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Insurance for painters and decorators

From public liability to tools cover, you choose what goes into your policy, so you only pay for what you need.

Get a quote Retrieve a quote

or call us on 0345 303 1761

Call us on 0345 303 1761

Concerned about tool theft? Tools Essentials helps you replace your most important stolen tools within 24 hours, after a few checks.

Up to £1,500 upfront within 24 hours, after claim checks. Tools and Business Equipment required. Limits apply. Mon to Fri, 8am-6pm, except Bank Holidays.

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

    New customers 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 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

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

Unlimited policy changes

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

10% off your new painters' insurance policy if you're already a Direct Line customer

Discount applies to your new business insurance policy. Subject to minimum premiums.

Get a quote
or call us on 0345 303 1761
Get a quote Call us on 0345 303 1761

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, within 24 hours, 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, within 24 hours, 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 for painters and decorators covers you if you accidentally injure a member of the public or damage their property. For example, if you accidentally knock fragile items off a shelf or you get paint on the kitchen counters. If someone makes a claim against you, public liability insurance will cover the legal and compensation costs you are required to pay.

    Many clients will ask to see proof of public liability before hiring you for a job. We can offer cover from £1 million to £10 million, depending on your business activities and requirements.

    Excess per claim:

    • Third party property damage - £250
    • Third party property damage, heat & underground work - £500
    • Third party property damage, escape of water - £500
    • Third party injury - £0

    Read more about public liability

  • Employers' liability

    If you have employees it is a legal requirement to hold employers’ liability insurance. This covers you if an employee is injured or becomes ill due to the work they do for you. For example, if one of your employees falls off a ladder and suffers an injury. If you take out this insurance, we will cover you for £10 million, as standard.

    If you purchase employers' liability with Direct Line for Business, you are required to take out public liability insurance with us as well.

    Read more about employers' liability

  • 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

    If you're about to head to a job and you realise your equipment has been stolen, you risk having to cancel the job and letting down your clients, or purchasing new equipment that you haven't budgeted for.

    We can cover the essential items needed to run your business, like ladders, paint trays and brushes. We'll cover the cost of replacing the stolen business items, so you can concentrate on getting the job done and keeping your clients happy.

    We can cover tools stolen during the day, as long as the tools are secured in a locked building or in a vehicle where all points of access are locked.

    Cover limits:

    Tools owned by the business

    • Up to 5 workers – £40,000
    • Up to 10 workers – £50,000
    • Up to 15 workers – £75,000

    Tools owned by your employees - up to £10,000 per person

    Excess per claim - £100

    Read more about tools and business equipment cover

  • 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 your 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 due to an insured event, such as accidental damage, a fire, flood or storm, 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.

Get a quote
or call us on 0345 303 1761
Get a quote Call us on 0345 303 1761

Policy documents

View and download our policy documents here:

We're on it

Direct Line insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, registration number 202810. The Financial Services Register can be accessed through www.fca.org.uk. Calls may be recorded.