Yes, but only if your insurance program specifically includes cover for hired-in or leased equipment. Most plant hire agreements place full responsibility on you for any damage, breakdown, or liability that occurs while the equipment is in your possession.

At All Trades Cover, our team can:

• Add hired-in plant cover to your policy so you are fully protected while using external equipment
• List the hire company as an interested party when required
• Confirm your liability cover extends to damage or incidents involving hired plant
• Arrange short-term or annual cover based on how frequently your business hires equipment
• Issue fast, contract-compliant Certificates of Currency so there are no delays in collecting the machinery

This sits alongside your existing Plant and Machinery or Public Liability insurance. We ensure the policy wording is accurate and fit for purpose, so there are no coverage gaps or unexpected issues if something goes wrong on site.

Not always. Standard Plant and Machinery insurance typically provides cover when you or your team are operating the equipment. If you hire out your excavator, skid steer, or other machinery to third parties, you may require a specific policy extension or a different type of cover altogether.

We can:

• Review your policy to confirm whether it includes cover for dry hire (equipment hired out without an operator)
• Add the appropriate endorsements to protect you when third parties are in control of your machinery
• Ensure cover is in place for damage, theft, or liability that may arise while your equipment is on hire
• Provide guidance on hire agreements that align with your insurer’s requirements
• Help avoid coverage gaps that could leave you financially responsible for another party’s actions

If you regularly hire out plant or intend to offer dry hire in future, it’s important to set up your policy accordingly. We’ll make sure your cover is structured to protect both your assets and your business operations.

A Contractor Plant and Equipment policy is designed to protect the machinery, attachments, and operational gear that underpin your earthmoving business. While large plant such as excavators and loaders are often the focus, the policy can be tailored to cover a wide range of assets depending on the structure of your operations.

Items typically insured under this policy include:

• Earthmoving machinery such as excavators, loaders, bulldozers, graders, rollers, and skid steers
• Attachments and accessories, including buckets, augers, rippers, and hydraulic hammers
• Small plant and site equipment, such as compressors, generators, pumps, and power units
• Lifting equipment, including cranes and forklifts, is used as part of your operations
• Specialised machinery for civil or infrastructure work, such as trenchers, compactors, or drilling rigs
• Transport vehicles and trailers used to move the plant were insured under the same program
• Hired-in equipment that remains your responsibility while on site or in use

Some policies can also be extended to include tools stored with the plant or gear in transit between job sites. The key is ensuring that all essential equipment is correctly listed, accurately valued, and appropriately covered for the way your business operates.

At All Trades Cover, we work with earthmoving and civil contractors to build tailored equipment schedules that minimise risk and align with project demands.

Contractor Plant and Equipment insurance is primarily designed to cover larger machinery such as excavators, loaders, skid steers, and dozers. However, depending on how your policy is structured, certain smaller items may be included, though this is not always standard.

In most cases, handheld tools, power tools, and portable equipment are more appropriately insured under a General Property policy. These items are frequently moved between sites, stored in vehicles or sheds, and exposed to risks such as theft, accidental damage, or loss in transit.

That said, Plant and Equipment policies can sometimes be extended to include:

• Site-based gear such as generators, compressors, and pumps
• Fixed attachments or accessories that remain with the machine
• Selected types of small plant, where individually listed and valued

To avoid gaps or overlaps in cover, we typically recommend a combined approach:

• Contractor Plant and Equipment insurance for heavy machinery and high-value assets
• General Property insurance for tools, portable equipment, and mobile gear used across job sites

At All Trades Cover, we’ll assess how your equipment is used, stored, and moved to recommend the right policy structure, ensuring all essential items are correctly protected.

Not by default. Most standard Contractor Plant and Equipment insurance policies are designed to cover sudden, unexpected events such as fire, theft, rollover, storm damage, or accidental impact. Mechanical or electrical failure is often treated as a separate risk and may not be included automatically.

Whether breakdown cover applies depends on your policy wording and any extensions selected at the time of placement. In many cases, breakdown cover can be added as an optional extension to protect against failures in critical components such as engines, hydraulics, or electrical systems.

This type of cover is particularly relevant for high-utilisation machinery operating in demanding environments, where component failure can result in significant downtime and repair costs.

To summarise:

• Typically included in base cover: Fire, theft, accidental damage, rollover, storm or impact damage
• Available as an optional extension: Mechanical or electrical breakdown of key systems (e.g. engines, hydraulics, gearboxes)
• Generally excluded: Gradual wear and tear, lack of maintenance, or pre-existing faults

At All Trades Cover, we’ll review how your equipment is used and help determine whether breakdown cover is appropriate based on operational risk, asset value, and maintenance expectations.

Yes. If you are hiring out your equipment on a dry hire basis (without an operator), most insurers require a formal hire agreement for cover to apply. Without one, you may be exposed to financial loss if the equipment is damaged, stolen, or causes liability while in the care of a third party.

A compliant hire agreement plays a critical role by:

• Defining responsibility for damage, theft, liability, and repair costs while the equipment is on hire
• Meeting insurer requirements to ensure your claim is not declined due to missing documentation
• Protecting your business legally by clearly outlining the hirer’s obligations and liabilities

In practical terms:

• A signed hire agreement is expected every time you lend out machinery such as excavators, skid steers, or similar plant
• The agreement should specify who is responsible for repairs, excesses, and liability during the hire period
• Some policies offer automatic dry hire extensions, but only if compliant agreements are in place and correctly worded

At All Trades Cover, we support dry hire businesses by:

• Review your policy to confirm whether dry hire is currently included
• Assisting with the setup of formal hire agreements that meet insurer standards
• Ensuring your plant and liability cover extends to third-party use

If dry hire is a regular part of your operations, we recommend confirming your policy structure and documentation now. Having the right agreements and endorsements in place protects both your equipment and your business.

Coverage for public road use depends on how your machinery is insured and whether it is registered for road use. A standard Contractor Plant and Equipment policy typically covers machines like excavators, loaders, and dozers while working on site, in storage, or in transit on a trailer. However, once the machine operates on a public road, different insurance conditions apply.

Here’s how coverage is generally structured:

• Registered Plant or Vehicles: If the machine is registered for road use, a Commercial Motor or Road Risk Liability extension is required. This provides cover for third-party injury or property damage caused while driving on or crossing public roads.
• Unregistered Plant: If the equipment is unregistered and strictly transported by float, it will typically fall under your Plant and Equipment policy. However, if an unregistered machine is used on a public road, even briefly, it may not be covered without the appropriate endorsement.
• Transport and Civil Access: Many civil contracts and local councils require formal proof of road risk liability, even for short-distance access between job sites or road crossings. Non-compliance can result in denied access or contract issues.

At All Trades Cover, we assist contractors in managing this exposure by:

• Reviewing whether your equipment requires road registration and aligning your policy accordingly
• Adding Road Risk Liability to ensure coverage when the plant operates on or near public roads
• Integrating Plant and Equipment and Commercial Motor cover where applicable, so all assets, including trucks, trailers, and machines, are covered under a cohesive program
• Issuing Certificates of Currency that meet council, principal contractor, and contract requirements

If you’re unsure whether your current cover includes road risk exposure, our team will assess your setup and ensure your insurance program is compliant, complete, and contract-ready.

Yes, but only if your insurance program is structured to support it. Standard Contractor Plant and Equipment and Public Liability policies will generally cover core earthmoving activities such as site preparation, excavation, trenching, and land clearing.

However, once you begin taking on civil construction projects, including council roadworks, subdivisions, drainage systems, or infrastructure builds, both the risk profile and insurance requirements shift significantly.

Key considerations for civil project coverage include:

• Higher Public Liability limits, often $20 million or more, to satisfy contract or principal contractor obligations
• Contract-specific endorsements, such as Principal’s Indemnity, Cross Liability, and Waiver of Subrogation
• Expanded cover scope for civil works involving road construction, bridge works, utilities, or large-scale drainage
• Subcontractor and workforce risk management, ensuring responsibilities and liabilities are clearly defined
• Accurate and compliant Certificates of Currency, matched precisely to contract wording and required prior to site access

At All Trades Cover, we work closely with civil and infrastructure contractors to ensure all insurance documentation, policy wording, and limits align with project demands before work begins.

If your business is transitioning into larger or more regulated civil contracts, we can help ensure your cover is appropriate, compliant, and structured to support your operations.

Most Public Liability and Contractor Plant and Equipment policies impose a maximum excavation depth limit. A common threshold is five metres, but this can vary depending on the insurer, the nature of the work, and site-specific risk factors such as soil type or project location.

Why this matters:

• If excavation exceeds the stated policy depth limit, your cover may not respond to claims arising from collapses, underground service damage, or third-party injury
• Civil and infrastructure projects often involve deeper excavation, which requires specific policy endorsements to remain compliant and covered
• Head contractors and councils may request formal confirmation that your insurance extends to the planned depth of works before granting site access

At All Trades Cover, we review excavation depth limits as part of every contractor’s risk profile. If your work involves deeper digging, including for foundations, utilities, drainage, or civil structures, we’ll help ensure your policy is appropriately endorsed and contract-ready.

Yes, but coverage for underground utilities is one of the most tightly managed aspects of insurance for earthmoving and excavation contractors. Striking gas, water, electrical, or telecommunications infrastructure can lead to substantial property damage, project delays, regulatory investigations, and personal injury.

As a result, insurers apply strict conditions to this type of risk.

Key considerations:

• Standard Public Liability policies often exclude underground services unless specific risk management protocols are followed
• Insurers typically require documented evidence of Dial Before You Dig (DBYD) searches and adherence to safe excavation practices
• Coverage may only respond if services were clearly identified, located, and marked prior to commencing excavation
• If a utility is damaged due to a failure to follow proper procedures, claims may be significantly reduced or denied
• Higher-risk work, particularly on civil infrastructure projects, may require additional endorsements or attract higher premiums

At All Trades Cover, we assess your exposure to underground services and ensure your policy is structured accordingly. For businesses regularly working near critical infrastructure, we can help you meet insurer requirements, document safety practices, and maintain access to appropriate cover.