What insurance do tradesmen actually need?
Public liability, tools cover and employers’ liability explained.
Tradesman Insurance
Tradesman Insurance
Public liability, tools and van cover for builders, electricians, plumbers and every trade in between.
Public liability, tools and van cover for builders, electricians, plumbers and every trade in between.
What’s your trade?
Public liabilityTools & equipmentLegal expenses
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Speak to a specialist 0330 027 0996
How can we help?
How can we help?
Find insurance for your trade
Find insurance for your trade
Choose your trade below, or search above for something more specific.
Choose your trade below, or search above for something more specific.
Building & Construction
Home Improvement & Repair
Grounds, Property & Security
Which cover does your trade need?
Which cover does your trade need?
Only employers’ liability is a legal requirement. The rest depend on how you work and what your contracts require.
Only employers’ liability is a legal requirement. The rest depend on how you work and what your contracts require.
| Type of insurance | Legally required? | Who needs it? |
|---|---|---|
Yes, if you employ staff | Required once you take on any staff, even casual help | |
Not legally required | Strongly recommended for any trade working on other people’s property | |
Not legally required | Covers your tools against theft from the van, site or workshop | |
Yes, if you drive for work | Required for any van, pickup or car used for work | |
No | Protects stock, materials and equipment kept at a workshop or unit | |
No | Recommended if you specify materials, design work or give technical advice | |
No | Covers legal costs for contract disputes and unpaid invoices | |
No | Covers loss of income if an injury stops you working |
Top Tip
Most tradespeople need employers’ liability (if they have staff), public liability and tools cover as a minimum. Van insurance is separate to business insurance and needs its own policy.
Core cover for tradespeople
Core cover for tradespeople
Most tradespeople combine public liability with employers’ liability, tools cover and contract works, only employers’ liability is a legal requirement.
Most tradespeople combine public liability with employers’ liability, tools cover and contract works, only employers’ liability is a legal requirement.
Public Liability
Covers claims if your work injures someone or damages their property.
Employers’ Liability
A legal requirement once you employ any staff, even casual help.
Tools & Equipment
Covers your tools against theft from the van, site or workshop.
Business Van Insurance
Covers the van you use to carry tools, materials and get to jobs.
Plant & Machinery
Covers diggers, mixers and other machinery you own or hire in for the job.
Contract Works
Covers the building work itself while in progress, required by most JCT building contracts.
One trade or a growing team?
One trade or a growing team?
What you need changes as you grow. Working alone needs different cover to running a team, employers’ liability becomes a legal requirement the moment you take anyone on.
What you need changes as you grow. Working alone needs different cover to running a team, employers’ liability becomes a legal requirement the moment you take anyone on.
Sole Trader
Working alone? Public liability and tools cover are the essentials.
Small Team
Taken on your first employee? Employers’ liability becomes a legal requirement.
Growing Firm
Multiple vans, staff and a workshop? Time to combine your covers.
Established Business
Managing contracts, subcontractors and bigger risks? Talk to an adviser.
What affects the cost of tradesman insurance?
There’s no fixed price. It depends on your trade, whether you work at height, staff numbers, tools value and your claims history.
Level of cover
Employers’ liability, public liability and tools cover together cost more than one alone.
Value of your tools
More expensive kit means a higher tools cover premium.
Number of staff
More employees increase your employers’ liability exposure.
Level of excess
A higher voluntary excess usually lowers your premium.
Claims history
A clean claims record helps keep premiums down at renewal.
What are you looking to protect?
What are you looking to protect?
Choose a category to explore insurance products tailored to your business needs.
Choose a category to explore insurance products tailored to your business needs.
What could help:Public Liability
Learn more
Tradesman insurance without the guesswork
We help tradespeople find the right combination of cover, not just the cheapest single policy.
The right cover depends on your trade, whether you have staff, and what your tools are worth.
Specialist trade insurersAccess to 20+ UK insurersExperienced UK-based advisersCover tailored to your tradeSupport with complex risksHuman support when you claimHow to get tradesman insurance
How to get tradesman insurance
Getting tradesman insurance takes four steps: tell us your trade and whether you employ staff, choose your cover, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
Getting tradesman insurance takes four steps: tell us your trade and whether you employ staff, choose your cover, compare specialist insurers, then get covered, often the same day.
1
Tell us about your trade
What you do, and whether you employ staff.
2
Choose your cover
Public liability, tools and any extras you need.
3
We compare specialist insurers
We search our panel of 20+ UK insurers.
4
Get covered and working
Receive your documents, usually the same day.
UK-based specialist advisersAccess to specialist insurersNo obligation, just expert helpTrusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
Trusted by thousands of businesses across the UK
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
From everyday business insurance to complex specialist cover, our customers trust Insurance Revolution to find the right protection and provide expert support when it matters.
Tradesman insurance guides
Tradesman insurance guides
Practical advice on cover, tools and staying protected on the job.
Practical advice on cover, tools and staying protected on the job.
Tradesman insurance FAQs
Tradesman insurance FAQs
Straight answers on cover, tools, cost and what different trades need.
Straight answers on cover, tools, cost and what different trades need.
Tradesman insurance is a package of covers built for people who work with their hands, on site or at customers’ premises. It typically combines public liability, employers’ liability (if you have staff) and tools cover, tailored to your specific trade.
Still have questions?
Our advisers are here to help you find the right solution.