Dry Hire
Insurance

When equipment is hired out without an operator, the responsibility for risk management shifts to the hirer. This can present challenges ranging from machinery damage and third-party incidents to contract and liability exposures. Whether you’re dry hiring a single unit or managing a hire fleet, having suitable insurance in place may assist in protecting your equipment and supporting business continuity.

What is Dry Hire Insurance?

Dry hire insurance is a form of commercial equipment insurance designed to help manage risks associated with hiring out plant, vehicles or machinery without an operator. These arrangements are widely used by contractors and project managers who prefer to provide their own skilled operators while sourcing equipment from external providers.

Depending on the insurer and the policy selected, cover may extend to accidental damage, theft, fire, public liability and incidents occurring during operation or transportation. At Insuregroup, we assist businesses across Australia in reviewing available dry hire insurance options based on their industry, equipment use and contract requirements.

Do you need Dry Hire Insurance?

If your business hires out vehicles, machinery or equipment without supplying an operator, dry hire insurance may be worth considering. Equipment placed in the hands of third parties can be subject to varying usage conditions, handling practices and site risks.

Importantly, a standard commercial policy may not automatically cover dry hire arrangements or may contain exclusions related to the hirer’s use. As such, reviewing your current policy with a broker can help determine if it aligns with your operational model, hiring terms and asset value.

Why Insuregroup?

MONTHLY INSTALMENTS

Flexible payment options may be available to help manage cash flow while maintaining ongoing cover for your hire assets.

EXPERT ADVICE

Our brokers understand the transport and equipment hire sectors. We can help you review dry hire insurance options that reflect your specific risks.

QUICK QUOTES

Need cover quickly? We aim to deliver efficient quote turnarounds so you can stay focused on your business activities.

RANGE OF OPTIONS

With access to multiple insurers, we can assist you in comparing policy options that align with your location, equipment and service model.

Types of Dry Hire Equipment That Can Be Insured

We support businesses that dry hire equipment across a range of industries and equipment types to find and compare insurance that reflects their needs.

Examples of insurable dry hire equipment include:

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Crane Trucks and HIABs

For lifting and transporting heavy materials.

Excavators and Skid Steers

Used for digging, trenching and earthworks.

Tippers and Dump Trucks

For bulk material movement on job sites.

Forklifts and Telehandlers

Commonly hired for warehousing and site loading.

Scissor Lifts and Boom Lifts

Ideal for elevated construction or maintenance work.

Water Carts and Rollers

Essential for roadworks and civil infrastructure projects.

Generators and Lighting Towers

Frequently hired for temporary site power or illumination.

Portable Toilets and Site Offices

Supporting on-site operations and compliance needs.

Whether your dry hire equipment is used occasionally or across multiple job sites, regularly reviewing your insurance helps manage exposure and maintain business continuity.

As a member of the Steadfast Insurance Group, Insuregroup offers access to a wide network of insurers across Australia. We help you compare dry hire insurance policies that align with your asset type, usage and contract terms.

What does Dry Hire Insurance cover?

The scope of cover under a dry hire insurance policy can vary based on the insurer, type of equipment and the nature of your hire agreements. In general, policies may provide cover for key risks associated with third-party equipment use.

Cover may include:

Accidental damage to the insured equipment

Theft, fire or malicious damage

Public liability for third-party injury or property damage

Damage caused during operation or transportation

Recovery or towing costs following an insured event

Optional extras such as windscreen repair or replacement hire costs

Specific policy conditions and limits also vary between providers. Our brokers can help you compare providers and navigate available options so you can make an informed decision based on your business and hiring model.

What does Dry Hire Insurance not cover?

Just as it’s important to understand what’s included in a policy, it’s also vital to be aware of any exclusions. These can differ by insurer and may affect how claims are assessed.

Common exclusions may include:

Gradual deterioration or wear and tear

Mechanical or electrical failure not linked to an insured event

Use by unauthorised or unlicensed operators

Use outside agreed purposes or locations or where

llegal use or criminal activity

Undisclosed modifications or usage conditions

We recommend reviewing the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for full details. Our team can assist you in interpreting policy terms and highlighting key considerations based on your dry hire activities.

Online Insurance Quote

Please select from the options as required. You can select one or more options.
Complete the form below to receive a quote.
Completing the form usually takes 5 minutes.
Having trouble with the form? Contact Insuregroup click here

Step 1 of 2

Name(Required)

First Last

Phone(Required)

Email(Required)

Do you have an active ABN?(Required)

Please advise your ABN(Required)

Please select your occupation(Required)

What do you transport?(Required)

What do you construct?(Required)

Do you transport dangerous goods?(Required)

Do you transport refrigerated?(Required)

What sort of tradesman are you?(Required)

What do you manufacture?(Required)

What sort of drilling do you do?(Required)

Please describe your occupation(Required)

How many employees in your business? (Including working directors/owners)(Required)

How many items are you looking to insure?(Required)

Please describe the TRUCKS / TRAILERS / MACHINERY / VEHICLES you are looking to get insured. Please include as much detail as possible including YEAR MAKE MODEL REGO (if available) AND VALUE EXCLUDING GST. Please also include the item TYPE such as prime mover, crane, excavator, tipper truck, skip truck. Thankyou.(Required)

Did you include the ex gst value of the items in the description above?(Required)

Where are these items mostly garaged/stored?(Required)

Street Address Suburb Postcode

Are you currently insured for any of the above items?(Required)

Are you with an insurer directly or with an insurance broker?(Required)

Do you know who your insurer is?(Required)

Do you know who your insurer is? (not the broker)(Required)

Please advise who your insurer is(Required)

Please advise the insurance status of the above items(Required)

Do you have insurance on any other similar items currently?(Required)

Have you held insurance on any other similar items in the last 3 months?(Required)

Do you intend to dry hire (without operator) any of these items in the next 12 months?(Required)

Will you ensure to have a hire rental agreement / formal terms and conditions for the dry hire?(Required)

Do you need a quote for public liability insurance?(Required)

Do you need a quote for carriers / load insurance?(Required)

Have you or any of your operators/drivers or subcontractors had any criminal convictions which are less than 10 years old(adult), 5 years old (juvenile) or if outside of these years any convictions that have had a prison sentence greater than 30 months?(Required)

Have you or any partners or directors ever been declared bankrupt in the last 10 years?(Required)

Have you or any partners/directors had any policies cancelled/declined or special terms imposed?(Required)

Have you (company and/or director), or any person who will drive any of your vehicles / plant had any motor claims or accidents in the last 5 years?(Required)

In the past 5 years have you or any of your drivers had:- any license suspended, cancelled or amended to provisional; or any alcohol or drug conviction; or any dangerous driving offence; or any offence involving or interfering with a speed limiter?(Required)

How urgent is the insurance?(Required)

How did you hear about Insuregroup?(Required)

If you have the purchase invoice for the items or any documents relevant you can upload them here

Max. file size: 128 MB.

Would you like to make any further comments before submitting the request? We will send you an email as soon as possible.(Required)

Please enter your comments/requests here(Required)

Our
Process

The Insuregroup insurance process – insurance solutions on demand.

We’ve streamlined our process to make arranging insurance fast and straightforward. Simply complete our online quote form with a few details and we’ll compare options from our network of insurers. Most quotes are turned around within 24 hours.

Submit a Quote Request
Online or Call Us Directly

Start by submitting a quote request through our online form or by calling our team. Provide your business and equipment details, and we’ll begin sourcing the most suitable dry hire insurance options for you.

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We Source
Competitive Quotes

We search a wide network of reputable insurers to find the most competitive and relevant policies for your equipment and operators – typically within 24 hours.

Receive a Clear,
Detailed Quote Summary

We present the available options in a clear, easy-to-understand email summary, outlining coverage, pricing and key inclusions tailored to your needs.

Finalise
& Get Covered

Once you’re satisfied with the recommended policy, simply accept the quote. We’ll handle the paperwork and activate your cover quickly – often on the same day.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the types of dry hire insurance?

There are two main types of dry hire insurance: subrogation and damage waiver. Under subrogation, the hirer is responsible for any damage and may be billed by the insurer for repairs. With a damage waiver, the hirer is covered under the owner’s insurance, and no repair bill is passed on for unintentional damage. Each approach carries different costs and risk considerations.

What is the difference between wet hire and dry hire?

Dry hire means leasing equipment or vehicles without an operator, placing operational responsibility on the hirer. Wet hire includes both the equipment and an operator supplied by the owner. Because dry hire carries different risks, such as unauthorised use or misuse, specific dry hire insurance may help manage liability and damage exposures.

What does dry hire insurance cost?

Costs vary based on equipment value, location, liability needs and whether damage waiver is included. You should also factor in solicitor fees for preparing a proper hire agreement, as this is generally required by most insurers. Speaking with a broker specialised in this area can help you assess insurance for dry hire that suits your asset type and business structure.

How can I get a quote for dry hire Insurance?

Getting a quote for dry hire insurance is simple. You can submit an online request or speak directly with one of our brokers. Using your details, we’ll help you compare insurance for dry hire across a wide panel of Australian insurers and find policies that suit your industry, location and equipment needs.

How long does the process take?

We believe in providing our customers with excellent customer service and to guarantee you the most targeted service we strive to respond to your needs with upmost urgency. With a great deal of experience in our field, we can generally turn around a quote and bind a policy within 24 hours.

Can you produce certificates of insurance immediately?

With access to advanced technology, we can provide electronic certificates of insurance for you in a prompt and timely manner. We do require payment prior to issuing the certificates, however.

Does Insuregroup shop around extensively?

Insuregroup has access to over 100 insurance markets both nationally and internationally. We routinely research these markets to ensure our customers get the right cover and the best available price.

What if I need to know more about insurance covers?

Choosing an insurance policy is a significant investment – it is important to feel informed and involved in the process and our team recognises that you might want clarification on a few points before committing to anything. If you feel you would like to learn more, we invite you to call us on 1300 760 552 so our friendly team can answer any queries you may have.

Insuregroup: Experts in Insurance

Specialist insurance broker
Exclusive coverage and premium rates
Access to over 100 national insurance markets

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Dry Hire Insurance