Veterinary Clinic Insurance

Equipment breakdown cover is typically available as an add-on or included in comprehensive packages. It covers sudden and unforeseen mechanical or electrical failure of veterinary equipment such as x-ray machines, autoclaves and anaesthesia units. This is separate from standard contents cover, which only responds to external events like fire or storm damage.

Professional indemnity insurance is not legally mandated in all states, but it is effectively essential. The Australian Veterinary Association strongly recommends it, and many state veterinary boards require evidence of cover as a condition of registration. Without professional indemnity, a single negligence claim could financially devastate a practice.

Standard public liability policies often exclude animals in your care, custody and control. You need a policy that specifically includes cover for animals entrusted to you for treatment, boarding or surgery. This is called care, custody and control cover and should be confirmed in your policy wording.

Most veterinary clinic professional indemnity policies extend to cover locum vets and employed veterinarians working under your practice. However, independent contractors may need their own professional indemnity cover. Check your policy wording or speak with your Shielded broker to confirm the position.

If a client alleges that their animal died due to your professional negligence, your professional indemnity insurance responds. It covers legal defence costs and any compensation awarded. Even if the claim is unfounded, defence costs alone can run into tens of thousands of dollars, making professional indemnity cover essential.

Yes. Mobile vet practices can be covered with a tailored package that includes portable equipment cover, professional indemnity, public liability and motor vehicle insurance for the vet vehicle. The policy needs to reflect that equipment is transported and used at various locations rather than stored at a fixed premises.

Several major insurers offer veterinary clinic insurance packages in Australia, including CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz and AIG. Each insurer has different appetite for vet practices depending on size, services and claims history. Shielded compares options across our panel to find the right combination of cover and premium for your clinic.

Commercial property insurance covers a wide range of property types including office buildings, retail shops, warehouses, factories, shopping centres, hotels, motels, restaurants, cafes, medical centres, child care centres, gyms, salons, laundromats, churches, petrol stations, mixed-use developments and more. Whether you own a single tenancy or a multi-storey complex, we tailor cover to match your property.

Premiums vary based on building value, location, construction type, tenant occupation and risk profile. A small retail shop may cost $1,500 to $4,000 per year, a standard office building $3,000 to $10,000, and a large warehouse or industrial property $5,000 to $25,000+. High-risk tenancies (restaurants, manufacturing) attract higher premiums. Request a free quote through Shielded for an accurate indication.

Commercial building insurance covers the physical structure including walls, roof, floors, fixed fixtures, common areas, car parks, fencing and services (electrical, plumbing, HVAC) against fire, storm, flood, impact damage, malicious damage, theft and accidental damage. It typically also covers demolition and removal costs, professional fees (architects, engineers) and compliance with current building codes when rebuilding.

If you own a commercial building and lease it to tenants, you need commercial landlord insurance. This covers the building structure, landlord's contents (common area furnishings, HVAC systems), public liability for common areas, loss of rental income if the building is uninhabitable after an insured event, and plate glass. Your tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock and fit-out.

Loss of rental income (also called business interruption for landlords) provides replacement income if your commercial property becomes uninhabitable after an insured event such as fire, storm or flood. It covers the rental income you would have received during the repair or rebuild period, typically for up to 12 or 24 months. This is essential for property investors who rely on rental returns.

Plate glass cover is usually an optional add-on, not included in the base building policy. It covers the cost of replacing glass shop fronts, windows, doors, display cases and signage glass that is accidentally broken or vandalised. For retail properties with large glass frontages, this is an important cover to include.

Generally, the landlord insures the building structure, common areas and landlord's fixtures. Tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents, stock, fit-out, trade fixtures and their own public liability. Most commercial leases clearly define these responsibilities. As a landlord, ensure your lease requires tenants to hold adequate insurance and provide certificates of currency.

Contact us at Shielded Insurance on 1800 97 98 99 or reach out to your insurer directly. We recommend notifying us as soon as possible after damage occurs, documenting everything with photos, securing the premises to prevent further damage, and keeping records of all emergency repair costs.

We compare quotes from leading Australian commercial property insurers including CGU, QBE, Zurich, Vero, Hollard, Allianz, AIG and others. The best insurer depends on your property type, construction, tenant occupation and risk profile. As brokers, we do the comparison work to find competitive and suitable cover for your property.

Review your policy annually at renewal, or whenever there are significant changes such as new tenants, renovations, extensions, changes in building use, or updated valuations. Building replacement costs increase over time – if your sum insured does not keep pace with construction cost inflation, you risk being underinsured at claim time. We recommend a professional building valuation every 3 to 5 years.