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Painter & decorator insurance

Price beat guarantee

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. Terms & Conditions.

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Concerned about tool theft? Tools Essentials helps you replace your most important stolen tools, after a few checks.

Up to £1,500 upfront, after claim checks. Tools and Business Equipment insurance required. Limits apply. To claim, you will need a crime reference number and proof of ownership (if applicable you may also need proof of damage). Mon to Fri, 8am-6pm, except Bank Holidays.

  • We guarantee to beat your quote or renewal premium from any other insurer.

    New policies only. Cover on an equivalent basis to ours. Qualifying criteria apply. Terms & Conditions.

  • 0% APR on your monthly direct debit payments in the first year.

    Over 18s, subject to eligibility.

  • Download your policy documents instantly to show proof of your cover to clients.

How we help your painting and decorating business

We insure over 500,000 sole traders and small businesses, so we know what support you need from your insurance provider.

Some of the perks of being a Direct Line for Business customer include:

Personalised insurance

Choose from a range of cover options to get a bespoke policy for your business.

Your own dedicated claims handler

If you need to make a claim, you'll have a dedicated person dealing with your case from start to finish.

Unlimited access to our 24-hour legal helpline and online legal documents service

Consult with a team of solicitors and legal experts whenever you need to with Legal Essentials.

Unlimited policy changes

Hired an employee or expanded your services? We don't charge you admin fees if you need to amend your policy.

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Only pay for the cover your business needs

When you work on someone else's property, mitigating risks becomes part of the job. But sometimes accidents happen, especially when paints and ladders are involved. That's why it's important to have an insurance policy that's tailored to the risks you face.

Pick and choose from the following cover options, to create a policy that's just right for your business. These covers are subject to policy conditions and limits.

  • Tools Essentials

    We know that when you're in the trades, your tools are vital and if the worst happens, they can be very expensive to replace, putting a pause on your business.

    With Tools Essentials, we help you replace your essential tools fast, so that you can get back to work.

    How does Tools Essentials work?

    If your tools are stolen or damaged, contact us as soon as you can. After a few checks, we transfer up to £1,500 to you, to help you replace your essential tools.

    What are the benefits?

    • By transferring the money to you, you have the flexibility of replacing your tools like for like, so that you can go back to building your empire.
    • We transfer the money to you, even if your tools are stolen or damaged while working abroad (within the EU).
    • If you've had more than £1,500 of tools and equipment stolen or damaged, we'll process the rest of your claim and when approved, send you the remaining balance of your claim.

    How do I get Tools Essentials?

    Buy Tools and Equipment Cover, with or without adding Overnight Tools Cover.

    Conditions

    • Upfront payment of up to £1,500 is transferred to your account, after the claim has been validated.
    • Proof of purchase or ownership needed.
    • Crime Reference number or proof of damage needed.
    • Claim limits apply.
    • To report damaged or stolen tools, our lines are open between 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays.

    Read more on Tools Essentials here.

  • Public liability

    Public liability insurance covers you if you cause injury to a member of the public or accidentally damage someone's property. An example of this could include a customer slipping on a wet floor in your shop or office and hurting themselves, or causing damage while carrying out building works on a client's house.

    This insurance also covers you if a customer or member of the public becomes ill or suffers an injury because of a product you have supplied. For example, if the heel snaps off a shoe someone has bought from you, causing them to fall over, or if a cupcake you sell at an event makes someone sick.

    If the people in question pursued legal action against you, public and product liability insurance would cover the costs you are liable to pay. We can offer cover from £1 million to £10 million.

    Read more about public liability

  • Employers' liability

    Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement if you have employees. There are a couple of exceptions to this rule, which you can read more about here.

    We cover you for £10 million, as standard. This covers the legal and compensation costs you are required to pay if an employee gets injured or becomes ill because of the work they do for you.

  • Temporary employee cover

    If you take out public liability or employers' liability insurance with us, you'll automatically get cover for temporary employees, if you use them.

    The maximum number of days we cover temporary employees for will vary depending on the number of manual workers in your business.

    • 1 - 5 manual workers - 60 days
    • 6 - 10 manual workers - 100 days
    • 11 - 15 manual workers - 150 days

    Please note that the maximum number of days reflects the total number of days worked by all of your temporary employees. So, if you have seven manual workers in your business, we will provide cover for 100 days worked by all temporary employees in total.

  • Tools and business equipment

    We know how important tools and equipment are for tradespeople. So, when it comes to tools insurance, we've nailed it.

    And now, you'll get a fast-upfront payment of up to £1,500 (after a few checks) to help you replace your essential tools or business equipment if they're stolen or damaged, with Tools Essentials.

    Tools and Business Equipment cover

    With this you're covered if they're damaged or stolen from:

    • your vehicle during the day if the vehicle is securely locked
    • a locked building, like your garage or home, anytime of day or night.

    Policy limits and excesses apply.

    With the Overnight Tools optional add-on (for an extra premium)

    You're covered for theft of tools when they're locked in your vehicle overnight that's parked on your drive, the street or if you're working away.

    Available on new policies only. Tools removed when the vehicle is not being used for business purposes for more than five consecutive days. Cover excludes electrical items such as laptops, cameras, mobile phones, removable satellite navigation systems, and handheld survey equipment. Cover limits and variable claim excesses apply.

    And you get Tools Essentials with both

    To help you replace your essential tools or equipment quickly, if they're stolen or damaged, so you can get back to work. You contact us as soon as you can between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holiday) and after a few checks, we transfer up to £1,500 to you.

    Claims and policy limits apply. Crime reference or proof of damage and proof of ownership needed.

    What we cover

    We cover power tools such as drills, hammers, screwdrivers, chisels, spanners, saws, pliers, trowels and blow torches. And equipment like ladders, steps, cleaning supplies, lawnmowers, paint trays, brushes, workbenches, and spirit levels.

    Read more about Tools and Business Equipment, Overnight Tools and Tools Essentials.

  • 24-hour tools cover

    If you're concerned about your tools getting stolen overnight, you can upgrade your tools and business equipment cover, by adding overnight tools cover for an additional premium.

    Our 24-hour tools insurance covers your tools at home or in the van, wherever you are in the EU, as long as you are a UK resident.

    In order to obtain overnight cover, when you get a quote online, you will need to answer 'Yes' to the following question: 'Our standard cover excludes theft from a vehicle overnight. Would you like to add cover for overnight theft of your tools and business equipment from a vehicle?'

    Cover conditions: your vehicle must be secured at all points of entry and any alarms or immobilisers must be set. Tools must be hidden from view and removed when the vehicle is not being used for business purposes for more than five consecutive days. Cover excludes electrical items such as laptops, cameras, mobile phones, removable satellite navigation systems, handheld survey equipment etc.

    Cover limit: there is a limit of £10,000 per claim and a single article limit of £1,500.

    Excess: you will be liable for 10 per cent of each and every claim, with a minimum contribution by you of £100 up to a maximum contribution by you of £500.

    Read more about 24 hour tools cover

  • Stock and materials

    We can also cover your stock and materials, such as pipes, bricks, and paints. We can cover items that are being temporarily stored between jobs, items in transit and items on-site (until they are installed).

    If these items are stolen or damaged, we'll pay the cost of replacing the items so you can continue running your business.

    Cover limits:

    • Up to 5 workers - £10,000
    • Up to 10 workers - £20,000
    • Up to 15 workers - £25,000

    Excess per claim - £100

  • Legal expenses

    This covers the legal costs of providing specialist lawyers and taking action against many common legal problems, for instance disputes with suppliers or clients. Legal expenses cover can only be used if there is at least a 51% chance that the claim will succeed.

  • Personal accident

    Personal accident cover provides payment if anyone in your business between the ages 16-75 is unable to work because they've been injured in an accident, whether in a business or personal capacity.

    We'll pay a lump sum of £50,000 if there is an accidental death, accidental loss of limbs or sight, or if someone in your business becomes permanently disabled following an accident.

    If someone in your business is unable to work due to a temporary injury, then after 7 days we'll pay their normal net weekly earnings up to £500 for up to 104 weeks.

    You can choose Personal Accident as an add-on once you've completed your quote.

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Policy documents

View and download our policy documents here:

How can we help?

Our virtual assistant is here to answer your questions. And in cases where it doesn't have the answer, we'll put you in touch with someone who can help.

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Contact us

Opening hours:

  • Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm
  • Saturday 9am - 3pm
  • Sunday closed
Call us on 0345 303 1761