Trade insurance is the thing every self-employed tradesperson is told to buy, then quietly sold the same three policies at different prices by seven different websites that look interchangeable and all pay each other commission. This page is different: SiteKiln takes no affiliate fees, no referrals and no kickbacks from anyone listed below.
Seven UK providers a sole trader or small ltd firm in construction would genuinely consider in 2026: Direct Line for Business, Tradesman Saver, Rhino, Trade Direct, AXA, Zurich and Hiscox. Each covers the same core — public liability, employer's liability, tools — but how they structure it, what they include by default, and the construction-specific small print vary materially.
Three things matter most when you're reading this at 10pm in the van:
Public liability cover range. Most providers go up to £5m or £10m. Domestic-only work: £1m–£2m is the legal floor and usually enough. Subbing onto a main contractor: they'll often demand £5m. Council and public-sector jobs: £10m is common. Rhino tops out at £5m — sensible for domestic trades, not for anyone stepping onto bigger sites.
Tools cover limit and overnight conditions. Limits range from £7,500 (Rhino) to £25,000 (AXA). Where claims get denied is the overnight parking clause. "Tools left unattended in a vehicle on a public highway" is excluded by most. Tradesman Saver and Trade Direct include overnight theft-from-vehicle cover. Hiscox only covers it if tools are and the vehicle is locked. Rhino lists it "subject to security conditions" — read the wording before you buy.
How you buy. Six sell directly online with instant-cover documents. Zurich is broker-only. That's fine for bigger civils work needing tailored cover, but overkill for a first-year sparky doing domestic rewires.
Prices shown are "from" rates where the provider publicly states them. Your actual premium depends on trade, turnover, claims history and postcode. Every claim on this page links to the provider's own site, not an aggregator. No cookies, no referrals, no cut.
Provider details
Best for: Trades wanting a recognised insurer brand with £10m PL and the full bundle buyable online
Pros
- Big-name insurer with recognisable brand for customers who ask
- PL available up to £10m for larger site work
- Full package (PL, EL, tools, PI, contract works) under one policy
- Online quote and buy with instant documents
Cons
- No advertised 'from £X' price — opaque until you run a full quote
- Construction-specific limits (height, heat work) not summarised on marketing pages
Best for: Sparks and plumbers stepping onto main-contractor sites that demand £5m+ PL
Pros
- PL range £1m–£10m with online configuration
- Tools cover includes theft from unattended vehicles (higher excess)
- Full package: PL, EL, tools, PI, contract works, plant
- Fully online with instant cover documents
Cons
- Tools cover limit of £10k per person is tight for gangs with high-value kit
- Advertised £59/year is a marketing example, not a live price
Best for: Domestic sole traders who don't need £10m PL and want the cheapest legal-minimum cover
Pros
- Lowest advertised entry price in the comparison
- Transparent 'from' pricing published on product pages
- Online buy with instant documents and UK-only focus
- Tools cover includes overnight (subject to security conditions)
Cons
- PL cover tops out at £5m — non-starter for main-contractor work that needs £10m
- Tools limit of £7,500 is tight for expensive kit and may not extend easily
Best for: Trades wanting a long-established specialist with mid-range PL and tools cover, buyable online
Pros
- 40 years' experience in UK trade insurance — long-established specialist
- Tools cover up to £15,000 — higher than most budget options
- PI cover up to £100,000 available as add-on
- Online quote in 5 minutes with instant cover
Cons
- Standard PL caps at £5m — main-contractor jobs wanting £10m need endorsement or alternative
- Public price detail is a single 'from £9.36/month' headline without trade-by-trade breakdown
Best for: Small ltd firms hiring their first employees who want big-insurer cover with EL and PI room
Pros
- PL and EL both available up to £10m — scales as you hire
- Tools / business equipment cover up to £25,000 — highest in the comparison
- PI optional for selected trades up to £1m
- Backed by a global insurer with broker-grade documentation
Cons
- Marketing is generic — doesn't 'speak trades' the way specialists do
- No public 'from £X' price — must run a full quote to see limits and cost
Best for: Contractors doing civils, working-at-height or depth work where standard policies impose limits
Pros
- No standard height or depth restrictions — rare in trade insurance
- EL limits up to £25m — highest in the comparison
- Contractors' all risks includes portable tools and overnight theft-from-vehicle cover
- Broker-grade documentation suitable for main-contractor tender requirements
Cons
- Broker-only — no direct online quote or buy
- Overkill for first-year sole traders doing small domestic work
Best for: Heating engineers, M&E contractors and design-and-build trades whose advice carries liability
Pros
- Specialist in PI alongside PL — bundled for design-heavy trades
- Online quote and buy with tailored cover options
- Dedicated tool insurance product with clear exclusions up-front
- Strong claims documentation and process for contractor disputes
Cons
- Often at the pricier end of the market vs budget trade specialists
- Strict tool-theft conditions: vehicle must be locked AND tools — read the wording
Our pick
Who each provider is actually best for
Best for first-year sole traders who want the cheapest legal-minimum cover
Rhino Trade Insurance — PL from £5.21/month, tools from £4.74/month, PL limits £1m–£5m, online buy in minutes. The sensible budget entry for domestic trades who don't need £10m cover. Tools limit of £7,500 is tight if your kit is expensive.
Best for sparks and plumbers subbing onto main-contractor sites
Tradesman Saver — PL up to £10m, tools up to £10k per person, EL and PI available as add-ons, fully online. Hits the £5m+ PL threshold main contractors ask for without forcing you through a broker.
Best for small ltd firms taking on their first employees
AXA Tradesman Insurance — PL and EL available up to £10m, tools cover up to £25k, PI optional for selected trades, online quote. The big-insurer feel of a policy built to scale as you hire.
Best for contractors doing higher-risk civils, working-at-height or depth work
Zurich (via broker) — no standard height or depth restrictions, EL up to £25m, strong contract works and plant cover. Broker-only so buying takes longer, but the wording is materially better for bigger or riskier work.
Best for design-and-build trades who need professional indemnity bundled
Hiscox — strong PI alongside PL, online buy, flexible tools cover with strict but clearly-stated overnight conditions. Suits heating engineers, M&E contractors and design-and-build outfits whose advice carries as much liability as the work.
SiteKiln does not receive referral fees, affiliate commission or kickbacks from any provider listed. This is editorial content. If a better option exists, tell us at hello@kilnguides.co.uk.
