Work not expected of an electrician
Work not expected of an electrician
Your policy is designed to cover work that's reasonably expected of an electrician. If you carry out other types of work, you'll need to add it to your policy for it to be covered.
Solar, battery and air conditioning can also be covered in addition to your general electrical business activities - just make sure you select them when you set up your policy.
Damages related to asbestos
Damage related to asbestos
Insurers often choose to exclude super high risk situations from their public liability policies. For instance, Viz (as well as most insurers) can't cover you for any work involving asbestos, or silica.
The above is not a complete list of the exclusions in your policy. Refer to the policy wording for the full details of your cover.
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Insurance for electrical contractors
Need to get your contractor's licence? Check what insurance your state requires below.
QLD
In order to apply for an electrical contractor's licence in Queensland, you are required to hold public and products liability with:
- a limit of indemnity of at least $5,000,000, and
- consumer protection insurance of at least $50,000.
Viz's public and products liability policy for Qld electricians meets the requirements of Section 51 of the ES Regulation, as needed by the Electrical Safety Office.
While you are not required to provide your Certificate of Currency upon application, Worksafe Qld says that "...the Electrical Safety Office conducts periodic audits to ensure contractors have appropriate insurance"
WA, TAS, & NT
When applying for your electrical contractors licence in Western Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory, you need to hold at least $5 million in public liability insurance and submit your Certificate of Currency as a part of your application.
In WA, they require a Certificate of Currency that is issued within the last 30 days, and that the name on the certificate matches the name of the individual, partnership, or company - not your trading name.
VIC
When applying for an electrical contractor licence in Victoria, you will be required to declare that you hold at least $5 million in public liability insurance.
NSW, ACT, & SA
When applying for an electrical contractor's licence in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia, there is no specific requirement to hold public & products liability insurance in order to get licensed, although it is generally recommended.
Do you do more than general electrical?
If your business also does specialist work, such as:
- ● Air conditioning
- ● Solar installation and maintenance
- ● Home battery installation and maintenance
- ● Data/NBN installation
You can add these trades to the same policy and only pay one premium.
What goes into an electrician's insurance policy?
Build your policy from the three cover options that Viz offers.
Public & products liability insurance
Why you might need it
Public & products liability insurance is the part of your policy that's designed to respond if your work injures someone or damages their property. For electricians, that can mean accidentally putting a foot through the ceiling, or damage caused by work you finished weeks ago.
It's also something you'll usually need before you're allowed on site. Builders and commercial clients will typically ask for a Certificate of Currency as proof your cover is in place before you start.
How it works
You can choose from $5m, $10m or $20m of public liability cover. This is the most you can be paid out for claims within a policy period.
Depending on the work you take on, you may need a minimum level - many builders and commercial sites require $10 million or $20 million before you can start. With Viz, your Certificate of Currency is emailed to you instantly after you take out a policy, so you can provide your docs straight away.
Tools & equipment insurance
Why you might need it
Your tools and testing gear - multifunction testers, clamp meters, power tools - are how the work gets done and how you get paid. Without them, jobs come to a stop. If you choose to include tools and equipment cover, it can help when your gear is stolen or damaged by an insured event, so you can repair or replace it and get back to work.
How it works
Tools and equipment cover is an optional extra you can add to your policy. Choose from $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000 of cover for general tools and equipment worth less than $2,500 per item. Higher-value gear - like a trailer or more expensive testing equipment - can be listed individually as specified items. You can add up to $30,000 of specified items, giving you up to $50,000 in total cover. You can always add or remove tools from your policy once it is in place.
Tax audit insurance
Why you might need it
The ATO can audit any business, electrical businesses included, at their discretion - whether or not there's been a mistake. Some are selected at random, others based on tax lodgements. For someone running their own electrical business, a tax audit can mean dealing with accountants and professional fees while responding to the ATO. If you choose to include tax audit cover, it can cover those costs and help protect your cashflow.
How it works
Tax audit cover is optional and can be added or removed from your policy at any time. It provides $50,000 of cover if selected, with the option to choose an excess that suits you.
What might an electrician's claim look like?
Ben, from True North Electric
Ben was working in a roof cavity when he caught his foot on an air-con duct and put it straight through the ceiling of a wardrobe below. The repair cost around $1,200, which was covered under his public liability insurance.
Kane, from KRT Electrical & Solar
Kane was wiring in a new solar system and a fault at the switchboard sent a surge through the property once the power came back on, damaging several appliances. The repair bill came to just over $6,300, which was covered under the public and products liability insurance on his policy for electrical and solar work.
Grace, from Paperbark Power Co.
Grace's work van was broken into overnight while parked outside her house, and the canopy was forced open and her tools and testing gear were stolen. The stolen equipment came to close to $6,800, which was covered under her tools of trade insurance.
The names and businesses above have been changed for privacy. Every claim is different and assessed on its individual circumstances and policy coverage.
Claim process
Claim time is when your insurance needs to deliver, especially with a builder or homeowner waiting on you. At Viz, claims are managed by our specialist claims partner, Sedgwick. Their role is to guide you through your claim and help you get back to your pre-loss position as quickly as possible, with minimal disruption.
1.
Lodge your claim
Fill out the claim form, call the claims team on 1300 850 491, or send the details to vizclaims@au.sedgwick.com. You'll get confirmation once your information has been received.
2.
A representative will get in touch
A Sedgwick representative will be in touch, likely to gather more detail about your claim. That can include a police report, proof of ownership, and an account of what happened, when and where.
3.
Claim assessment
Once the claims team has everything they need from you, they aim to make a decision within 1 to 10 business days, depending on the complexity of the claim.
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Frequently asked questions
Electricians insurance with Viz starts at about $30 - $35 a month for $5 million of public liability cover, or about $35 - $40 a month for $10 million. Your exact premium depends on your cover limit, the number of workers in your business, and your state. Paying monthly comes at no extra cost compared with paying annually - no extra fees or interest. Get a quote in 2 minutes to see your price.
In most cases, yes. Principal contractors and builders in Australia typically require subcontract electricians to hold current public liability insurance, often with a minimum limit of $10 million or $20 million, before they're allowed to start work.
Once you take out a policy with Viz, your Certificate of Currency and other documents are emailed to you within seconds. You can also sign up for the Viz Tradie Pass, which keeps an up-to-date copy on your phone whenever you need it.
Public liability insurance is expected for electricians working on most Australian building sites. Principal contractors and builders typically require subcontractors to hold current public liability insurance before starting work. Viz provides electrician cover up to $20 million.
Yes. An interested party, such as a builder, head contractor or property owner, can be added to your Viz policy by phone or email.
Viz's public liability cover for electricians includes a specific provision for Queensland electrical contractors.
Things to know
Monthly Payments vary by state due to state-based stamp duty charges. Viz charge an annual $25 Policy Fee + $2.50 GST payable in addition to your premium. The prices shown are based on selecting a $500 excess and are an indication only. Your premium will be calculated based on the information you provide to us during the insurance application process.
You can add up to two occupation categories on to your quote online. Some of these categories contain two different trades, e.g. 'Landscaping and renovations'. If you need additional business activities covered or have any questions about our policies, give us a call on 1300 216 226 or email us at hello@vizinsurance.com.au.