Tool Insurance
Cover for tradespeople’s tools, on site and in the van
- Compare quotes from specialist UK providers
- Theft, loss and damage cover for your kit
- Buy alone or with public liability
Tool cover pays to repair or replace the equipment you work with if it’s stolen, lost or damaged, up to the limits in your policy. You can buy it alone or alongside public liability as part of a trades package.
The details that decide whether a claim is paid, such as overnight van conditions, differ a lot between insurers. That’s where to focus when you compare tool insurance.
Which tool cover suits how you work?
Think about where your tools spend the night and who owns them.
| How you work | What to check |
|---|---|
| Tools stay in a locked workshop | Workshop security and whether contents cover already includes tools |
| You work on building sites | Cover on site, and any rule about a locked site box overnight |
| Tools stay in the van overnight | The overnight clause and whether forced entry is required |
| Your employees bring their own tools | Whether employee-owned kit is covered, and up to what limit |
| You hire in plant or power tools | A hired-in section with a limit that matches the hire value |
Tools left in the van overnight
Read the overnight clause before anything else. Wording varies, but many policies ask for the van to be locked, the tools hidden from view and visible signs of a break-in before they’ll pay.
A few practical steps can cut the risk and may help with the price:
- bring the priciest tools indoors at night
- fit extra deadlocks or a bolted-in tool safe
- park in a lit, overlooked spot or a locked yard
- mark tools with your postcode and keep a list of serial numbers
Wear and tear or replacement: how a tool claim is paid
Check which basis the policy pays on, because it changes the cheque. A new-for-old basis replaces a stolen tool with a new one. An indemnity basis knocks off an amount for wear and tear. Your policy schedule says which applies.
Here’s a worked example. A tool that cost £1,500 is stolen two years later, when it’s valued at £1,000. On an indemnity basis the claim would pay £1,000, less any excess. If you replace tools often, you may want to consider new-for-old cover.
Employed tradespeople and their own tools
If you work for someone else, your employer’s policy may not cover the tools you own. Ask them, then insure the gap yourself. If you employ people, decide whether your policy should cover their kit as well as yours, and say so when you quote.
Staff also bring a legal duty. Once you employ anyone, GOV.UK says you need employers’ liability of at least £5 million (GOV.UK).
Tax and record keeping for tool cover
If you’re self-employed, insurance premiums are listed as an allowable expense in GOV.UK guidance. Keep the policy schedule with your accounts.
Good records also make claims faster. Photograph your tools each year, keep receipts in the cloud and note serial numbers on a list you don’t keep in the van.
What you need before a tool insurance quote
- A list of tools with rough replacement values
- The value of your most expensive single item
- Where tools are kept overnight: home, workshop, site or van
- Van security, such as extra locks, alarm or tool safe
- Whether you need cover for employees’ tools or hired kit
- Any tool or theft claims in the last five years
Compare tool cover with Tiger.co.uk
Fill in one short form and specialist UK providers send back quotes. Tiger.co.uk is a trading style of Big Cat Ventures Ltd, which introduces you to Seopa Ltd. Seopa runs the quote system and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 313860).
Trades pages such as builders, electricians and plumbers cover liability for each trade. You may also want van insurance and public liability insurance. All covers sit on our business insurance hub.
How much tool cover do I need?
Add up what it would cost to replace every tool you use, at today’s prices, and insure for that total. Then check the single-item limit, because one pricey laser level or mitre saw can be worth more than it allows. Under-insuring can reduce what a claim pays, so update the figure when you buy new kit.
Does tool insurance cover accidental damage?
Some policies do, and some only cover theft and loss. Accidental damage, such as dropping a level off scaffolding, is often an optional extra with its own excess. If your tools take knocks on site, ask for it by name and read what counts as wear and tear.
Does home insurance cover my work tools?
Not usually once they’re used for business. Many home policies limit or exclude business equipment, so ask your home insurer in writing before relying on it.
Can apprentices insure their own tools?
Yes. An apprentice who owns their kit can usually take out a policy in their own name, often with a lower total sum insured. If you take on an apprentice, check whether your own policy covers tools they bring, as many only cover the policyholder’s kit.
Are my tools covered while I’m driving between jobs?
Many policies include tools in transit, meaning while they’re in your vehicle on the way to or from work. Limits and conditions can differ from the overnight rules, such as needing the van locked whenever you stop. Check both clauses, as they’re often worded separately.
Ready to protect your kit? Compare tool cover quotes with Tiger.co.uk. Check the overnight van clause and single-item limit on every quote.
Fact-checked by Ian Wilson, Managing Director at Tiger.co.uk. 20+ years in price comparison; MEng, Queen’s University Belfast.