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Cheap Public Liability Insurance

Compare quotes for cheap public liability insurance with Savvy so you can get the best deal for your business.
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, updated on July 27th, 2023       

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Find cheap public liability insurance

Are you looking for cheap public liability insurance? Do you want to find the most affordable policy to save money for your business? You can compare a range of online quotes for public liability insurance from some of Australia’s leading insurers right here with Savvy.

Consider offers side-by-side with our 100% free service to help you find the cheapest deal on public liability insurance for your small business. Get the process started with us today.

How do I find cheap public liability insurance?

To find the cheapest public liability insurance in Australia, it’s vital to compare quotes from many different insurers so you’re aware of the differences in the coverage offered. Public liability insurance is offered by a wide variety of insurers in Australia, as it’s one of the most common types of insurance required, particularly by small businesses.

Whether you’re self-employed, a sole trader or a small business, comparing will also give you a good idea of what’s on offer and what exclusions may be in the fine print so you can make sure the insurance cover is exactly what you need.

It’s also worth comparing insurance quotes from large general insurers against quotes from smaller specialist insurers. These small insurers may offer public liability insurance for a particular type of event which is cheaper for your business, such as those who specialise in offering public liability insurance in NSW for one-off concerts and music events or community events such as school fetes or community garden markets.

Some of the other key factors to consider when locking in the cheapest public liability insurance are:

  1. Increase your excess:

    The excess is the amount of your insurance claim you agree to pay before the coverage kicks in. It makes sense that the higher the excess you choose, the lower your premiums may be and the cheaper your insurance. However, don’t make the excess so large that you’re unable to pay it in addition to paying your monthly insurance premiums.
  2. Decrease your cover limit:

    If you’re a sole trader or self-employed, you may find that you don’t need public liability insurance of $20 million and that $5 million will suffice. Don’t be afraid to review the level of insurance you have and reduce your coverage if appropriate. Since all Savvy quotes are free and come without any obligation, it won’t hurt to compare options for $5 million, $10 million and $20 million and see which offers you the best value and is suitable for your business’ needs.
  3. Avoid making excessive claims:

    It’s worth getting to know the no-claims bonus policy of the insurance company you choose. Some insurers will apply a no-claims bonus reduction to every policy you hold with the company, which can result in substantial savings. Think before you make a claim and work out if a small claim is worth losing your no-claims bonus reduction on multiple policies.

It’s important to constantly review your insurance to make sure your cover is still sufficient and relevant. You can come back to Savvy regularly and compare policies to make sure you have the cheapest deal available. Simply answer a few simple questions about the type of insurance you need and the size and location of your business and receive multiple quotes to compare.

How much will my public liability insurance cost?

The cost of your public liability will depend on several factors, including:

  1. which industry you’re in
  2. the type of business you run
  3. which state you’re operating in
  4. whether your business is located in a rural or urban environment
  5. the turnover of your business
  6. the number of employees you have
  7. the level of cover you require
  8. whether you buy it alone, or as part of a business insurance package
  9. the excess you choose
  10. your insurance claims history

Because so many different factors affect the cost of business insurance, finding cheap public liability insurance comes down to comparing policies from several different companies to find the cheapest deal. You can do just that right here with Savvy with our fast and simple online process. Our one-stop-shop service allows you to compare business insurance policies from leading providers to help you get the cheapest policy possible.

What does public liability insurance cover my business for and what’s excluded?

Public liability insurance covers you if someone is hurt or suffers property damage as a result of your business’ negligence. It’s based on the assumption that any business has a duty of care to ensure the general public, customers or clients remain safe whilst on the business’ property.  Specifically, public liability will cover:

  1. claims of personal injury suffered by a third party, including any claim for compensation
  2. damage to any property belonging to a third party, either in their possession or in yours
  3. the cost of defending your business against such claims

Such claims are frequently the result of a customer sustaining an injury whilst visiting your business. For example, if you run a café and someone slips on your wet floor and fractures their wrist, you may be the subject of a personal injury claim which your NSW public liability insurance would cover. Similarly, if you run a lawn-mowing business and your lawn mower slips out of control and smashes a valuable water fountain in your client’s garden, you will be protected against a claim of damage to your client’s property as a result of your negligence.

What isn’t covered

However, there are notable instances that aren’t covered by public liability insurance. These can include:

  1. injuries to yourself or your employees or workers
  2. damage to your property, even if it was caused by one of your employees
  3. remediation costs as a result of faulty workmanship
  4. punitive damages awarded against your company; for example, if a court finds you to be negligent and fines your company for the damage caused
  5. the cost of a product recall or advertising a faulty product
  6. incidents that happened before the beginning of your insured period, or after the end of your insured period

How should I compare cheap public liability insurance policies?

There are several elements of an insurance policy you should compare when deciding which one is right for your business.  These are:

Cost

Of course, you’ll want to find the cheapest public liability insurance policy possible. However, price alone shouldn’t be the main deciding factor when you choose between policies, as it’s really important to get the coverage you need. A cheap insurance policy which doesn’t offer you relevant protection is almost worse than no insurance at all.

What the policy covers

This is the most important aspect of any insurance policy. Think about all possible scenarios which could potentially happen to your business and make sure you have coverage for those key events. Try to brainstorm every conceivable reason that a third party could make a claim of personal injury against you, or claim that negligence caused their property to be damaged and make sure your insurer will be there for you if the worst-case scenario does happen.

Maximum benefit amount

How much insurance coverage is adequate is a question that is frequently answered for you, since many contracts stipulate the amount of public liability insurance that you must carry. For example, to tender for many Federal government building contracts, you must have a minimum of $20 million in public liability insurance.

It's important to review your business’ finances closely and determine the amount of coverage you need. In most cases, public liability insurance will be offered with either $5 million, $10 million or $20 million worth of coverage.

Before your tender or membership is approved, you may be required to present your Certificate of Currency declaring that you have current public liability insurance, and the maximum value of your policy (for example, $5 million or $10 million).

Exclusions

You should also read the product disclosure statement carefully and make yourself aware of any exclusions which may be written into the insurance policy. Compare the exclusions carefully before deciding which policy is best for your business.

Savvy offers a no-obligation service so you can quickly receive a range of quotes to look at. Compare the quotes, choose your preferred insurer and get your cover sorted out today.

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More of your frequently asked questions about public liability insurance

Do I have to take out public liability insurance?

There is no national law in Australia which says a business has to have public liability insurance. However, to hold certain events or to tender for particular contracts, you may need to prove you have such insurance. For example, you need public liability insurance in South Australia to run a market stall, while if you wish to tender for a Federal Government contract in Canberra, you’ll also require proof of holding public liability insurance.  

Is it cheaper to buy a business package which includes public liability insurance?

If you’re running a small business, it might pay to look at a business insurance package that includes several types of insurance. For example, if you run a small cleaning business, you may need public liability insurance to cover you against claims from the public, accident and injury insurance in case you suffer an injury and are unable to work and business contents insurance to cover the cost of your cleaning machines, vacuum cleaners, laptops and portable EFTPOS terminals. By combining all these types of insurance, your premiums may be cheaper than taking out several separate policies. However, it’s important to ensure any package doesn’t see you paying more for insurance you won’t need.

Do I have a choice about how often I pay my premiums?

Yes – you’ll normally be given the choice of whether to pay your premiums monthly, quarterly or annually. There’s often a small discount if you pay your insurance for a year upfront, so expect your policy to be 5% to 15% cheaper if you pay annually.

What’s the difference between public liability insurance and professional indemnity insurance?

Public liability insurance will cover the cost of a third-party claim of negligence that results in personal injury or damage to property. For example, if you’re a cleaner in NSW and you accidentally smash a priceless vase whilst you’re cleaning, you’ll be covered for the cost of the damage and for defending yourself in court.

Professional indemnity insurance, on the other hand, protects you from claims of negligence due to advice or service you have provided. This covers everything from medical negligence to providing financial advice which proves to be incorrect and results in a loss for your client. 

How do I make a public liability insurance claim?

You’ll need to contact your insurer and provide a claim form which details exactly what you’re claiming on your policy. However, your first action should be a phone call to your insurer’s claims department. You’ll be given detailed instructions on how to proceed with your claim. The phone number of the claims department will be included in the documentation and policy they issue you with when you pay your first insurance premium.

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