Help centre

In Victoria, Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) is legally required for all domestic building projects over $16,000.

• Builders must take out DBI before asking for or receiving any payment under a major domestic building contract.
• Failing to do this is against the law and can lead to heavy fines – over $46,000 for individuals or up to $480,000 for companies if done knowingly or recklessly.

If you’re a builder and want to get DBI through the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC):

• You must first be eligible.
• To apply, contact one of VMIA’s approved Distributors.

Eligibility means a builder has been pre-approved to apply for Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) for certain types of building projects.

It tells us:

• The builder is approved to apply for DBI.
• Which types of projects they’re allowed to get insurance for.

Builders must have eligibility before they can purchase DBI for a job.

DBI Distributors are approved providers that help builders access Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) through the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC).

• Builders must apply for DBI through one of these distributors.
• You can choose a distributor directly, or work with your insurance broker to select one.
• Distributors use BPC's system to manage DBI applications on your behalf.

You can find their contact details and website links in our List of DBI Distributors.

If you're a new builder applying for DBI eligibility:

• Contact a DBI Distributor directly to start your application.

If you already have eligibility and want to change your distributor:

• Fill out the Nomination Form [PDF, 211 KB].
• Send it to your new DBI Distributor.

If you’re using an insurance broker who isn’t a DBI Distributor:

• That’s fine — but you still need to nominate a DBI Distributor for your broker to work with.
  Your broker can help guide you through this step.

To apply for DBI eligibility:

• Contact a DBI Distributor and ask for an Eligibility Application form.
• Complete the form and include the required supporting documents.
• Submit everything to your chosen DBI Distributor.

Before you apply read the Assessment of Eligibility [PDF, 149 KB] for more details. information before you apply.

You can view the full list of DBI Distributors.

BuildVic is the online portal builders use to purchase and manage Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) with the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) :

Through BuildVic you can:

• Get a Letter of eligibility.
• Purchase Certificates of Insurance.
• Apply to Review your:
  • Overall Construction Limit
  • Individual Job Limits. 

To use BuildVic, you must first nominate a Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) Distributor.

After you submit your eligibility application, your nominated distributor will assess it.

If approved, you’ll receive an email with your BuildVic login details.

No. The Letter of Eligibility only outlines the terms of your approval to apply for Domestic Building Insurance (DBI).

You still need to apply for and purchase a separate DBI Certificate of Insurance for each building project valued at $16,000 or more.

For help with this, contact your nominated DBI Distributor.

Please contact your nominated DBI Distributor for updates on the status of your application.

Contact your nominated DBI Distributor for any further questions. If you do not have one, please nominate a DBI Distributor.