Painter insurance requirements in Adelaide

Insurance is non-negotiable for any painter working on your Adelaide property. If a painter falls off a ladder, damages your floors with paint spill, or injures a neighbour with falling debris, their insurance — not yours — should cover the consequences. Here's what to check.

The three insurance types painters should carry

1. Public Liability Insurance ($10M minimum)

Covers damage to your property, injury to you, your neighbours or your guests, and any third-party claims arising from the painter's work. $5M is the legal minimum many policies carry; $10M is the professional standard. For commercial jobs, $20M is common.

2. Workers Compensation (if applicable)

Required by law if the painter has any employees. Covers injury to the painter's staff while on your property. Sole traders with no employees are exempt but should carry personal income protection.

3. Contract Works Insurance (CAR Insurance)

Less commonly carried. Protects the work itself during the project — if a half-painted exterior is damaged by storm, CAR insurance covers redoing the work. Usually only carried for larger commercial projects.

How to verify insurance

Ask for a current Certificate of Currency. This is a one-page document from the painter's insurance broker that lists: policy holder name, policy number, period of cover, insured amount, and insurer name. Check that:

• The policy is current (expiry date is in the future)
• The policy holder matches the business name on the quote
• The insured amount is at least $5M public liability
• The certificate is signed by the insurance broker (not just the painter)

You can verify with the insurer directly if you have doubts — most insurers will confirm coverage if you provide the policy number.

When a painter says "I'm covered through..."

Some sole traders claim to be "covered" through a master tradie insurance scheme, an industry body, or a former employer. These are often limited coverage or expired. Always insist on a current Certificate of Currency naming the painter's business specifically. "I'm covered through TradieCover" is not a valid answer.

What Adelaide Painters requires

Every painter in our network has been vetted on insurance before receiving quote requests. We require a current Certificate of Currency with at least $10M public liability as a minimum standard, and we re-verify annually. You can still request the CoC directly from your chosen painter before work starts — that's the final checkpoint.