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Your tools are your livelihood. If they are lost, damaged or stolen, you might not be able to complete work for clients. And replacing or repairing your equipment could put serious strain on your finances.
At Markel, we offer specialist tools insurance to meet the specific needs of your business.
Tools cover at a glance:
- Cover for theft, loss or accidental damage
- Protection at home, on-site or in transit for working hours or 24 hours
- Up to £10,000 cover per person available
What is tools insurance?
Tools or toolbox insurance is there to cover the cost of replacing or repairing your equipment if it is damaged or lost, for example due to flooding, fire or theft. It includes power tool insurance, covering equipment such as sanders, drills, nail guns and angle grinders. Handheld tools are protected too, ranging from saws and chisels to hammers and screwdrivers.
Why choose Markel for tools insurance?
Whether you’re looking for tool insurance for builders, plumbers, electricians or any other type of trade, we’ve got you covered. Here are just some of the reasons to choose us.
Cover starting from
£8.00 per month*
*Price based on £1,000 of tools and trade materials insurance cover. Tools insurance can only be purchased with public liability insurance.
Do I need tools insurance?
Even if you take great care of your tools, there is always a risk that something will go wrong. What if you need tool insurance for equipment left in a van overnight, or while you are parked outside a client’s home? Or perhaps there is a flood or fire in the garage or storage unit where you leave your equipment, resulting in thousands of pounds worth of damage to your tools. Your equipment might also be damaged, or you might suffer tool theft while you’re working on a building site. Having to replace or repair these items out of your own pocket could devastate your finances. And if you don’t have access to your equipment, you might end up letting customers down. As well as being bad news for your bottom line, this can damage your reputation.
By making sure you have suitable tradesman tool insurance in place, you can be sure that even if the worst happens, you won’t be left counting the cost.
Who is tools insurance for?
Tool insurance for tradespeople is designed for anyone who relies on specialist equipment to do their job. At Markel Direct, we offer tool insurance to a full range of other tradespeople, including:
See the full list of who we cover here.
How it works
Choose the cover you require
Get a quote you need in minutes
Buy online or contact one of our advisors
What does tools insurance cover?
With tools insurance from Markel Direct, you can choose to have your tools covered between the working hours of 8am to 6pm or 24 hours a day. If you would like to have your tools covered overnight, be sure to select the 24-hour-a-day option. If your tools are covered during working hours only, this means you will not be covered for any incident occurring outside the hours of 8am to 6pm.
Our tools insurance can cover the following:
What is covered
What is not covered
How much does tools insurance cost?
Markel Direct offer tools insurance starting from £8 a month*, so keeping your business protected may cost less than you think. Get a tools insurance quote today to see how much you can expect to pay.
How much you pay for tools insurance can depend on a number of factors, such as the amount of tools you needs to insure, the types of tools you own, the type of work you or your business carries out, and where your tools are stored when not in use.
*Price based on £1,000 of tools and trade materials insurance cover. Tools insurance can only be purchased with public liability insurance.
Example policy documents
If you have an existing policy with us, please sign in to view your policy documents.
Below you will find examples of the documents provided.
Indicative quotes
Landscaping
- Sole trader
- 0 employees
- £80,000 turnover
- Liverpool
- (£142.24/yr)
- £14.22/mo
- Tools £1,000
- Public & products liability £1m
- Employers' liability
- Cyber
Carpenter & joiner
- Sole trader
- 0 employees
- £70,000 turnover
- Hull
- (£178.08/yr)
- £17.81/mo
- Tools £1,000
- Public & products liability £1m
- Employers' liability
- Cyber
Alarm installer
- Sole trader
- 0 employees
- £60,000 turnover
- Bath
- (£340.48/yr)
- £34.05/mo
- Tools £1,000
- Public & products liability £1m
- Employers' liability
- Cyber
*Final price payable is subject to underwriting criteria and acceptance. AI images are used on this website to depict example customer types. Any resemblance to an actual person is purely coincidental.
Ready to build your quote?
Our simple quote process will help you to find the right business insurance for your individual needs.
Frequently asked questions
These frequently asked questions are designed to help you and include questions relating to policy cover, pricing and ‘technical’ terms.
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What’s not covered by tools insurance?
It is always important to check the policy details for information on any exclusions. As mentioned above, our policies don’t cover damage to equipment caused by its own breakdown. Our tool insurance does not include equipment that is left unattended in an unlocked environment. Always read the full terms and conditions for information on all policy exclusions.
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If my tools are stolen from my van are they covered?
Yes, your equipment is covered by tools insurance, provided that the doors of your vehicle are locked and all windows and other openings are securely fastened.
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What level of cover do I need for my tools?
You will need a level of cover for your tools that reflects the value of the items. So, consider how much the tools are worth and how much you would need to pay to replace them. Your policy should cover this amount.
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How do I make a claim?
With our award-winning claims service, making a claim is simple. For guidance on to make a claim, visit our claims page.
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How are Markel Direct regulated?
Markel Direct is a trading name of Markel International Insurance Company Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Find out more on the Financial Services Register.
We are a division of Markel International, a Lloyd’s of London market insurer that wrote gross premium totals of £2.4bn in 2023.
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