Business Equipment Insurance from £7.30/month

Tools insurance pays to replace your kit if it is stolen or damaged. The two things that decide whether a claim pays are the overnight wording — most thefts are from vans at night — and whether the sum insured reflects what you actually carry, not what you owned when you took the policy out.

Cover this trade usually needs

Cover	Why it matters	Typical limit
Tools and portable equipment	Theft and accidental damage to hand tools, power tools and kit	Full replacement value of your current kit list
Tools in vehicle	Theft from the van — the most common claim, often excluded overnight	Check the overnight conditions carefully
Hired-in plant	Kit you hire becomes your responsibility the moment it is on site	Matched to typical hire values
Employee tools	Your staff's own tools used for your work	Per-employee limits apply

Key risks

• Van broken into overnight and the tools gone — the single most common trades claim.
• Tools stolen from site while you work.
• Accidental damage — dropped, crushed or flooded kit.
• Hired-in equipment stolen while it is your responsibility.

Regulations and licences

• No specific regulation, but many main contractors require proof of tools and liability cover before you start on site.

What we check before quoting

• A realistic kit list and what it would cost to replace today, not what you paid.
• Where the van is kept overnight — driveway, street or garage changes the terms.
• Van security: deadlocks, alarms, trackers and tool marking.
• Single-item limits — one expensive laser level or breaker can exceed the standard per-item cap.
• Whether you hire in plant or borrow equipment.

Gaps we see most often

• Overnight van theft excluded or conditional on security you do not have.
• Single-item limits below the value of your most expensive tool.
• Sum insured years out of date — kit accumulates and replacement prices rise.
• Hired-in plant not covered, leaving you paying the hire company for stolen kit.

Limits clients and contracts usually ask for

• Sum insured set at full replacement value — £3,000–£15,000 is typical for a sole trader's kit.
• Single-item limits usually £1,000–£2,500 unless specified separately.

Common questions

Are my tools covered in the van overnight?

It depends on the wording. Some policies exclude overnight van theft entirely; others cover it if the van is garaged, alarmed or fitted with extra locks. We match the policy to where you actually park, not where you wish you parked.

Do I need receipts to claim for stolen tools?

Insurers ask for evidence of ownership — receipts, photos, bank statements or tool-marking records. Photograph your kit and keep the serial numbers; it makes claims far quicker.

Is one expensive tool covered?

Only up to the single-item limit, which is often £1,000–£2,500. Anything more valuable needs to be specified on the policy separately.

Are my apprentice's tools covered?

Not automatically. Employees' own tools can be added to most policies — tell us and we include them.