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What insurance do plumbers need?

Written by COVRA · Updated · Sources

Most plumbers look at public liability, cover for their ute and tools, and workers’ compensation if they employ staff. Victoria and Tasmania require at least $5 million of public liability for a plumbing licence, and Victoria’s licence insurance must also cover defective work for six years.

What plumbers commonly insure.

The covers plumbers most often look at. What applies depends on your state, your work and your contracts.

  • Public liability Injury to other people or damage to their property caused by your negligence1. Victoria and Tasmania make it a condition of the plumbing licence (see below).
  • Utes and vans Damage to your vehicle and to other people’s.
  • Tools and equipment Portable equipment cover. Most of these policies only pay for theft after forcible or violent entry, or if the gear was secured to the vehicle2.
  • Workers’ compensation Most employers must hold it1. The 2026–27 rates for plumbing businesses are below.
  • Accident and illness Workers’ compensation doesn’t cover sole traders, who can take out accident and sickness cover privately1.
  • Home warranty For Queensland residential plumbing and drainage work over $3,300, and NSW residential jobs over $20,000 that you contract for directly (see below)3, 4.
  • Professional indemnity Required for Queensland’s hydraulic services design licence, and $1 million for NT certifying plumbers and drainers (design)5, 6. upcover says it can be relevant where plumbers certify work, sign off backflow prevention or advise on design7.

Licence rules by state.

The insurance a plumbing licence requires, and how the regulator checks it.

  • Victoria Before issuing or renewing a licence, the Building and Plumbing Commission needs a certificate of currency for at least $5 million public liability in the plumber’s full legal name, noting that it complies with the 2002 Ministerial Order. A licence is only issued for the insured period, and working without the insurance is an offence8.
  • Victoria: what it covers For work that needs a compliance certificate, the same insurance must cover public and completed work liability of at least $5 million an occurrence, plus fixing defects and claims under trade practices and fair trading laws: at least $50,000 a home for domestic work and $100,000 for other work. That cover runs until six years after the last compliance certificate, even if you stop being licensed. Domestic jobs are also covered for non-completion if you die, disappear, become insolvent or lose your licence9.
  • Tasmania At least $5 million public liability for any one occurrence, and the same for products liability in the annual aggregate, in the business’s trading name. A certificate of currency goes with the application10.
  • Queensland No insurance for the QBCC plumbing and drainage licence11. The hydraulic services design licence needs professional indemnity5.
  • Queensland: home warranty Required on residential work over $3,300, including labour, materials and GST, that needs plumbing approval or is on the primary water supply, sewerage, drainage or stormwater, such as repairing a downpipe or gutter. A hot water system installed on its own doesn’t need it3.
  • New South Wales No insurance for the licence. Plumbing, draining and gasfitting is specialist work, so a plumber who contracts directly for residential work over $20,000, including GST, must take out home building compensation cover before taking a deposit or starting. Subcontractors to a builder don’t need it. Not insuring can cost a company up to $110,0004, 12.
  • Western Australia No insurance listed for the plumbing contractor’s licence13.
  • South Australia No insurance. The contractor’s licence, which also covers gas fitting and electrical work, needs at least $10,000 in net assets14.
  • Northern Territory No insurance for the advanced tradesman licence, which lets you contract for plumbing and draining work15. Certifying plumbers and drainers (design) need $1 million professional indemnity6.
  • ACT No set amount. Before providing a service, a licensee must give the client evidence of the insurance it holds. Details on the work vehicle or in advertising can count16.

Gas fitting.

Gas work has its own licence in most states. What each one asks for in insurance.

  • Victoria Gasfitters are licensed as plumbers, so the insurance order above applies. A plumber licensed only for Type B gasfitting needs at least $5 million public liability under a separate order, and anyone licensed for Type B and another class must meet both8, 9.
  • Tasmania A gas-fitting contractor licence needs the same cover as a plumbing one: $5 million public liability for any one occurrence and products liability in the annual aggregate, with a certificate of currency for new applications and renewals17.
  • Queensland Gasfitting needs a QBCC gasfitting licence as well as a gasfitting licence issued by the Chief Gas Examiner and Resources Safety and Health Queensland. The QBCC page lists no insurance requirement18.
  • New South Wales Any gasfitting, including LP gasfitting, needs a licence or certificate, whatever the job is worth. It counts as specialist work, so the home building compensation rule above applies4, 12.
  • WA and the NT Gasfitters need a gasfitting permit in WA, or a gasfitter licence from NT WorkSafe. Neither licence page lists an insurance requirement19, 20.
Costs

How much does plumber insurance cost?

Published figures from two online brokers’ own customers, mostly for public liability. A guide, not a quote.

Paid monthly $111 a month

Median public liability instalment. Most pay $102–$119. upcover, August 2026.7

Highest premium $10,500+

A year: the highest in upcover’s plumber data. A few higher-risk or higher-turnover plumbers pay well above the usual range. August 2026.7

Business insurance $143 a month

Average paid by plumbers, 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025. BizCover.22

Public liability premium a year: the median, with the range most pay as the bar. upcover, August 20267, 21.

Plumbers, paid upfront Most pay $546–$1,930. The lowest was $429.7
$1,070 median
Plumbers, monthly plan Total over 12 months. Most pay $1,222–$1,433.7
$1,331 median
Electricians, paid upfront For comparison. Most pay $640–$1,343.21
$884 median

upcover says plumbers pay more than electricians or carpenters mainly because water damage claims tend to be more frequent and more expensive7.

Workers’ compensation.

The 2026–27 industry rates for plumbing businesses in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

NSW, 2026–27

4.390%

icare’s industry rate for plumbing services. Electrical services is 2.890%23.

Victoria, 2026–27

3.835%

WorkSafe’s industry rate for plumbing services, against an average premium rate of 1.8%25, 26.

Queensland, 2026–27

$2.897

Per $100 of wages for plumbing services, against a target average of $1.34327, 28.

In NSW, the rate reflects the claims and safety record of all employers in the industry, and a premium starts as wages multiplied by the rate24. Employers there get a premium reduction for the wages of apprentices on an approved training contract29.

Real claims.

Claims published by brokers. Every claim depends on the policy wording.

  • Burst pipeA hot water pipe burst because of a fitting error, damaging three levels of a commercial building. Paid $56,00030.
  • Gas lineA plumber damaged a gas line during a kitchen fit-out and emergency services were called. Paid $22,000 for the callout and repairs30.
  • Bathroom fixtureA fixture connected incorrectly caused water damage after the homeowner moved in. Paid $18,00030.
  • Flexi hoseA newly installed flexi hose burst overnight, damaging flooring and cabinetry. Paid $9,80031.
  • DryerA plumber installing a dryer left its safety screws in. It toppled over when used, damaging it and the washing machine. Paid almost $8,00032.
  • Drill injuryTimber broke while a plumber was drilling, and the drill went through their leg. They were off work for a week, and their personal accident policy paid $721.1433.
FAQ

Common questions.

Is public liability insurance compulsory for plumbers?

Only for the licence in Victoria and Tasmania, which require at least $5 million. Other states and territories don’t require it for the licence, although many clients ask for it.

What does Victoria’s plumbing insurance cover?

For work that needs a compliance certificate: at least $5 million of public and completed work liability, and the cost of fixing defects until six years after the last certificate, with at least $50,000 a home for domestic work.

Do gasfitters need insurance?

In Victoria and Tasmania, yes: at least $5 million of public liability. The Queensland, NSW, WA and NT licence pages list no insurance requirement.

How much does plumber insurance cost?

upcover’s median for plumbers’ public liability is about $1,070 a year paid upfront, with most paying $546–$1,930. BizCover’s average for plumbers’ business insurance is $143 a month.

Why does plumber insurance cost more than an electrician’s?

upcover says water damage claims tend to be more frequent and more expensive than other trades’ claims. Its median for electricians is about $884 a year.

When do plumbers need home warranty insurance?

In Queensland, for residential work over $3,300 that needs plumbing approval or involves water supply, sewerage, drainage or stormwater. In NSW, as the principal contractor on residential work over $20,000.

Do plumbers need professional indemnity insurance?

Only for some licences, such as Queensland’s hydraulic services design licence, and NT registration as a certifying plumber and drainer (design), which needs $1 million.

What does workers’ compensation cost for a plumbing business?

In 2026–27 the industry rate for plumbing services is 4.390% in NSW and 3.835% in Victoria, and $2.897 per $100 of wages in Queensland.

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Who requires cover.

  • Maintenance plumbers Leaks, blockages, hot water and repairs
  • Gasfitters Appliances, gas lines and LPG
  • New homes and renovations Rough-in and fit-off for builders and owners
  • Plumbing contractors Businesses with staff and apprentices

Covers plumbers look at.

Our guides to the covers plumbers most often ask about.

Public Liability Insurance Business Motor Insurance Professional Indemnity Insurance

Sources.

  1. Types of business insurance, business.gov.au
  2. Guide to tool insurance for tradies, BizCover, 9 February 2026
  3. What work requires insurance, QBCC, 1 August 2024
  4. Insurance obligations for residential building work, SIRA (NSW), July 2026
  5. Professional indemnity insurance, QBCC, 11 June 2026
  6. Determinations relating to building practitioners (Gazette S57), NT Government Gazette, 5 September 2025
  7. How much does plumber insurance cost?, upcover, 13 August 2026
  8. Plumber insurance requirements, Building and Plumbing Commission (Vic), 29 July 2026
  9. Licensed Plumbers General Insurance Order 2002 and Type B Gasfitting Work Insurance Order 2002 (Gazette S 103), Victoria Government Gazette, 20 June 2002
  10. Plumbing contractor licence, CBOS Tasmania, 12 February 2025
  11. Plumbing and drainage licence, QBCC, 30 August 2021
  12. Plumbing, draining and gasfitting licences, Building Commission NSW, 31 July 2026
  13. Plumbing contractor’s licence, WA Government, 20 April 2026
  14. Plumbing, gas fitting or electrical contractors licence (SA), ABLIS
  15. Licensing, NT Plumbers and Drainers Licensing Board, 25 January 2024
  16. Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004, section 47, ACT Legislation, 23 February 2026
  17. Gas-fitting licence: contractor, CBOS Tasmania, 12 February 2025
  18. Gasfitting licence, QBCC, 31 August 2021
  19. Gasfitting permit, WA Government, 17 August 2026
  20. Gasfitters, NT WorkSafe, 13 August 2026
  21. How much does electrician insurance cost?, upcover, 13 August 2026
  22. Plumber insurance, BizCover, 2026
  23. Workers compensation premium rates 2026–27, icare, 19 May 2026
  24. Understanding the WIC system and premium rates, icare
  25. WorkCover Premiums Order (No. 34) 2026/2027: industry rates (Gazette S 284), Victoria Government Gazette, 2 June 2026
  26. Industry rates and key dates, WorkSafe Victoria, 29 June 2026
  27. WorkCover Queensland Notice (No. 1) of 2026, Queensland Government Gazette, 26 June 2026
  28. WorkCover Queensland holds premiums steady for the second year, WorkCover Queensland, 26 June 2026
  29. Apprentice Incentive Scheme, icare
  30. Plumbers insurance with activities in Victoria, Ausure, 23 February 2026
  31. Plumbers insurance, Ausure, 20 March 2026
  32. Your guide to navigating public liability insurance claims, BizCover, 20 January 2026
  33. Personal accident and illness claim: plumber, BizCover for Brokers