Arborist Insurance: What Australian Arborists Actually Need
You're removing a 15-metre eucalyptus that's overhanging a client's house. The drop zone is tight. A branch kicks sideways on the way down and punches through the neighbour's Colorbond fence and into their patio furniture. Damage: $6,000.
Trees don't always fall where you want them to. Branches bounce, trunks twist, dead wood drops without warning. Arborists work at height, with chainsaws, next to houses — the risk profile is as high as it gets.
Arborist insurance isn't one policy — it's a combination of covers designed for the specific risks arborists face on the job. Most arborists 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 Arborist Need in Australia?
Public Liability Insurance
Required for virtually every arborist. 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 arborists, the most common claims involve tree falling on property/person and branch drop injuries. These claims can easily run into tens of thousands of dollars — and that's before legal costs.
Most arborists 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
Arborists carry climbing kits, chainsaws, rigging gear, chippers, stump grinders, and saws that are both high-value and high-theft. 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: $400–$1,200/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.
Motor Vehicle Insurance
If you drive to site — and you almost certainly do — make sure your vehicle insurance covers commercial use. A standard personal car policy may not cover an accident that happens while you're driving to or from a job. Check your PDS.
How Much Does Arborist Insurance Cost?
Here's what Australian arborists 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 | $400–$1,200 | Recommended |
| Workers Compensation | Varies by state | Yes — if you employ anyone |
Total for a sole trader arborist: $1,500–$4,500/year.
Total for a arborist 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 tree work you do, your state, and the number of employees. A clean claims record is the single best way to keep premiums down.
Best Arborist 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 tree-work-specific risks in detail.
Why arborists 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 tree falling on property/person really matters
- Limited hand-holding if the setup or claim is more complex
Trade Risk
Best for: Arborists 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 tree work and they'll tailor the package accordingly.
Not for: Arborists who just want the cheapest possible premium and don't need advice.
Why arborists use it: It is stronger when exclusions around tree falling on property/person and branch drop injuries 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 Arborist Public Liability Insurance Cover?
Arborist public liability insurance covers claims made by third parties for bodily injury or property damage caused by your tree work.
What's covered:
- Tree falling on property/person
- Branch drop injuries
- Stump grinding damage to underground services
- 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 Arborists
Every trade has its own risk profile. Arborists face specific risks that make insurance non-negotiable.
Tree falling on property/person. Tree falling on property/person can turn a normal tree work job into a claim for repairs, delays, and legal costs. The financial exposure is usually much bigger than the margin on the work that caused it.
Branch drop injuries. Branch drop injuries can turn a normal tree work job into a claim for repairs, delays, and legal costs. The financial exposure is usually much bigger than the margin on the work that caused it.
Stump grinding damage to underground services. A strike on water, gas, power, or telecom can mean emergency repairs, site shutdowns, and reinstatement costs that dwarf the original scope.
Chainsaw injuries. Chainsaw injuries can turn a normal tree work job into a claim for repairs, delays, and legal costs. The financial exposure is usually much bigger than the margin on the work that caused it.
Neighbour property damage. 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
At minimum, most Australian arborists 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 arborists 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.
Tools cover is there for theft, accidental damage, and loss of the gear you rely on to do the job. The practical test is simple: could you afford to replace the whole setup this week if the vehicle was cleaned out?
Get arborist cover sorted before the next job turns into a claim.
BizCover is the fastest way to compare arborist 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.
Compare Quotes →