What Insurance Do Water Jet Cleaning Businesses Need in Australia?

Water jet cleaning seems straightforward — point the nozzle, blast the grime, collect the cheque.

Until you crack a client’s window. Or someone slips on the wet driveway you just cleaned. Or your $30,000 truck-mounted unit gets pinched from the job site.

Then it gets expensive. Fast.

Brady, one of our brokers who works with tradies daily, puts it simply: “Pressure washing businesses think they’re low-risk because they’re ‘just cleaning’. But high-pressure water plus property plus the public? That’s a recipe for claims.”

We’ve placed cover for over 50 cleaning and pressure washing businesses in the last two years. Here’s what you actually need — no fluff, just the essentials.

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What Does Public Liability Insurance Cover for Pressure Cleaners?

Public liability insurance covers legal costs and compensation if your work injures someone or damages their property. For water jet cleaning, this is non-negotiable.

If you’re doing any commercial work, most clients won’t let you on site without it.

What it covers:

• Someone gets hurt because of your work (customer, passerby, anyone)
• You damage a client’s property (cracked tiles, stripped paint, broken windows)
• Slip and fall accidents on wet surfaces you created

Real scenarios we’ve seen:

• High-pressure water ricocheted and hit a passerby — $45,000 in medical bills and legal fees
• Cleaned a heritage building and stripped the original 1920s paint — $28,000 rectification
• Water ingress into an electrical fitting caused a small fire — building damage claim

How much cover do you need?

Based on our cleaning business portfolio:

Client Type	Typical PL Requirement
Residential only	$5-10 million
Commercial contracts	$10-20 million
Councils/shopping centres	$20 million minimum

The premium difference between $10M and $20M is often only $200-400 per year. Go higher.

Related: What Insurance Do Cleaners Need?

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Do I Need Equipment Insurance for Pressure Washing Gear?

Yes — your gear is your livelihood. A decent water jet setup isn’t cheap.

Equipment Type	Typical Value
Portable units	$5,000 - $15,000
Trailer-mounted	$15,000 - $40,000
Truck-mounted systems	$40,000 - $100,000+

Equipment insurance (sometimes called portable equipment or tools of trade cover) protects against:

• Theft from your ute, trailer, or job site
• Accidental damage during use
• Sometimes breakdown (check the policy wording)

What we tell clients: Make sure your policy covers equipment in transit and at job sites, not just sitting in your shed. Most thefts happen when the gear is out working.

Also check sub-limits. Some policies cap individual items at $5,000 — that won’t help when your $15,000 machine walks off.

Related: 7 Uncommon Trades That Need Tool Insurance

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Is Workers’ Compensation Required for Pressure Washing Businesses?

If you have employees in Australia, workers’ compensation is mandatory. No exceptions.

Water jet cleaning is physically demanding with real injury risks:

• Cuts and burns from high-pressure water (injection injuries are serious)
• Eye injuries without proper PPE
• Musculoskeletal issues from handling heavy hoses and equipment
• Slips on wet surfaces

Your premium depends on payroll and claims history. Keep your safety protocols tight, and premiums drop over time.

For sole traders: Check your state’s rules. Some states require cover if you use subcontractors who aren’t properly insured themselves — you could be deemed their employer.

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What Vehicle Insurance Do Pressure Cleaners Need?

If you’re running a truck-mounted system or carting gear in a ute, standard car insurance won’t cut it.

Commercial motor insurance should include:

• Comprehensive cover for the vehicle itself
• Cover for modifications (the water jet system bolted to your truck counts as a modification)
• Contents cover for tools and equipment stored inside

Watch out for: Policies that exclude “business use” or require notification of commercial activity. Read the fine print — or better, have a broker read it for you.

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Should I Get Environmental Liability Insurance?

Here’s one most pressure cleaners forget: where does all that water go?

If you’re cleaning driveways and the runoff — with all the oil, grease, and detergent — ends up in the stormwater drain, you could face environmental fines.

Councils are getting serious about this, especially in metro Sydney and Melbourne.

Environmental liability insurance can cover:

• Clean-up costs if you cause contamination
• Fines and penalties (where insurable)
• Legal defence costs

Not everyone needs this. But if you’re doing commercial, industrial, or graffiti removal work with chemical agents, it’s worth the conversation.

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How Much Does Water Jet Cleaning Insurance Cost?

Based on our 2025-2026 placements for pressure washing businesses (sole traders to small teams):

Cover Type	Annual Premium Range
Public Liability ($10-20M)	$800 - $2,500
Equipment Insurance	$300 - $1,500
Commercial Vehicle	$1,500 - $4,000
Workers’ Comp	Varies by state/payroll

Total for comprehensive cover: roughly $3,000 - $6,000 per year.

That’s one decent job per month to protect everything you’ve built.

Related: Cheap Business Insurance? Watch Out for These Exclusions

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Quick Insurance Checklist for Pressure Cleaning Businesses

Before you renew or take out a new policy, check:

• Public Liability — minimum $10M, ideally $20M for commercial work
• Equipment covered in transit and on job sites (not just at home)
• Vehicle policy covers commercial use and any modifications
• Workers’ comp sorted if you have employees or use subbies
• No sneaky exclusions for water damage or environmental issues

Related: 5 Signs It’s Time to Review Your Business Insurance

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the minimum public liability for pressure washing?

Most commercial clients require $10-20 million. Councils and shopping centres typically want $20 million. For residential-only work, $5 million may suffice, but the premium difference is minimal — we usually recommend going higher.

Does my equipment insurance cover theft from my ute?

It depends on the policy. Some only cover equipment at your premises. Always check for “in transit” and “at temporary locations” cover. If it’s not included, ask to add it.

Do I need insurance if I’m just doing residential driveways?

Yes. One slip-and-fall on a wet driveway you just cleaned could result in a claim. Public liability is essential regardless of whether you do commercial or residential work.

Is environmental liability insurance expensive?

For most pressure cleaning businesses, it adds $300-600 per year. If you’re using chemicals or doing industrial cleaning, it’s worth it for the peace of mind.

Can I bundle all my covers into one policy?

Often, yes. A business pack or trade pack can combine public liability, equipment, and sometimes commercial motor into one policy. This usually works out cheaper than buying separately.

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Summary

Water jet cleaning businesses need:

1. Public Liability — $10-20 million minimum
2. Equipment Insurance — covering your machines everywhere they go
3. Workers’ Compensation — if you have employees
4. Commercial Vehicle — for your ute or truck
5. Environmental Liability — worth considering for commercial/industrial work

One bad claim without proper cover and you’re done. Don’t risk it.

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Need help sorting your cover? Give us a call on 02 9000 1155 or email [email protected]. We’ll review what you’ve got and make sure there are no gaps.

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This is general information only and doesn’t take into account your specific situation. For personal advice tailored to your business, speak with a licensed insurance broker.

Marel Pencev is the founder of Tank Insurance, an Australian insurance brokerage helping businesses and property investors get cover that actually works.