Vans
Small, medium and large vans used for parcel and freight delivery. See our van insurance page for more on van cover.
Transport & Logistics
Courier Insurance
Insuregroup arranges insurance for couriers and delivery businesses across Australia: vans, utes and small trucks, the goods you carry, public liability and cover for owner-drivers who cannot work.
- Licensed & Regulated Broker
- Steadfast Group Member
- 100+ insurance markets
- 2014
- Broking Since
- 5,000+
- Policies Arranged
- 100+
- Insurance Markets
- 5.0
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- Courier Insurance
Insurance for Couriers and Delivery Drivers
Insuregroup arranges insurance for couriers and delivery businesses across Australia, from sole traders with one van or ute to fleets of vans and small trucks doing parcel, freight and last-mile work. We look at the vehicle, the goods you carry and the contracts you work under, and compare options across our network of insurers.
Courier work puts a lot of kilometres, stops and customer premises into a single day. That mix is why a private car policy, or a commercial policy set up for different work, may not respond the way you expect.
What to expect
Who This Cover Is For
- Owner-driver couriers running a van, ute or small truck
- Contractors delivering for a freight company, retailer or delivery platform
- Same-day and on-demand courier businesses
- Parcel, pallet and last-mile delivery fleets
- Specialist couriers carrying medical, legal, documents or high-value goods
- Small business owners who deliver their own products
Vehicles We Help Insure
Utes
Single and dual cab utes, including those with canopies or trays fitted for delivery work.
Small Rigid Trucks
Pantechs, box trucks and pod trucks used for pallet and bulky deliveries. See truck insurance Australia.
Refrigerated Vans
Temperature-controlled vans for food, pharmaceutical and florist deliveries. Ask about refrigeration breakdown cover for the goods. See refrigerated truck insurance.
Mixed Fleets
Vans, utes and small trucks on one program as the business grows. See commercial vehicle insurance and fleet insurance.
Covers Couriers Commonly Need
Commercial Motor Insurance
Covers accidental damage to your vehicle, theft, and your legal liability for damage to other people’s vehicles and property, subject to the policy terms. It should be set up for courier use, with the right radius and drivers declared.
Goods in Transit or Carrier’s Liability
Covers the parcels and freight you carry against loss or damage, or your liability to the owner of those goods. Check the limit per vehicle against your highest-value loads. See transit insurance.
Public Liability
Covers your legal liability for injury to people or damage to property while you are working, for example at a customer’s door or on a loading dock. Many contracts set a minimum limit. See public liability insurance.
Personal Accident and Illness
If you are a sole trader, workers compensation does not usually cover you. Personal accident and illness cover can pay a weekly benefit if an injury or illness stops you working. See personal accident insurance.
Tools and Equipment
Trolleys, scanners, phones and other portable equipment may need separate cover, as they are not usually part of a motor policy.
What to expect
Private Use, Business Use and Courier Work
Insurers ask how a vehicle is used because it changes the risk. Courier and delivery work involves carrying goods for others, frequent stops and long hours on the road. A policy set up for private use, or for general business use, may restrict or exclude that kind of work.
- Declare the use accurately. Tell the insurer the vehicle is used for courier or delivery work, carrying goods for reward.
- Declare every driver. Include relief drivers, family members and anyone who may drive the vehicle during busy periods.
- Declare the radius. Metro only, regional or interstate.
- Tell us about changes. A new contract, platform or type of goods may need a policy update.
Our article on hire and reward vs private use explains why declared use matters at claim time.
What to expect
Contract and Platform Requirements
Many courier contracts and delivery platforms set out the insurance a contractor must hold. Requirements vary, but commonly include:
- A minimum public liability limit
- Comprehensive or third party property cover on the vehicle
- Goods in transit cover up to a set amount
- The head contractor noted on the policy as an interested party
- A certificate of currency supplied before you start and at each renewal
Send us the insurance clause from your contract and we will check your policies against it. Our guide to subcontractor insurance requirements has more background.
What to expect
Risks That Shape Courier Cover
- Theft from vehicles. Vans left running or unlocked during drop-offs are a common cause of loss. Policies often set conditions about locking and keys.
- Low-speed damage. Reversing in laneways, loading docks and driveways leads to frequent small claims.
- Loading and handling. Damage to goods while loading, unloading or carrying them to the door.
- Fatigue and long days. Long shifts in peak periods increase the chance of an accident. See fatigue management and insurance.
- Downtime. When the vehicle is off the road, the income usually stops. See how downtime affects cash flow.
What to expect
What Affects the Cost of Courier Insurance
- The vehicle’s value, age and type
- The drivers’ ages, licence history and claims history
- Where the vehicle is garaged overnight
- The radius and the hours you drive
- The type and value of goods you carry
- The excess you choose and the limits you need
There is no standard price. Our guide on what drives the cost of truck and commercial vehicle insurance explains how these factors work.
Before you buy
Common Exclusions
- Vehicle use that was not declared, such as courier work on a private policy
- Drivers who are unlicensed, under the influence or not authorised under the policy
- Theft where the vehicle was left unlocked or with keys inside, if the policy sets that condition
- Goods above the transit limit, or goods types excluded by the policy
- Wear and tear, mechanical breakdown and gradual damage
Always read the Product Disclosure Statement for the full terms. We can walk you through the exclusions that apply to your work.
Request a quote
Get a Courier Insurance Quote
Tell us about your vehicles, drivers, the work you do and any contract requirements. A broker will compare options across our network of insurers and explain the differences so you can decide. For vans and trucks, you can also use our online vehicle quote form.
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Your Broker
Stirling Sanderson, Principal Broker
Stirling set up Insuregroup in 2014 after many years as an insurance underwriter and broker. He oversees the day-to-day broking, negotiates with insurers for clients and helps with claims, for everyone from single-truck owner-drivers to large fleets of trucks and heavy plant.
- Qualifications
- Bachelor of Business, majoring in Insurance; Diploma of Financial Services (Australian Institute of Insurance and Finance)
- Experience
- Licensed authorised broker for over 10 years
- Authorised Representative No.
- 453069
Insuregroup have been very professional and prompt in dealing with the management of our insurances for the last 3 years.
Questions We Get Asked
Frequently Asked Questions
What insurance do I need as a courier?
Most couriers need commercial motor insurance set up for courier use, goods in transit or carrier's liability for the parcels they carry, and public liability. Sole traders should also consider personal accident and illness cover.
Will my car or van insurance cover courier work?
Not necessarily. A policy set up for private use, or for general business use, may restrict or exclude carrying goods for reward. Tell the insurer the vehicle is used for courier or delivery work.
Are the parcels I carry covered by my vehicle policy?
Usually not. The goods are normally covered under a separate goods in transit or carrier's liability policy, with a limit per vehicle.
Do delivery platforms and freight companies require insurance?
Many do. Requirements commonly include a minimum public liability limit, cover on the vehicle, goods in transit cover and a certificate of currency. Check your contract or platform terms, or send them to us to review.
Am I covered by workers compensation as a sole trader courier?
Workers compensation does not usually cover sole traders for their own injuries. Personal accident and illness cover can pay a weekly benefit if you cannot work because of an injury or illness.
Can I insure several vans and utes on one policy?
Yes. Once you run several vehicles, a fleet or commercial vehicle policy can cover them together, which can make renewals and adding vehicles simpler.