Plumbers insurance

Specialist insurance for plumbers from £31 a month*.

  • Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds

  • Levels of cover to suit you

  • Pay by interest free direct debit

As a plumber, you're used to making repairs for customers under their insurance policies. But how much time have you spent thinking about your own cover? No matter how careful you are, there’s always a risk that something will go wrong.

From damaging a client’s property, to causing injury to a member of the public, to your tools being damaged or stolen, your finances face many threats.

At Markel Direct, we feel that we offer great value plumbers’ insurance cover that gives you added peace of mind.

What is plumbers’ insurance?

Plumbers’ insurance is designed to protect you against the unexpected. It can incorporate a range of different types of financial protection, including public liability cover and employers’ liability insurance. It can also feature protection for the equipment that you rely on to do your job.

At Markel Direct, we offer a broad range of cover options, so you can tailor your insurance package to suit the specific needs of your business.

Get a quote now

Do I need plumbers’ insurance?

Even if you do everything you can to minimise risk, accidents can happen when you’re least expecting them. For example, if a pipe you install at a customer’s home doesn’t fit correctly and causes a leak, you could be held liable for any damage done to their property. You could also face significant legal fees and compensation costs if you cause injury to a member of the public. For instance, a customer might trip over your toolbox and fall awkwardly, suffering serious injuries. If you would struggle to cover costs like these out of your own pocket, you’ll need public liability insurance for plumbers.

And if you have people working for you, even if they do so on a part-time or temporary basis, you’re required by law to have employers’ liability insurance. For every day that you lack this cover, you could be fined as much as £2,500.

There are your specialist tools to think about too. If your equipment was damaged, stolen or lost, would you be able to foot the bill to replace or repair it? If this would put your finances under pressure, it’s important to make sure you have tools insurance in place.

You might benefit from taking out other types of cover for your plumbing business too. This could include anything from professional indemnity insurance to legal expenses cover. The right package of protection will help you to safeguard your business’ finances. It will also provide you with welcome reassurance.  

Why choose Markel Direct for plumbers’ insurance?  

There are many reasons to choose Markel Direct for tradesman insurance. Here are just some.   

✔ No hidden fees
You don’t have to worry about being hit with unexpected costs when you buy cover from us. Our pricing is fully transparent.  

✔ A quote in as little as 90 seconds
There’s no need to hang around when you want a quote from us. Simply fill in our online form and we’ll provide you with a quote in as little as 90 seconds.  

✔ Impressive customer ratings
We put customer service at the heart of everything we do. See for yourself by checking out our high ratings on Feefo.com.  

✔ Legal advice around the clock
If you suddenly find yourself in need of legal guidance, we’re here for you day and night. We offer a 24/7 legal helpline run by experienced solicitors.  

✔ Decades of experience
With more than 25 years of experience in providing cover to small businesses like yours, you can have total confidence in our plumbers’ insurance.  

How much does plumbers’ insurance cost?  

The price of plumber’s insurance will vary depending on factors such as the size of your business, the types of cover you want and the level of cover you’re looking for. Policies start from £31 a month*. To discover more, simply get a quote today.

* Price based on a plumber requiring £1 million of public liability cover.

Customer reviews

4.8/5

Rated 4.8 stars from 351 customer reviews at Google

Markel Direct - Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award

Cover starting from £31 a month

What insurance do plumbers need?

  • Public liability insurance

    Plumbers’ public liability insurance protects you if a member of the public suffers property damage or is injured because of the actions of your business. We offer cover limits ranging from £1 million to £5 million.
     
    Example of a claim:
     
    You fix a tap for a customer, but after you leave, they report a major leak caused by your work. They seek compensation to repair the damage to their home.

  • Employers' liability insurance

    If you have employees, the law demands that you have at least £5 million worth of employers’ liability insurance in place. This protects you if an employee takes legal action against you over an injury or illness they have suffered because of the work they do for you. We offer up to £10 million in employers’ liability cover.
     
    Example of a claim:
     
    One of your workers becomes sick after coming into contact with dirty water. They take legal action to secure compensation for their suffering.

  • Tools insurance

    Tools insurance for plumbers is designed to cover the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that is stolen, lost or damaged. Our cover limits range from £1,000 to £5,000.
     
    Example of a claim:
     
    There is a fire in the garage where you store your work tools, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. You face the cost of having to replace the items affected by the blaze.

  • Occupational personal accident insurance

    Occupational personal accident insurance supports your income if you’re prevented from doing your job because of an injury you suffer at work, or while travelling to or from work. It provides you with either weekly payments or one lump sum, depending on the nature of your injuries.

  • Owned plant insurance

    If you own plant machinery that is damaged or stolen, owned plant insurance will cover the costs of repairing or replacing the equipment. Cover limits are available from £10,000 to £50,000.

  • Hired plant insurance

    If you hire in plant machinery and equipment from a leasing company, for example concrete mixers or forklifts, hired in plant insurance will cover you if the machinery is damaged or stolen. Cover limits range from £10,000 to £50,000.

  • Contract works insurance

    Designed for builders and other tradespeople, contract works insurance covers the work you do on a construction site. If your work is affected by a flood or fire, or by theft or malicious damage, contract works insurance can protect you financially.

  • Goods in transit insurance

    Popular among tradesman, goods in transit insurance covers goods against loss or damage while in transit from one place to another. This can be either goods transported in your own vehicle, or on your behalf by a third-party carrier.

  • Professional indemnity insurance

    If you offer professional services for a fee, such as plumbing system advice or designs, you should consider taking out professional indemnity insurance. This protects you if you are accused of making a mistake in the course of providing these services.

Need some help?

0800 640 6600

Mon - Fri 08:30 - 17:30

Local rate and mobile friendly

Frequently asked questions

Contact us

Cover starting from £31 a month

Frequently asked questions

  • Do I need plumbers’ insurance by law?

    Most types of plumbers’ insurance are not required by law. However, if you have employees, you are legally required to have at least £5 million of employers’ liability cover in place.
     
    While other types of insurance are not mandated by law, certain prospective customers may insist that you have public liability insurance in place before they will take you on for a plumbing job.

  • When should I get plumbers’ insurance?

    It is advisable to take out plumbers’ insurance as soon as you set up your business. Ideally, you should have appropriate cover in place before you take on your first plumbing project.

  • I need to arrange plumbers’ insurance to start work – do you provide proof of cover?

    Yes, we will provide you with a dedicated ‘Confirmation of Liability Insurance’ document that details the cover you have with us. We will email this to you when you purchase your policy. This document can be presented to clients as proof of insurance.

  • What limit of cover should I choose?

    Industry bodies and certain businesses will have specific regulatory requirements when it comes to minimum levels of cover. It may be worth looking into this before you arrange insurance with us.
     
    If you offer plumbing services to individual consumers and smaller companies, your customers may not specify how much cover you need. To determine how much insurance to take out, consider the worst-case scenarios that could affect your business. Then calculate how much it would cost to resolve these issues.
     
    We provide a range of cover limits, meaning we can give you the flexibility you need when choosing plumbers’ insurance.

  • How do I make a claim?

    We make sure that our claims process is as painless and hassle-free as possible. Take a look at our claims page to discover more about our award-winning claims service.

  • How are Markel regulated?

    Markel Direct is regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority and Financial Conduct Authority. Want to know more? Visit the Financial Services Register.

Access free legal services for your plumbing business when you arrange cover with Markel, including:

24 hour legal helpline 24/7 access to a legal advice helpline manned by qualified solicitors

Legal hub access Access legal templates and resources with the Markel Business Hub

 Receive discounted IR35 contract reviews with your policy

 Expert management of public relations crises with The Counsel House

Cover starting from £31 a month

Related articles