A confident tradesperson stands in front of an open van fully stocked with tools, smiling with arms crossed, ready for the day’s work.A confident tradesperson stands in front of an open van fully stocked with tools, smiling with arms crossed, ready for the day’s work.A confident tradesperson stands in front of an open van fully stocked with tools, smiling with arms crossed, ready for the day’s work.

Tools & Materials Insurance 101

Keeping your tools safe and your business trading

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Protect Your Tools and Materials with the Right Insurance

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

As a tradesperson, your tools are your livelihood. Whether you’re a builder, electrician, plumber, or carpenter, having the right equipment on hand is essential for getting the job done. But with tool theft on the rise and the risk of accidental damage or loss, protecting your tools and materials with the right insurance is a smart move.

In this guide, we’ll explore why Tools & Materials Insurance is a must-have for tradespeople, what it covers, how it works, and how Admiral can help keep your business running smoothly.

The Rise of Tool Theft: What Tradespeople Are Facing

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

Tool theft is a growing problem across the UK. According to recent reports, over 30,000 tool theft incidents were reported in a single year, with vans and construction sites being common targets. For self-employed tradespeople, losing expensive tools doesn’t just mean replacement costs — it can also lead to days or even weeks of lost income.

While taking precautions like using van locks, CCTV, and secure storage can help, the unfortunate reality is that theft can still happen. That’s why having the right insurance in place is essential for protecting your business.

What is Tools & Materials Insurance?

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

Tools & Materials Insurance is designed to protect tradespeople from the financial impact of stolen, lost, or damaged tools and materials. Whether your tools are stolen from your van, secured storage location, or damaged in a fire, this insurance can cover the cost of replacements or repairs.

With Admiral Business' Tools & Materials Insurance, you’ll have the confidence to keep working, knowing that if the worst happens, we’ll help get you back on track quickly.

What does Tools & Materials Insurance Cover?

Protecting you from the financial impact of stolen, lost, or damaged tools and materials

What’s included?
  • Tools & Materials:Cover for tools, materials, and stock whether they're stolen from your locked vehicle or damaged in a fire or road traffic accident.
  • Storage location: We’ll cover your tools and materials for theft or fire damage, even when stored overnight in your specified storage location.
  • Laptop & tablet: Cover for one business laptop or tablet.
  • New for old: Tools will be valued at the price you purchased them for and with no depreciation included and we'll aim to make payment within one working day of approving the claim.
What’s not included?
  • Hire and Reward: We don't cover items carried for delivery or courier services.
  • Wear and Tear: We don't cover pre-existing damage, normal wear and tear, or natural damage.
  • Personal Belongings: We don't cover money, cards, or most electronics.
  • Unsecured Property: We don't cover theft or damage if your vehicle or storage is unsecured.
  • Force and Violence: We don't cover theft or damage without visible signs of forced entry.

How Much Does Tools & Materials Insurance Cost?

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

The cost of your insurance depends on factors like:

  • The total value of your tools and materials.
  • Your trade or profession.
  • How and where your tools are stored.

At Admiral Business, we offer flexible coverage levels, so you can choose the right protection to suit your needs and budget. Get a free, no-obligation quote in minutes to see how much your policy would cost.

Making a Claim: What Do You Need?

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

The cost of your insurance depends on factors like:If the unexpected happens, we make the claims process as smooth as possible. Here's what you'll need to provide:

  • Proof of Ownership: Keep receipts and invoices of your tools.
  • Incident Report: For theft claims, a police report is required.
  • Details of the Incident: Provide as much information as possible about when and where the loss or damaged occurred on our claims document here.

Once approved, we aim to make payment within one working day so you can get back to work quickly.

Securing Your Tools properly

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

Proper storage not only keeps your tools safe but can also impact your insurance. Here are some best practices:

Secured Storage: Keep your tools in a lockable storage unit at the location listed in your policy. If you move them to a new storage site, don’t forget to update your policy to make sure you're still covered.

Vehicle Security: Install additional van locks, alarms, and CCTV.

Following these tips can help reduce the risk of theft and may also lower your premium.

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Policy Wording and Summary

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

We believe in clear and transparent policies. Our policy wording is easy to understand, with no hidden jargon. You can access the full policy document here or contact our team with any questions at 020 3808 7099.

Protect Your Business with Admiral Tools & Materials Insurance

Almost every business should consider public liability insurance. Whether you’re a contractor working on third-party properties or a small business owner dealing with customers, it protects against unexpected claims.
Some key sectors that benefit from public liability insurance include:


  • Tradespeople
  • Freelancers
  • Consultants
  • Couriers

Without liability insurance, even minor incidents, like damaging a client’s property, could lead to costly claims and legal fees, putting your business at financial risk. Protect your livelihood and reputation with the right coverage for your needs.

Don’t let tool theft or damage bring your business to a halt. With Admiral Business' flexible cover, quick claims, and reliable protection, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your tools and materials are safeguarded.