Public Liability Insurance

Although taking out public liability insurance is not a legal requirement, many business owners see it as an essential business expense, and many trade associations require it.

Most companies and organisations will ask you to show proof of public liability before you can trade. If you're a tradesperson, you'll also need proof of cover before entering a client's premises and starting work. Similarly, if you're a retailer selling products at a craft fair, you may be asked to show your policy documents before you're allowed to set up a stall.

Even a quick meeting in a coffee shop holds liability risks. If you're a freelance journalist, for example, and you knock hot chocolate over your interviewee's laptop, you could be held liable for the cost of replacing it or their loss of income due to repairs.

There are also risks if you work from home. For example, if a delivery driver falls down your staircase because the broken handrail comes off and they suffer an injury, they could claim against you.

There are several factors that impact the cost of public liability insurance. These include but are not limited to:

• The industry you work in
• The number of people who work for the business
• Your health and safety record
• The size of your business
• Where you work
• Any previous claims

Our insurance specialists develop and price our policies based on a detailed understanding of each sector and the risks that come with your specific line of work.

We provide instant proof of cover with your policy that's available to download when you take out insurance with us. Most companies and organisations will ask you to show evidence of public liability before you can trade. This request is standard practice and helps to reassure the people you're working with and for - for example, a client, event organiser or venue owner - that you have a suitable level of cover for your work. You may also need to provide a schedule of insurance. This document is also available online and sent to you via email as soon as you have bought your insurance policy.

Yes, we include product liability within our public liability cover. If you make or sell items, you'll be covered if one of your products injures a member of the public or damages their property, and you're held liable for the incident.

A customer could suffer a product-related injury or experience damage to their property weeks or even months after buying the product. For example, if an electric lamp overheats a month after the customer has bought it, causing a fire and damage to their house. For this reason, we offer product liability to cover the whole year.

Read more about product liability insurance.

Our business insurance is flexible, so you can build a policy that meets your specific business needs - whether you're a sole trader or a growing business. You can buy public liability insurance on its own or add a variety of covers to one policy with one renewal date.

You can get a Direct Line business insurance quote online. All we need are some details about you and your business.

Public liability insurance does not cover:

• Accidents or injuries which happen directly to you
• Damage to your own property
• Accidents which affect your employees or their possessions - 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.

We cover hundreds of businesses, from dog walkers and nail technicians to builders and consultants. You can browse the different types of businesses using the menu at the top or click the search icon and start typing.

Don't worry if you can't see your business type. When you start a quote, you can use the quick search function to check that we can insure yours.

Yes. General liability insurance is the American name for public liability insurance that refers to all kinds of different policies. You won't find one product that offers general liability insurance in the UK. If you need liability insurance for your business, the covers available are public, product, and employers' liability insurance.

Product liability insurance covers you if a product you have either manufactured, sold, installed, repaired, altered or supplied causes an injury or illness to a customer or damages their property.

If defective products injure someone, they may have the right to sue for damages. For example, if you're a caterer and you serve spoiled food that causes food poisoning, or you're a retailer and you sell a hair dryer that catches fire and causes bodily injury to the customer or damages their property, you could be found liable and have to pay compensation to your customer.

Property owners' liability is a specific type of insurance that covers you if a third party suffers an injury or if something they own is damaged while visiting your property. For example, if a postman trips on a broken step at your property or an aerial falls from the roof onto the third party's vehicle.

Please check the online policy document for more information on our public, product, or property owners' liability cover, including all the terms and conditions of Direct Line's Business Insurance.

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 sell or make causes injury to a member of the public or damages their property and you're found liable.
• 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, reinstate or replace damage at your business premises following 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, such as a fire.
• Business interruption - this covers your loss of turnover, and the costs of temporary relocation if your business cannot trade due to damage to your equipment or premises.