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Public Liability Insurance

We guarantee to beat your new insurance quote or renewal premium from any other insurer

New policies only. Cover on an equivalent basis to ours. Qualifying criteria apply. Excludes policies with home emergency cover added. .

  • More than 500,000 Direct Line for Business policies nationwide.
  • Get cover from £1 million to £10 million, depending on the needs of your business. Subject to criteria.
  • Pay no interest on your monthly Direct Debit payments in the first year. Over 18s, subject to eligibility.
  • No admin fees if you want to make changes to your policy.
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Here's what customers say about our tradesman insurance.

Why is public liability insurance important?

It covers your business against injury to any members of the public, including your customers or damage to their property because of your work activities, and you're held liable.

Who can get public liability insurance?

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Tradespeople - sole traders, partners and limited companies

Examples of what public liability insurance would cover you for if you're held liable:

  • Injury to a customer or a member of the public
  • Accidental spillages over a customer's furnishings or furniture
  • Water damage to a customer's premises due to incorrectly fitting pipes or taps
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Office workers and professionals

Examples of what public liability insurance would cover you for if you're held liable:

  • Accidental damage to a client's belongings
  • Causing injury to a client at your premises or whilst visiting their property
  • Your business equipment injuring a member of the public
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Retailers, hospitality and other service providers

Examples of what public liability insurance would cover you for if you're held liable:

  • A customer has an accident on your premises or at your stall
  • An employee accidentally damages the fixtures and fittings at a third-party venue
  • Accidental spillages at a catering event causing injury to a member of the public or damage to their property

Frequently asked questions

Public liability insurance isn't the only type of cover your business can benefit from. Other types of business insurance include:

  • Product liability - this covers you if a product you manufacture and sell, or you sell someone else's product, causes injury to a member of the public or damages their property.
  • Professional indemnity insurance - this covers you if a client believes you have made a mistake or given advice that has caused them financial or reputational damage.
  • Buildings insurance - this covers the costs required to repair your place of work if it is damaged due to an insured event, such as a flood or fire.
  • Contents and stock insurance - this covers the costs required to repair, or replace, the essential items needed to run your business if they are stolen or damaged due to an insured event, for example, a fire.
  • Business interruption - this covers your loss of turnover if your business cannot trade due to damage to your property which is covered by your policy. If you need to temporarily relocate due to this damage, we may also pay for the relocation costs if it's economically viable.

Public liability insurance covers accidents that happen to members of the public, that are caused by your business activities and you're held liable. It doesn't cover:

  • Accidents or injuries which happen directly to you
  • Damage to your own property
  • Accidents which affect your employees - this is covered by employers' liability insurance

No. You need employers' liability insurance to cover your employees, temporary staff, apprentices, and students. If they become ill or suffer an injury because of the work they do for you, and decide to make a claim against you, employers' liability insurance will cover your legal fees and compensation costs.

This depends on a number of factors. It largely relates to the type of business you run, as opposed to the amount of people who work for you. If you run a company where you're regularly coming into contact with members of the public, customers or clients, then you should consider public liability insurance.

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