# Fahrenheit > Fahrenheit explains business insurance for Australian trades, construction, transport and security businesses: what cover businesses like yours commonly use, what clients and sites ask for, and when it gets more complicated. Fahrenheit (Fahrenheit Insurance) is an Australian website operated by HEY WHAT'S NEXT PTY LTD (ABN 34 693 275 786). It publishes general information about business insurance and takes quote requests. Fahrenheit is not an insurance company. We provide general information, not insurance advice. Submitting a quote request does not arrange insurance. Fahrenheit focuses on businesses where the work makes insurance more complicated: commercial and industrial jobs, contracts and sites with specific insurance requirements, subcontractors, fleets, plant and expensive equipment, and specialist work some insurers avoid. ## Insurance by trade ### Trades and construction - [Insurance for Electricians](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/electricians/): Most electricians in Australia carry public liability insurance, commonly $10 million or $20 million, plus tools and equipment cover and commercial vehicle insurance for the ute or van. Employers also need workers compensation. Solar, mining, industrial and high-voltage work can change what insurers will accept, so it is important that the policy matches the work you actually do. - [Insurance for Plumbers](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/plumbers/): Most plumbers in Australia carry public liability insurance, typically $10 million or $20 million, along with tools and equipment cover and commercial vehicle insurance. Water damage is one of the most common causes of claims. Commercial projects, medical gas, hot work and underground services can change what insurers accept and what contracts require. - [Insurance for Builders](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/builders/): Builders in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, contract works insurance for projects under construction, and tools and vehicle cover. Residential builders also need home warranty type insurance in most states above a contract value threshold. Employing staff means workers compensation, and using subcontractors adds questions about whose insurance responds. - [Insurance for Carpenters](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/carpenters/): Most carpenters in Australia carry public liability insurance, usually $10 million or $20 million when working for builders, plus tools and equipment cover and insurance for their ute or van. Subcontract carpenters are often asked for a certificate of currency before starting. Formwork, work at heights and running your own renovation jobs can change what you need. - [Insurance for Roofers](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/roofers/): Roofers in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, often $10 million or $20 million, plus tools and vehicle cover. Roofing is rated as higher risk than most trades because of falls, dropped materials, water getting in during work and heat-applied membranes, so fewer insurers offer cover and the activities you declare matter a lot. - [Insurance for Scaffolders](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/scaffolders/): Scaffolders in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, commonly $20 million, plus cover for the scaffolding stock itself, vehicles and tools. Scaffolding is a specialist risk because a failure can injure people on site and the public. Erecting scaffold, hiring it out and leaving it standing on a job are all insured differently. - [Insurance for Concreters](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/concreters/): Concreters in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, commonly $10 million or $20 million, plus tools, vehicle and plant cover for mixers, pumps and machinery. Cracking, damage to neighbouring property and underground services are common claim areas. Concrete pumping, cutting and structural work can change what insurers will accept. - [Insurance for Earthmoving and civil contractors](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/earthmoving-civil/): Earthmoving and civil contractors in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, often $20 million, plant and equipment cover for machinery, commercial motor insurance for trucks and floats, and sometimes contract works. Damage to underground services is one of the most common and expensive claims, and infrastructure clients often set strict insurance requirements. - [Insurance for Demolition contractors](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/demolition/): Demolition contractors in Australia usually need public liability insurance, often $20 million, plus plant, vehicle and tools cover. Demolition is one of the hardest activities to insure because of collapse, vibration damage to neighbours, dust and asbestos. Many mainstream insurers decline it, so specialist insurers are common. - [Insurance for Painters](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/painters/): Painters in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, commonly $10 million or $20 million, plus tools and vehicle cover. Most claims involve damage to a client's property, overspray on cars or neighbouring buildings, or falls. Commercial repaints, spray work, work at heights and lead paint can change what insurers will accept. - [Insurance for Landscapers](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/landscapers/): Landscapers in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, commonly $10 million or $20 million, plus tools, vehicle and trailer cover, and plant cover for machinery like bobcats and mini excavators. Damage to underground services, retaining walls, tree work and chemical spraying are the activities that most often change what an insurer will accept. - [Insurance for Handymen](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/handymen/): Handymen in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, commonly $5 million to $20 million, plus tools and vehicle cover. Because handyman work varies so much, the biggest issue is making sure the policy's list of covered activities matches what you actually do. Licensed work, heights and some trades are often restricted. ### Transport and logistics - [Insurance for Plant operators](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/plant-operators/): Plant operators in Australia usually carry plant and equipment insurance for their machines, public liability insurance often to $20 million, and commercial motor cover for floats and trucks. Whether you hire machines out with an operator (wet hire) or without (dry hire), and where the machines work, are the biggest factors in what you need. - [Insurance for Truck operators](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/truck-operators/): Truck operators in Australia usually carry heavy motor insurance for prime movers, rigid trucks and trailers, cover for the goods they carry, and public liability insurance. Owner drivers often add personal accident cover. Fleet size, drivers, what you carry, how far you travel and what freight contracts require all shape what you need. - [Insurance for Couriers and fleets](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/couriers-fleets/): Couriers and delivery fleets in Australia usually carry commercial motor insurance, often through a fleet policy once they run several vehicles, goods in transit cover for parcels, and public liability insurance. Driver criteria, subcontract drivers and the value of what you carry are the main things that change what you need. ### Security and other businesses - [Insurance for Security businesses](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/trades/security/): Security businesses in Australia usually carry public liability insurance, often $10 million to $20 million, and professional indemnity for advice and failure-to-perform claims, plus vehicle cover for patrol cars. Crowd control, cash-in-transit and armed work are higher-risk activities with fewer insurers, and venue or client contracts often set specific requirements. ## Types of business insurance - [Public liability insurance](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/insurance/public-liability/): Public liability insurance covers your legal liability if your business activities injure someone or damage property that isn't yours. For Australian trades and contractors it is usually the first policy a client, builder or site asks about, with limits of $5 million, $10 million or $20 million being the most common. - [Tools and equipment insurance](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/insurance/tools-equipment/): Tools and equipment insurance, sometimes called general property or portable equipment cover, pays to repair or replace the tools your business uses if they are stolen, lost or accidentally damaged. For tradies the most common claim is theft from a ute, van or site, so the security conditions in the policy matter. - [Commercial vehicle insurance](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/insurance/commercial-vehicles/): Commercial vehicle insurance covers utes, vans, trucks and other vehicles used mainly for business. It works like car insurance, with comprehensive or third-party options, but it is priced for business use, multiple drivers, signwriting, fit-outs and higher kilometres. CTP is separate and does not cover damage to vehicles or property. - [Contract works insurance](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/insurance/contract-works/): Contract works insurance covers loss or damage to construction work while it is underway, including the structure, materials on site and often temporary works. Depending on the policy wording, it can cover events like fire, storm, theft, vandalism and accidental damage before handover. It is separate from public liability, which covers damage to other people's property. - [Plant and equipment insurance](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/insurance/plant-equipment/): Plant and equipment insurance, also called mobile plant and machinery cover, protects machines such as excavators, loaders, skid steers, rollers, cranes and generators against damage, theft and fire. It can also include liability while the plant is working and cover for plant you hire in from others. - [Personal accident and illness insurance](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/insurance/personal-accident/): Personal accident and illness insurance pays a weekly benefit if you can't work because of injury or illness, and usually lump sums for serious injuries. It matters for sole traders and many working directors because workers compensation generally covers employees, not the business owner, so an injury can stop your income completely. ## Guides and help - [How to make a business insurance claim](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/guides/making-a-claim/): Steps to take when something goes wrong, which cover may apply, and mistakes to avoid. - [Business insurance FAQ](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/faq/): Brokers versus buying direct, how brokers are paid, certificates of currency, public liability, workers compensation and claims. - [About Fahrenheit](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/about/): Who operates Fahrenheit and what the website is. - [Request a quote](https://fahrenheitinsurance.com.au/quote/): Four-step quote request form.