Re-checked regularly · last update 3 June 2026

Insurance, in plain English — and ranked.

Every product read in full — the PDS, the exclusions, the excess structure — and scored on the same rubric: what's covered, what isn't, what you pay, and how the insurer behaves at claim time. General advice only; always read the PDS and TMD.

Reviews published

3 June

Last updated

Public Liability Insurance for Small Business: Compare Quotes

Public liability is the foundation policy for any business that interacts with the public — including sole traders. Online brokers like BizCover make comparing multiple insurers fast, with instant certificates of currency.

$5m–$20m

Cover tiers

~10 min

Quote time

Instant

Cert. of currency

Multiple

Insurers compared

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How to choose

How to read a policy.

Premiums are easy to compare; cover isn't. These are the four things we check before price even enters the score.

Read our full method

Exclusions first

The exclusions list defines the product. Read it before the inclusions — height limits for trades, flood definitions for home, driver age clauses for car.

Excess structure

A low premium with a high excess is a different product. We compare on premium + expected excess, and flag policies with multiple stacking excesses.

Cover limits that match reality

Many commercial contracts mandate $10m+ public liability. Underinsuring to save on premium can void the point of having cover at all.

Claims behaviour

A policy is a promise; claims are the test. We weight publicly available claims acceptance and dispute data (AFCA) in every insurance score.

FAQ

Questions we get a lot.

Can't find what you need? Check the full review for your product.

Do sole traders need public liability insurance?

Almost always yes — working directly with customers or in public spaces creates exactly the risk this policy covers, and many clients and venues require a certificate of currency before you can start work.

What's the difference between public and product liability?

Public liability covers your business activities; product liability covers products you sell or supply. They're usually bundled into a single policy.

What does public liability cost?

Premiums depend on industry, turnover and cover level. Low-risk sole traders often pay a few hundred dollars a year; trades and hospitality pay more. Compare multiple insurers — quotes for identical cover routinely differ by 40%+.

Is comparing through a broker worth it?

Online brokers return multiple quotes in minutes and issue certificates of currency instantly, which is convenient. Just check whether the panel covers the insurers relevant to your industry — a broker can only compare its own panel.