Roofer Insurance: What Australian Roofers Actually Need
You're re-roofing a Queenslander when a tile slides off the edge and hits a car parked in the driveway. Cracked windscreen, dented bonnet, scratched paintwork. The car's a $90,000 BMW. Owner wants a full respray.
Then there's the height factor. Your apprentice slips on wet battens. Breaks his wrist. Workers comp claim, SafeWork investigation, three weeks off the tools. Roofing is one of the highest-risk trades in Australia — and insurance isn't optional.
Roofer insurance isn't one policy — it's a combination of covers designed for the specific risks roofers face on the job. Most roofers either don't have enough cover, or they're paying for policies they don't need. This guide breaks down what's required, what's recommended, what it costs in Australia, and where to get the best deal.
General information only. This page provides general information about trade insurance and does not constitute insurance or financial product advice. Cover, exclusions, licensing requirements, and premiums vary by provider, state, and work type. Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and confirm requirements with a licensed broker or relevant state authority.
What Insurance Does a Roofer Need in Australia?
Public Liability Insurance
Required for virtually every roofer. Public liability covers you if a third party — a client, a neighbour, a member of the public — is injured or their property is damaged because of your work.
For roofers, the most common claims involve falls from height and water damage from incomplete work. These claims can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars — and that's before legal costs.
Most roofers carry $5 million to $20 million in cover. If you're subcontracting on larger sites, the head contractor will often require $10 million or $20 million minimum — check your agreements before assuming $5 million is enough.
Typical cost: $1,000–$3,000/year depending on your revenue, number of employees, and claims history.
Tools & Equipment Insurance
Roofers carry nail guns, harnesses, ladders, cutters, lasers, and roof access gear that gets thrown in and out of utes every day. If that kit is stolen from the ute, trailer, or site, replacement cost hits immediately. Tools & Equipment insurance covers theft, accidental damage, and loss — from the van, from site, or in transit.
Typical cost: $300–$1,000/year depending on the total insured value.
Workers Compensation
Legally required if you employ anyone — including casual, part-time, or labour-hire staff. Workers comp is managed by state-based schemes (icare in NSW, WorkSafe in VIC, WorkCover in QLD) and covers your employees if they're injured at work.
As a sole trader with no employees, you don't legally need workers comp. But consider income protection instead — because you have no sick leave, no safety net, and one injury means zero income until you're back on the tools.
Height Safety
Depending on your specific roofing work, height safety cover may be relevant. Speak with a broker who understands roofing to determine whether this applies to your operation.
How Much Does Roofer Insurance Cost?
Here's what Australian roofers typically pay. These are real ranges based on current market rates — not theoretical figures.
| Insurance Type | Typical Annual Cost | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Public Liability ($10M–$20M) | $1,000–$3,000 | Yes — virtually always |
| Tools & Equipment | $300–$1,000 | Recommended |
| Workers Compensation | Varies by state | Yes — if you employ anyone |
Total for a sole trader roofer: $1,500–$4,000/year.
Total for a roofer with 3–5 employees: $4,000–$12,000/year depending on payroll, state, and cover levels.
What affects the price? Your annual revenue, claims history, the type of roofing work you do, your state, and the number of employees. A clean claims record is the single best way to keep premiums down.
Best Roofer Insurance Providers in Australia
BizCover
Best for: Getting multiple quotes fast. Fill in one form, get quotes from multiple insurers in minutes. Quickest way to compare public liability and tools insurance without calling five brokers.
Not for: Complex multi-policy packages where you need a broker who understands roofing-specific risks in detail.
Why roofers use it: It is the fastest way to compare standard public liability and tools cover when you need a certificate of currency quickly.
Pros:
- Fast online quote process
- Good starting point to compare pricing
- Useful for standard public liability + tools bundles
Cons:
- Less helpful when wording around falls from height really matters
- Limited hand-holding if the setup or claim is more complex
Trade Risk
Best for: Roofers who want a broker that actually understands trade businesses. Trade Risk specialises in insurance for Australian tradies — they know the difference between different types of roofing work and they'll tailor the package accordingly.
Not for: Roofers who just want the cheapest possible premium and don't need advice.
Why roofers use it: It is stronger when exclusions around falls from height and water damage from incomplete work could matter at claim time.
Pros:
- Better for checking exclusions and limits before you buy
- More useful for higher-risk or non-standard work
- Broker support when clients require specific insurance wording
Cons:
- Slower than getting an instant online quote
- Usually overkill if you only want the cheapest basic policy today
What Does Roofer Public Liability Insurance Cover?
Roofer public liability insurance covers claims made by third parties for bodily injury or property damage caused by your roofing work.
What's covered:
- Falls from height
- Water damage from incomplete work
- Storm damage liability
- Injury to a member of the public caused by your work or your equipment
- Legal defence costs if a claim is made against you
What's typically NOT covered:
- Defective workmanship itself (the cost to redo faulty work is on you)
- Damage to your own property, tools, or equipment (that's tools insurance)
- Injuries to your own employees (that's workers compensation)
- Intentional damage or work you knew was defective
Common Risks for Australian Roofers
Every trade has its own risk profile. Roofers face specific risks that make insurance non-negotiable.
Falls from height. Working at height can turn a routine job into a serious injury claim in seconds, with downtime and compliance issues on top of the injury itself.
Water damage from incomplete work. Water losses spread fast into floors, ceilings, cabinetry, and contents, so a small defect can become a five-figure property damage claim overnight.
Storm damage liability. If the site is left exposed and weather gets in before the job is made safe, the claim often includes internal finishes and contents, not just the original work.
Asbestos exposure. Asbestos allegations turn a normal job into a cleanup, testing, and compliance problem very quickly.
Property damage from debris. Property damage claims are expensive because the loss usually extends beyond the item you touched into surrounding finishes, cleanup, and delay costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The biggest insurance problem for many roofers is assuming the premium is the risk, when the real risk is the one claim that costs more than the job was worth. In practice the major exposures are property damage, third-party injury, and the specific failures tied to the trade.
At minimum, most Australian roofers need public liability insurance, and many should also carry tools cover. From there the right mix depends on whether you employ staff, give advice, or work in higher-risk environments.
Public liability for Australian roofers typically starts around $1,000–$3,000 depending on turnover, claims history, and the risk profile of the work. Higher limits and higher-risk jobs push the premium up.
If you employ anyone, workers compensation is generally mandatory through the state-based scheme where your business operates. Sole traders without employees usually do not need it, but that does not remove the need for public liability or income protection.
Get roofer cover sorted before the next job turns into a claim.
BizCover is the fastest way to compare roofer insurance quotes online. If your work is more complex or the exclusions matter, get a broker review from Trade Risk before you lock anything in.
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