Trades Insurance – Granite Belt Insurance Brokers
The right cover depends on the work you actually do and the sites you work on — not just what you called yourself when you first started.
Granite Belt Insurance Brokers helps tradies and contractors arrange practical insurance that fits real-world exposures — including public and products liability,
tools/equipment, contract works (where appropriate), business interruption (where appropriate), and vehicles/plant where needed.
We’re insurance brokers (not insurers), which means we help compare options and place cover with an insurer that matches your risk, your contracts and your budget.
✅ What trades insurance is designed to protect
Most tradies need a mix of covers depending on the trade, sites, contract terms and the value of tools/gear. Common sections include:
- Public & products liability — injury or property damage claims arising from your work (and products supplied).
- Tools & portable equipment — theft/damage of tools and gear (including from vehicles, subject to conditions).
- ️ Contract works / works in progress (where appropriate) — damage to the job while it’s being built/installed.
- Business property (where applicable) — workshop/yard contents, stock, signage and business contents.
- Vehicles, trailers and plant (where needed) — commercial motor or specialist cover for plant/equipment.
- Business interruption (where appropriate) — helps protect cashflow after an insured event stops trading.
⚠️ Common gaps we see in trades cover (and how to avoid them)
- Trade description doesn’t match reality: the declared business activity is too broad or too narrow.
- Contract requirements missed: principals often require specific limits, interested parties, or clauses.
- Tools theft conditions: “left in vehicle”, security, time limits and evidence requirements can bite.
- Subcontractors & labour hire: who is responsible for what can be unclear at claim time.
- Hot works / height / hazardous tasks: some activities can be excluded or need to be declared.
- Property you’re working on: damage to existing structures may need specific wording/sections.
Most disputes happen when the paperwork doesn’t match the job. Broker-led placement is about aligning your actual work, contracts and tool values
to a policy that’s designed to respond.
How we set up trades insurance (simple and practical)
- 1) What you do — trade type, typical jobs, any specialist work (height, hot works, excavation, etc.).
- 2) Where you do it — domestic vs commercial, farms vs town sites, and who your principals are.
- 3) Contracts & limits — required liability limits and any special clauses to meet.
- 4) Tools & equipment — what you carry, where it’s stored, and realistic replacement values.
- 5) Vehicles/plant — whether commercial motor or specialist placement is needed.
If you need to make a claim (what to do first)
Claims go smoother when notified early and documented properly.
- Notify early: contact us as soon as practical so the insurer can confirm next steps.
- Evidence matters: photos, incident notes, quotes/invoices, police report (if theft), CCTV if available.
- ️ Prevent further loss: reasonable temporary protection/repairs may be required — keep receipts.
- Broker support: we’ll help present the facts clearly and keep the process moving.
Who this cover suits (and when you may need something different)
✅ A good fit if you:
- Work as a trade contractor or sole trader and need liability, tools and contract-aligned protection.
- Carry tools/gear between sites and want theft/damage cover structured correctly.
- Want a broker to help match your actual work to insurer appetite and wording.
⚠️ You may need a different approach if you:
- Do high-risk specialist work that needs a specialist market or higher limits.
- Run multiple crews/large contracts requiring tailored contract works, plant and bespoke endorsements.
Quick checklist before you renew
- Tools list/value changed (new gear, higher replacement costs)?
- ️ Doing different work types (height, hot works, excavation, waterproofing, etc.)?
- New contract requirements (limits, interested parties, special clauses)?
- New vehicles/trailers/plant or different use?
- More subcontractors or labour hire involved?
Related pages
What trades insurance typically covers
Trades insurance is usually built from several sections depending on your trade and how you work:
- Public liability: third party bodily injury and property damage arising from your work — the most important section for any tradie working on client sites
- Tools of trade: cover for owned and borrowed tools — subject to limits, security requirements and policy conditions
- Contract works (construction works): cover for the project you’re working on against damage during construction — where applicable
- Commercial vehicle: cover for your ute, van or work vehicle — exclusions apply
- Personal accident: income protection in the event you’re injured and can’t work — separate product, subject to policy terms
Common gaps for Granite Belt and New England tradies
- Working at height or in confined spaces without specific cover notation
- Hot works (welding, grinding, cutting) not declared — can void a claim
- Subcontracting to or from others without checking contract requirements
- Tools left in unattended vehicles overnight — most policies exclude this without a locked vehicle clause
- Working on rural properties — some policies restrict cover to metropolitan or suburban areas
- Contract requirements — principal contractors often require specific liability limits and endorsements
How we structure trades insurance at GBIB
We ask about the work you actually do — not just your trade classification. Whether you’re a sparky, plumber, builder, concreter, fencer or multi-trade operator, we structure cover that matches your activities and the sites you work on across the Granite Belt, Southern Downs and New England.
Making a claim
Contact us before lodging a claim. Particularly for liability claims — notify us immediately if an incident occurs on site, even if no formal claim has been made yet. Early notification protects your position.
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Who this suits
We arrange trades insurance for builders, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, concreters, fencers, earthmovers, irrigation contractors, agricultural machinery operators and other trade contractors working across the Granite Belt, Southern Downs and New England regions.
Renewal checklist
- Have your trade activities or project types changed?
- Are you now subcontracting to others or using subcontractors yourself?
- Have your tool values changed — any new purchases or equipment added?
- Are you working on any larger or higher-risk projects this year?
- Have your vehicle details changed?
- Have any incidents occurred that might give rise to a claim?
Related pages
Civil Contractors Insurance
Public Liability Insurance
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Contract Works Insurance
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