Get a quote
self employed worker

Self-Employed Public Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance for the self-employed for less than £59* per year

Not on comparison sites — save money by coming direct to us

Get a quote
Home » Public Liability Insurance » Self-Employed Public Liability Insurance

Tradesman Saver’s Self-Employed Public Liability Insurance


Our standard cover is:

  • £1 million cover for public and products liability (with an option to increase to £2 million, £5 million or £10 million)
  • £10,000 cover for any financial loss (£50K cover optional)
  • Worldwide liability cover for temporary work abroad for up to 14 days (excluding the USA and Canada)

Self-employed public liability insurance helps to keep your business safe in the event of causing injury or property damage to a third party. What’s more, Tradesman Saver’s self-employed insurance package will give you all the cover you need as your own boss, including financial loss, products liability and legal expenses insurance. As such, you can do your job with a greater peace of mind, safe in the knowledge your livelihood is safeguarded in the event of any accidents. 

Why do you need self-employed public liability insurance?

Although being self-employed offers a number of benefits, from being your own boss to a better work-life balance, it’s important to remember that things can unfortunately go wrong. But with a comprehensive self-employed insurance policy, you’re much better placed to deal with any issues that arise. 

All in all, this lets you get on with the job without worrying that one misstep will put your business in the mire, while also making you more appealing to prospective clients. People and businesses will see that you take your safety seriously and are trustworthy as a result.

Here at Tradesman Saver, we offer low-cost self-employed liability insurance so that everyone can afford the cover they need. To create a tailor-made policy today, fill out our online form at your closest convenience.

Get a QuoteLearn about Public Liability

Understanding public liability insurance for the self-employed

When shopping around for self-employed insurance, you’re likely to come across the term ‘public liability cover’ more than once, and for good reason. This underpins any insurance policy and covers injury or property damage to third parties, therefore safeguarding you when a customer or member of the public makes a claim against you. Among the situations it covers you in includes:

  • Fire damage to a property after failing to rewire a fuse box properly 
  • Injury to a member of the public after they slip on a wet floor you created and you failed to put up a sign
  • Damage to both a client’s and their neighbour’s properties due to faulty plumbing work

Why do you need public liability insurance as a self-employed tradesman?

Being a self-employed tradesman is a particularly precarious position, as the buck stops with you and you only. As such, it’s crucial you do everything possible to keep your livelihood protected, which is exactly what public liability insurance helps you to achieve.

Get a Quote

How our self-employed public liability insurance works

1 Apply Online

Complete our simple quote form with basic details about your business

2 Get a quote

Get an instant quote & choose any optional covers you may need

3 You’re insured!

Instantly activate your Tradesman Saver policy and view your certificates online

How much does self-employed public liability insurance cost?

If you are self-employed the cost of your public liability insurance will depend on a number of different factors.  The most important factor will be your trade.  Almost all trades can work on a self-employed basis but the price you pay will depend on the type of job you do.  For example, a self-employed plumber will pay more for public liability insurance than a self-employed builder or caterer as the risk of a large claim occurring is greater.  As well as your trade, how long you have been in business and whether you have had any previous claims will also affect the cost of your insurance.

Our Tradesman Saver public liability policy for the self-employed includes additional covers as standard, including legal expenses, financial loss and accidental death cover. You will get some of the widest covers available at a price you’ll find hard to beat!

Get a quote
Prices start from £58.76

Self-employed public liability insurance quote examples

£58.76 / year A self-employed builder working on domestic and small commercial properties less than 10 metres in height
  • Sole Trader
  • New start-up. No previous experience
  • Based in Newcastle
  • No claims

Automatic Covers

  • Public Liability £1,000,000
  • Financial Loss £10,000
  • Products Liability £1,000,000
  • Legal Expenses £250,000
  • Accidental Death £10,000

Optional Covers

  • Business Contents Not Insured
  • Personal Accident Not Insured
  • Employers Liability Not Insured
  • Tools / Equipment Not Insured
  • Contract Works Not Insured
  • Professional Indemnity Not Insured
£29.02 / month £329.80 / year A self-employed caterer
  • Sole trader
  • 5 years experience
  • Based in Surrey
  • No claims

Automatic Covers

  • Public Liability £5,000,000
  • Financial Loss £10,000
  • Products Liability £5,000,000
  • Legal Expenses £250,000
  • Accidental Death £10,000

Optional Covers

  • Business Contents £10,000
  • Personal Accident £50,000
  • Employers Liability Not Insured
  • Tools / Equipment £10,000
  • Contract Works Not Insured
  • Professional Indemnity £50,000

The above quote examples were taken from our online system on 27/03/23.  These are real quotes but your own personal quote will vary dependent upon your circumstances and the level of cover you require.

Insurance coverExcess
Public Liability£250
Products Liability£250
Employers LiabilityNo Excess
Financial Loss10% of claim value(£2,500 minimum)
Professional Indemnity10% of claim value(£2,500 minimum)
Contract Works£250(£500 Theft/Malicious Damage)
Tools / Equipment£100(£250 Unattended vehicle)
Legal ExpensesNo Excess

Chosen by over 5000 businesses and counting *

  • Online & Anywhere

    Online & Anywhere

    We like to keep things simple. Your quote, purchase and documents are all available online, anytime.

  • Monthly Instalments

    Monthly Instalments

    Cashflow is important to every business. Spread the cost by paying in easy monthly instalments.

  • Instant Cover

    Instant Cover

    No need to wait for your documents. Our tradesman cover starts from the date you select.

  • Added protection

    Added Protection

    Public liability, products liability, financial loss, legal expenses and accidental death cover as standard.

* Total number of live policies as of 31/08/2023

Self-Employed Public Liability Insurance: Frequently Asked Questions

Do I legally need self-employed public liability insurance?

You’re not legally required to have public liability insurance, but odds are you’ll need it. Not only will it keep your business from going under in the event of an incident, but will help you attract clients.

How much self-employed public liability insurance do I require?

The amount of self-employed public liability insurance you need depends on aspects like how dangerous your jobs are, how expensive your contracts are, and how much your equipment costs. We can help you work this out if you’re unsure.

How do I make a claim on my self-employed public liability insurance policy?

To make a claim on your self-employed public liability insurance policy, just get in touch with us or your provider directly to tell us what has happened. Before you do though, check that you’re within the time limits for making a claim and that your policy covers what you’re claiming for. You should also see what the excess is so you’re aware of how much you’re paying towards the claim.

What information do I need to provide to get self employed insurance?

The main information you’ll need to give when securing a self-employed public liability insurance quote includes your name, address and the type of work you typically do. From there, we can typically provide a quote which is significantly lower than you’re likely to find on insurance comparison sites. 

Will I automatically get self-employed public liability insurance with any Tradesman Saver policy?

Every Tradesman Saver includes public liability cover as standard. In addition to self-employed public liability, you’re also protected against legal expenses, financial loss, accidental death, and products liability. For more information on each of these automatic covers, please consult the dedicated section above.

Do I need any other kind of business insurance as a self-employed tradesperson?

Depending on the industry you’re in, you may benefit from a range of different insurance policies. Business insurance is quite a broad term, and can include cover for things like employers’ liability, professional indemnity and property damage. In some cases, it can be worth making sure that your public liability insurance cover also includes things like professional indemnity insurance cover, employers liability insurance where applicable, and even business equipment cover.

Finding the right insurance cover for you can be tricky. Fortunately, the team at Tradesman Saver has worked to make it as simple as possible for any self employed professional in the UK. Self employed insurance needn’t be confusing – simply apply with Tradesman Saver, and we may be able to provide comprehensive coverage to protect you on-site.

What is professional indemnity insurance?

Professional indemnity insurance is an insurance product which protects professionals and businesses from claims made against them for mistakes or negligence in the course of their work. In particular, it can provide cover for legal costs related to defending a claim, as well as any settlement awarded if found liable. 

Professional indemnity insurance is normally required by employers, or the self-employed, operating within certain industries or professions, such as accounting, architecture, engineering and IT.

Is self employed insurance a legal requirement?

Self employed insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. However, it is advisable to have some form of cover in place if you’re operating as self employed, or even running a small business. Depending on your industry and where you work, certain insurance policies may be compulsory – so make sure to check before starting any job. Protecting yourself, your client and the general public is extremely important, not just for your reputation and safety, but also for your livelihood. If a client claims against you, or a member of the general public makes a claim and you don’t have the right insurance cover in place, you could be vulnerable to extremely costly legal fees.

How much does self employed insurance cost?

The cost of your self employed insurance depends on a range of different factors, including your history and the type of tradesperson you are. The cost can also be influenced by the kinds of coverage you require – for example, professional indemnity cover, public liability insurance cover and tools and equipment cover will typically cost more than just public liability insurance. Self employed people across the UK need to pay different amounts for their business insurance policies depending on their daily risks, and the risk they pose to those around them.

However, here at Tradesman Saver, we’re dedicated to keeping insurance costs as low as possible for all self employed professionals we cover. For an accurate quote on how much you could expect to pay for insurance as a self employed person in the UK, apply with Tradesman Saver today.

Will self employed insurance protect me against compensation claims?

Yes, it will. The purpose of public liability or professional indemnity insurance for self-employed tradespeople is to protect yourself, your clients and the general public around you. When you’re protected by the right insurance, you have a safety net around you, protecting your business and livelihood, in addition to being able to provide compensation pay outs to anyone injured as a result of your work.

Can Tradesman Saver provide tailored cover that meets my exact requirement?

Yes, we can! One thing that often causes confusion amongst tradespeople in the UK is exactly what kind of insurance cover they need. Here at Tradesman Saver, we can provide a diverse range of insurance covers, from personal accident cover to employers liability insurance, general liability and professional indemnity covers. Whatever kind of cover you need, excluding vehicle insurance, we aim to be the one stop shop for all your self-employed insurance needs!

*This indicative price is for £1m public and products liability, £250,000 legal expenses, £10,000 financial loss and £10,000 accidental death insurance cover for a sole trader. The price includes insurance premium tax but excludes our admin charge. 17% of new customers paid less than £59 between 1st January 2023 and 31st January 2023. The actual price you pay will depend upon your specific business requirements and will be affected by your trade, your claims history and the optional covers you select which are all priced separately during the quote process. This website is intended for customers based in the UK and is therefore subject to the UK regulatory regime(s) © Copyright 2023 Tradesman Saver | Tradesman Saver and Henry Seymour & Co. are trading names of Barkdene Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 303965) for our insurance distribution and credit broking activities. Barkdene Limited is a credit broker not a lender. You can check our financial services registration status on the Financial Services register.
Registered in England No 1842617. Registered Office – Chancery House, St Nicholas Way, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1JB. All rights reserved.
Back To Top
You need to be logged in to Your Account to make a payment. Redirecting you to Account Login.