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How to Verify a Builder in Victoria

In Victoria, builders are generally registered (not “licensed”) by the Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC). Registration is category/class-based, disciplinary history is searchable, and Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) is a separate but critical check.

Run a VIC Builder ReportView Official Registers

Before You Search: What “Registered” Means in Victoria

Victorian builder credentials are expressed as <strong>registration categories and classes</strong>. For domestic work, registrations such as Domestic Builder (Unlimited / Limited) are common, and the &ldquo;right registration&rdquo; depends on the work. For projects over <strong>$10,000</strong>, a major domestic building contract is typically required and the builder should be appropriately registered. Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) is legally required for domestic projects over <strong>$16,000</strong>.

Registration is class-based

Confirm the practitioner or company is registered in the relevant category/class for the proposed work.

  • Search the practitioner or building company record.
  • Confirm registration status is current.
  • Confirm the class fits your job type (domestic vs other scopes).

Separate check: Domestic Building Insurance (DBI)

DBI is separate from registration and is typically required over $16,000 for domestic work.

  • Check if your builder is eligible to obtain DBI.
  • If you have a policy/certificate, verify it is valid for your property.
Interstate practitioner? Victoria supports Automatic Mutual Recognition (AMR) / Automatic Deemed Registration (ADR). If a practitioner says they’re operating under AMR, use the dedicated AMR search as well as the standard practitioner/company search.

Official Public Registers

Victorian oversight signals are distributed across independent sources: practitioner/company registration, disciplinary outcomes, and DBI eligibility/policy verification. Use the official registers below, or run the Builder Report for a consolidated summary.

Building Practitioner

Regulator: Building and Plumbing Commission (BPC) • Search registered building practitioners & companies

Confirm name, registration number, category/class, and status (current/expired).

  • Does the record match the entity on your quote/contract (legal name and ABN/ACN where available)?
  • Is the registration current?
  • Is the category/class consistent with your project type?
Find a practitioner→

Opens official regulator website in a new tab.

AMR / ADR Practitioner Search (Interstate)

Scheme: Automatic Mutual Recognition • Dedicated search for interstate practitioners operating in Victoria

Use this if a practitioner says they’re working in Victoria under AMR/ADR rather than holding a Victorian registration in the standard register.

AMR practitioner search→

Prosecution & Disciplinary Register

Regulator: BPC • Records disciplinary action and prosecutions against practitioners and building companies

Search outcomes that may help you assess history and conduct (where published).

Search disciplinary register→

Domestic Building Insurance (DBI) - Builder and Policy check

Authority: BPC • DBI is legally required for domestic building projects over $16,000

Use the BPC tools to (1) check whether a builder is eligible for DBI and (2) verify an issued policy/certificate (if you have the policy number).

Check builder eligibility→Verify policy/certificate→

DBI and registration are related but not the same. Eligibility can change over time.

Company & Directors

Authority: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) • ABN Lookup

Confirm company registration, directors, and ABN details. Use ABN Lookup for a free quick check; use ASIC Connect for full company extracts (fee may apply). Registration does not, by itself, indicate financial health.

  • Does the ABN/ACN on the quote match the registered entity?
  • Who are the current directors?
  • Are there related entities worth investigating?
  • Are any directors banned or disqualified from managing corporations or other specific activities?
Search ASIC Connect→Search ABN Lookup→Banned & Disqualified→

Insolvency Notices

Authority: ASIC Insolvency Notices • AFSA for personal insolvency

Search published external administration events (winding-up, voluntary administration, liquidations). For individuals, check AFSA personal insolvency records.

ASIC insolvency notices→AFSA insolvency→

Why Verification Takes Multiple Checks in Victoria

  • Registration is category/class-based and needs interpretation against your job type.
  • Disciplinary history is a separate search from registration status.
  • DBI eligibility and policy validity are separate again - and legally important for domestic projects over $16,000.
  • Corporate and insolvency risk signals sit outside registration systems.

Consolidated Verification

The TrustSignal Builder Report consolidates registration, disciplinary and insurance signals into a structured summary - helping you confirm: (1) who is registered, (2) what they’re registered to do, and (3) whether there are material conduct or insurance flags.

VIC Builder Reports: Coming Soon

Currently available in NSW. Join the waitlist to be notified when VIC launches.

Last reviewed: March 2026• TrustSignal (trustsignal.com.au)