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Commercial · Trades

Tradesperson and contractor insurance

Tradespeople work in other people’s homes and on sites, carry valuable tools, and often take on helpers. That’s why trade insurance packages combine liability, tools and vans, with employers’ cover once you’re not working alone.

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At a glance

Ref. COM-TRADE

Core cover: Public liability (UK) / general liability (US), usually £1m–£10m or $1m+.
Usually added: Tools and equipment, contract works, products liability.
Legal must-haves: Employers’ liability (UK) or workers’ comp (US) if you have employees; motor cover for vans.
Often required: Main contractors may ask for specific limits and certificates before you start on site.
Watch out for: Tools left in vans overnight, heat work (welding, roofing torches), work at height limits.

Trade insurance at a glance

Usually covered

Injury to the public and damage to clients’ property
Tools and equipment (if added), including theft from a locked van on many policies
Contract works: damage to the work in progress
Employers’ liability for staff and some labour-only subcontractors

Usually not covered

Faulty workmanship itself (the cost of putting it right)
Tools left in a van overnight without meeting conditions
Heat work unless declared
Work above stated heights or depths

Common add-ons

Tools cover
Contract works
Hired-in plant
Personal accident
Legal expenses

General guide only. Cover varies by insurer and policy: the policy wording and key facts document decide what you’re actually insured for.

Which trades this covers

Builders, electricians, plumbers, gas engineers, roofers, plasterers, painters and decorators, carpenters, landscapers, cleaners, handymen and more. Insurers price by trade because risks differ: roofing and work with heat carry more risk than decorating. Declare every type of work you do.

Tools and vans

Tools are expensive and theft from vans is a common claim. Check the conditions: some policies require tools to be removed from vehicles overnight or kept in a locked steel cabinet, and may only pay for visible forced entry. Your van needs its own van insurance with the right class of use.

Find work and compare tradespeople

Homeowners looking for trusted local tradespeople can compare options on our sister sites TradesStation and LocalPlumbers. Insured, accredited trades are easier to recommend.

Last updated: 15 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

Is public liability insurance compulsory for tradespeople?

Not by law, but many clients, letting agents and main contractors require it, and a single claim can be expensive.

Do I need employers’ liability for a labourer I pay by the day?

Often yes. Labour-only subcontractors and casual helpers can count as employees for employers’ liability purposes in the UK. Check with your insurer.

Does my policy cover putting right my own bad work?

Usually no. It covers resulting damage to other property, not the cost of redoing faulty work.

Tradesperson and contractor insurance

At a glance

Trade insurance at a glance

Usually covered

Usually not covered

Common add-ons

Which trades this covers

Tools and vans

Find work and compare tradespeople

Frequently asked questions

Keep exploring

Liability

Van insurance

Employers’ liability

Workers’ comp

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