Grader Insurance

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Compare grader insurance quotes from leading Australian insurers. Cover for motor graders used in road construction, mining and council works - own use, dry hire and wet hire. Free quotes from Shielded Insurance.

Machinery Insurance - Comprehensive and Third Party, Road Risk Liability, Downtime Cover, Public Liability and more.

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Grader Insurance

Specialist cover for motor graders across Australia.

Motor graders are precision earthmoving machines essential to road construction, mine haul road maintenance and civil works across Australia. From smaller models used in council road maintenance to large graders working on mining and highway projects, these machines typically cost between $200,000 and $1,200,000 or more. Grader insurance protects that substantial investment against accidental damage, theft, fire and third party liability, whether the machine is used for own work, dry hire or wet hire.

What Types of Graders Can Be Insured?
Grader insurance covers the full range of motor graders used across Australia:

  • Small Motor Graders (under 150 HP): Compact graders used for local council road maintenance, property access roads and light civil works. Popular brands include CAT, John Deere and Komatsu.
  • Medium Motor Graders (150-250 HP): The most common class, used for road construction, subdivision development, airport runway maintenance and general civil works.
  • Large Motor Graders (250-500+ HP): Heavy-duty machines for mining haul road maintenance, large-scale road construction and major infrastructure projects. Common brands include CAT, Komatsu, Volvo and John Deere.
  • All-Wheel-Drive Graders: Machines with front-wheel or all-wheel drive for improved traction in soft or slippery conditions, common on Australian mining and rural sites.
  • GPS-Equipped Graders: Modern graders fitted with advanced GPS machine control and automated blade systems valued at $50,000 to $150,000.

What Does Grader Insurance Cover?

  • Material Damage: Covers accidental damage, collision, rollover, fire, theft, storm, flood, vandalism and malicious damage to your motor grader.
  • Third Party / Road Risk: Covers property damage your grader causes to other vehicles, property or road infrastructure. Graders frequently operate on or adjacent to public roads, making this cover essential.
  • Public Liability: Protects against claims for injury or property damage arising from grader operations on any worksite, road or public space.
  • Downtime / Loss of Use: Provides daily payments when your grader is off-hire or unable to work following an insured event. Critical for hire companies and mining contractors reliant on machine availability.
  • Hired-In Plant: If you hire a grader from a third party, this covers damage to the machine while in your care, custody and control.
  • Transit Cover: Protects your grader while being transported on a float or low loader between worksites.
  • Attachments and Blades: Mouldboards, scarifiers, rippers, GPS machine control systems and other attachments should be individually listed and covered.

What Affects the Cost of Grader Insurance?
Premiums for grader insurance are typically calculated as a percentage of the sum insured:

  • Sum Insured Value: The replacement or agreed value of the machine including GPS systems and attachments. Modern graders with full machine control can have total insured values well above the base machine cost.
  • Use Type: Own use is generally cheaper than dry hire or wet hire. Mining and hire operations involve higher utilisation and increased risk exposure.
  • Operating Environment: Mining haul road maintenance attracts higher premiums than general road construction due to continuous operation, dust, heavy traffic and demanding conditions.
  • Operator Skill: Motor graders require highly skilled operators. The availability and experience of operators significantly affects risk. Grader operators are among the most specialised in the earthmoving industry.
  • Claims History: A clean claims record results in more competitive premiums. Common grader claims include collision with other plant, blade damage and rollover on embankments.
  • Location: Remote mining sites have different risk profiles to urban road works. Transport costs for repairs and parts can be significantly higher in remote locations.

Indicative Pricing Guide
As a general guide, comprehensive grader insurance in Australia is typically priced at 1.5% to 3.5% of the sum insured value per year:

  • Small Grader ($200K-$400K): $3,000 - $10,000 per year
  • Medium Grader ($400K-$700K): $6,000 - $20,000 per year
  • Large Grader ($700K-$1.2M+): $12,000 - $35,000+ per year

Key Considerations for Grader Owners

  • GPS and Machine Control Systems: Modern graders are commonly fitted with GPS machine control systems worth $50,000 to $150,000. These must be separately declared on the policy to ensure they are covered for theft, damage and malfunction.
  • Agreed Value Recommended: Given the high value of motor graders, agreed value policies are strongly recommended. They pay a pre-determined amount in the event of a total loss, avoiding depreciation disputes.
  • Blade and Mouldboard Wear: Standard policies cover accidental damage to blades and mouldboards but not wear and tear. The distinction between accidental damage (covered) and normal wear (excluded) is important for grader operators.
  • Tyre Costs: Grader tyres are expensive, often $5,000 to $15,000 each. Accidental tyre damage from site hazards is typically covered, but wear and tear is excluded. Some policies offer specific tyre damage extensions.
  • Dry Hire Considerations: Graders are commonly dry hired for road construction and mining projects. Your hire agreement must clearly define the hirer's responsibilities for damage, insurance and liability.

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Protection for third party property damage or personal injury.

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Income whilst your machinery is out of action.

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Road Risk Liability

Third party cover for equipment on public roads.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about Grader Insurance and General Enquiries

How much does grader insurance cost in Australia?

Premiums are typically 1.5% to 3.5% of the sum insured per year. A $600,000 motor grader might cost $9,000 to $21,000 per year for comprehensive cover. Use type, operating environment, claims history and the value of GPS systems all affect the price. Request a free quote for an accurate indication.

Does grader insurance cover GPS machine control systems?

GPS machine control systems must be separately declared on your policy with accurate replacement values. These systems can be worth $50,000 to $150,000 and are a target for theft. Once declared, they are covered for accidental damage, theft and other insured events.

Does grader insurance cover theft?

Yes. Comprehensive grader insurance includes theft cover. While motor graders are less commonly stolen than smaller plant items due to their size, theft of components and GPS systems does occur. Insurers may require GPS tracking and secure storage.

Can I insure a grader used on mining sites?

Yes. Motor graders used for mining haul road maintenance and construction can be insured under specialist plant and machinery policies. Mining use typically attracts higher premiums due to continuous operation and demanding conditions, but cover is readily available through specialist insurers on our panel.

What is the difference between own use, dry hire and wet hire grader insurance?

Own use means you operate the grader for your own projects. Dry hire means you hire out the machine without an operator. Wet hire means you supply both the machine and operator. Each arrangement has different insurance requirements. Dry hire needs hired-out plant liability, while wet hire also requires workers compensation and public liability for the operator.

Is my grader covered while travelling on public roads?

Yes. Third party and road risk cover protects your motor grader while operating on or travelling along public roads. Graders frequently work on road construction and maintenance projects, making road risk cover an essential part of the policy.

Are grader blades and scarifiers covered?

Mouldboards, blades, scarifiers and rippers should be listed on your policy with accurate values. Accidental damage to these components is covered, but wear and tear from normal use is excluded. Replacement blades and scarifier teeth are a maintenance expense, not an insurance claim.

Which insurers cover motor graders in Australia?

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

What types of machinery and equipment can be insured?

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.

What does plant and machinery insurance cover?

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.

How much does plant and machinery insurance cost in Australia?

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.

What is the difference between dry hire and wet hire insurance?

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.

Can I insure hired-in plant and equipment?

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.

Do I need road risk cover for my plant and machinery?

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.

Who do I contact to make a claim?

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.

What is downtime or loss of use cover?

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.

Which insurers does Shielded compare for plant insurance?

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.

Can I get a fleet policy for multiple machines?

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.