Forklift Insurance

Third party property damage cover protects you if your forklift damages racking, stock or other property. This is separate from the material damage cover on the forklift itself. Racking collapse following forklift impact can cause significant losses, making third party cover essential.

Yes. When you hire a forklift, you are typically liable for any damage to the machine while in your care, custody and control. Hired-in plant cover protects you against this liability. Review the hire agreement carefully for insurance and excess obligations before accepting the machine.

Electric forklifts used in controlled indoor environments are generally considered lower risk and may attract slightly lower premiums. However, the sum insured value remains the primary rating factor. Electric models also carry battery fire risk, which insurers consider.

Yes. Comprehensive forklift insurance covers theft. Forklifts stored in locked warehouses or secure compounds with restricted access face lower theft risk than machines left on open sites. Insurers may require reasonable security measures to be in place.

Yes. Businesses and hire companies routinely insure multiple forklifts under a single plant and machinery policy. Fleet policies simplify administration and often provide better premium rates and lower excesses than individual policies. Machines can be added or removed during the policy period.

Public liability insurance covers claims for injury to third parties, including pedestrians struck by a forklift or injured by a dropped load. This is separate from workers compensation, which covers your own employees. Both are important for any operation using forklifts.

Shielded compares quotes from specialist plant insurers including GT Insurance, Chubb, CGU, Zurich, QBE, Vero and Hollard. The best insurer depends on your fleet size, use type and claims history. As brokers, we find the most competitive and suitable cover for your 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.