Personal Tools Insurance

If your tools are stolen or damaged, you make a claim, provide proof of ownership and value, and we cover the cost of replacing them, minus your excess. Keeping receipts, photos and a list of serial numbers makes a claim faster and smoother.

As with any policy, there are exclusions: ordinary wear and tear is not covered, and neither is theft from an unlocked or unattended vehicle where reasonable care has not been taken, so it always pays to read your policy wording. If you are unsure whether a particular situation is covered, just ask, and we will tell you straight.

It is a fair question, and the answer is usually no, or not enough. Home insurance and home contents insurance almost always exclude tools used for work, because that counts as business use, so relying on them can leave you with nothing when you claim. A standard business insurance policy may include a small amount of tool cover, but the limits are often too low to replace a full professional kit.

Dedicated tool insurance is built for the job: it covers the full value of your work tools against theft and damage, including theft from your van, added to your wider business insurance policy alongside your public liability. Remember that your van insurance covers the vehicle itself, not the tools inside it, which is the exact gap tool insurance fills. If in doubt, check your existing policy wording, then talk to us.

The best way to keep tool insurance cheaper is to lower the risk and insure the right amount. Fit good locks and an alarm to your van, mark your tools and record their serial numbers, and empty the van overnight where you can, because fewer thefts mean fewer claims and a stronger record over time. Insure the full value of your kit rather than guessing, since under-insuring can cost you far more at claim time than the little you save on the premium.

Paying annually rather than monthly can work out cheaper, though monthly installments help your cashflow. A quick call to compare tool insurance quotes with our team is usually the fastest way to see where you can save while keeping the cover a small business really needs, for genuine peace of mind.

Tool insurance is an optional cover you add alongside your public liability, not a standalone product, which keeps everything in one place. Every Tradesman Saver policy includes public liability insurance, products liability, financial loss and legal expenses as standard, and you can build on that with tools and equipment cover, business contents, contractors all risks, employers’ liability and professional indemnity insurance. It means your tools, your work and your business are protected under one policy rather than several. Whatever your trade, our trades insurance is built around how you actually work.

For most tradespeople, yes. A stolen or damaged kit can cost thousands to replace and put you off the job for days, so the cover usually pays for itself the first time you need it. If your tools are essential to your income, tool insurance is one of the most sensible covers you can hold.

It depends on the value of your tools and the cover you choose, but Tradesman Saver policies start from less than £55 a year, and you can spread that across easy monthly instalments. Insuring a larger, more valuable kit costs more, which is why it helps to value your tools accurately before you get a quote.

Yes. Our cover includes tools stolen from an unattended locked vehicle, including overnight, though a slightly higher excess usually applies. Taking reasonable care, such as locking your van and not leaving tools on display, keeps your cover valid and helps prevent a claim in the first place.

Tool insurance covers the tools you use for work on an All Risks basis anywhere in the UK, including at home and in transit. If you are unsure whether your particular tools or storage are covered, tell us your setup and we will confirm exactly what your policy includes.

No. Transit cover is built into our tool insurance, so your tools are protected as you move between jobs rather than needing a separate policy. It is all part of the same tools and equipment cover.

Ordinary wear and tear, gradual deterioration and theft from an unlocked or unattended vehicle where reasonable care was not taken are the main exclusions. Reading your policy wording tells you exactly where you stand, and our team is happy to talk any of it through.

Yes. Tool insurance protects the tools you hire as well as the ones you own, which matters because hire agreements usually make you responsible for the kit from the moment it is in your care. Treat hired kit the same way you treat your own: keep it secure, and check your policy wording for the limits that apply to hired items.

Report the theft to the police as soon as you can and get a crime reference number, then let us know and we will start your claim. Providing proof of ownership and value, such as receipts, photos and serial numbers, helps us replace your tools quickly so you can get back to work. That fast turnaround is a big part of the peace of mind tool insurance gives you.

Tool insurance covers the tools and smaller equipment you own and use for work. Larger plant, and plant or equipment you hire in, are usually covered under contractors all risks, or specific plant insurance policies, rather than tool cover, so if you regularly use hired-in plant it is worth adding that alongside your policy. Tell us what you work with and we will make sure nothing falls through the gap.