Public & product liability for vending machine operators

A vending machine sits in a space full of the public. It can be pushed over, leak water onto a walkway, trap a hand, or dispense a product that makes someone unwell. Public liability responds to claims for personal injury or property damage caused by your business activity, including installing, servicing and restocking machines.

No Australian law forces you to hold it. Commercially though, you cannot operate: the placement agreement almost always names a minimum limit and requires evidence of cover before installation day.

• $5 million — small independent sites, local gyms, single-tenant offices and cafes.
• $10 million — the most common baseline for commercial buildings and industrial estates.
• $20 million — major shopping centres, hospitals, universities, airports, government and mine sites.

If you're unsure, ask the property manager for the exact wording in their placement agreement. Where you plan to expand into larger centres later, taking the $20 million limit up front usually saves re-issuing certificates.

• Customer or passer-by injured by a machine tipping, falling or malfunctioning.
• Slips and trips caused by leaks, condensation or spilled product around your machine.
• Damage to the landlord's floors, walls or fittings during delivery, installation or removal.
• Product liability claims for illness or injury from food and drink dispensed by your machines.
• Legal defence costs and investigation expenses associated with a covered claim.

Public liability protects other people and their property — not your own equipment. Theft of a machine, vandalism, fire damage or stock spoilage sit under machine and equipment cover. Deliberate acts, uninsured contractual liabilities and known faults you failed to repair are also excluded.

Complete the three-step assessment and we'll match your route with the right liability limit through our licensed partner. Once the policy is issued, your certificate of currency is ready to download and forward to centre management.