Demolition Equipment Insurance

Demolition is classified as a higher risk activity due to the hazardous working environment, proximity to adjacent properties, exposure to falling debris, asbestos risks and the extreme stress placed on equipment. These factors result in higher claim frequency and severity, which insurers price into the premium.

Yes. Public liability and third party property damage cover protects against claims for damage to adjacent buildings, fences, roads and infrastructure caused by your demolition operations. This includes damage from vibration, debris, dust and accidental impact. Adequate public liability limits are essential.

Most standard plant and liability policies exclude or severely limit cover for asbestos-related claims. Demolition contractors working on older buildings must have appropriate asbestos removal licences, procedures and specialist asbestos liability cover where available. Discuss your asbestos exposure with your broker.

Yes. High reach demolition excavators are insurable under specialist plant policies. Due to their high value and limited availability in Australia, agreed value cover is strongly recommended. Loss of use cover is also important as replacement machines can take months to source.

Yes. Hydraulic hammers, concrete crushers, steel shears, pulverisers and grapples should be individually listed on your policy with accurate values. These specialist attachments can be worth $20,000 to $150,000+ each and are not automatically covered under the base machine policy.

Most principal contractors require a minimum of $20 million public liability for demolition work. Major commercial and industrial demolition projects may require $50 million. The elevated risk of damage to adjacent properties and injury to third parties makes adequate liability cover essential for demolition contractors.

Shielded compares quotes from specialist plant insurers including GT Insurance, Chubb, CGU, Zurich, QBE, Vero and Hollard. Demolition requires specialist underwriting due to the higher risk profile. As brokers, we find the most competitive and suitable cover for your demolition operation.

We provide cover for a wide range of plant and equipment including excavators, bulldozers, loaders, cranes, forklifts, boom lifts, scissor lifts, telehandlers, concrete pumps, graders, rollers, compactors, generators, and specialist mining and forestry equipment. Whether you own a single machine or manage a fleet, we tailor policies to match your operation.

Plant and machinery insurance typically covers accidental damage, fire, theft, malicious damage, storm and flood damage. You can also add public liability, road risk liability for registered machines, downtime or loss of use cover, hired-in plant cover, and personal accident cover for operators. Policies can be tailored for own use, dry hire or wet hire operations.

Premiums are typically calculated as a percentage of the sum insured value, usually between 1.5% and 4% depending on the equipment type, use, and claims history. A $100,000 excavator might cost $2,000 to $4,000 per year for comprehensive cover. Fleet policies covering multiple machines can often achieve better rates. Request a free quote through Shielded for an accurate indication.

Dry hire means you hire out equipment without an operator - the hirer is responsible for operating the machine. Wet hire means the equipment comes with an operator. The insurance requirements differ significantly. Dry hire owners need material damage cover on the equipment plus hired-out plant liability. Wet hire operators also need public liability, workers compensation for operators, and potentially road risk cover.

Yes. Hired-in plant cover protects equipment you hire from a third party while it is in your care, custody and control. Most hire agreements make the hirer responsible for damage to the equipment. Without hired-in plant cover, you could be liable for the full replacement cost of a machine that is damaged or stolen on your site.

If your equipment is registered for road use and travels on public roads (e.g., rollers, graders, mobile cranes), you need road risk or third party property damage cover for when the machine is in transit. Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance covers personal injury, but it does not cover property damage to other vehicles or infrastructure.

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 an incident, documenting the damage with photos, and securing the equipment to prevent further loss. Our team will guide you through the claims process.

Downtime cover (also called loss of use or hire cost reimbursement) provides a daily or weekly payment when your equipment is off-hire or unable to work following an insured event. This helps cover the cost of hiring a replacement machine or compensates for lost revenue while your equipment is being repaired.

We compare quotes from specialist plant and equipment insurers including GT Insurance, Chubb, CGU, Zurich, QBE, Vero, Hollard, and others depending on the type of equipment and use. The best insurer depends on whether the machinery is used for own work, dry hire, wet hire, mining, or construction. As brokers, we find the most competitive and suitable cover for your operation.

Yes. Fleet policies covering multiple pieces of equipment under one policy can simplify administration, provide consistent renewal dates, and often achieve better premium rates than insuring each machine individually. Fleet policies are suitable for contractors, plant hire companies and mining operators with multiple assets.