Subcontractor insurance
Join nearly a million customers (including subcontractors) – we offer public liability cover from £4.95*
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10% of customers pay the equivalent of £4.95 a month*

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Rated 4.6/5
Based on 39.9K reviews

Claims paid in 24 hours
For 80% of settled claims
Subcontractor insurance – why is it important?
From the equipment you rely on to other people on site, your line of work puts you face to face with risk. Subcontractor liability insurance is built to help out if someone suffers an injury or property damage because of your business – starting with public liability cover. You can add cover for your tools and equipment, plus personal accidents.
- public liability insurance for self-employed subcontractor businesses
- quotes start at £4.95* a month based on 2025 data
- optional personal accident cover for your own accidents and injuries
What does subcontractors insurance cover?
We’ll start with subcontractor public liability insurance, designed to cover third-party accidental injuries and property damage. Our subcontractor insurance policies give you plenty of options for between £1 million and £5 million public liability cover, and you can add tools and plant machinery protection too. Plus, personal accident cover for your own injuries.
This content has been created for general information purposes. Make sure you have the right level of business insurance by checking your policy documentation for details. Read our full Terms and Conditions
How much does subcontractor insurance cost?
Find out how much you’ll pay by comparing prices from a range of trusted insurers. You choose what goes into your policy, so you only pay for what you need.
Prices start from £4.95 per month
Get tailored quotes in 7 minutes – prices are guaranteed for 30 days.
Get tailored quotes in 7 minutes
The price is for up to £2 million of public liability insurance – 10% of customers paid £59.34 or less annually between 1st Feb – 30th April 2025. Equivalent to £4.95 a month (and excludes the extra costs for paying monthly). 82% of customers have a £1 million limit and 18% £2 million. If you complete a quote, more types of cover will be available. These all have additional costs.
Example subcontractor insurance quotes, real prices

£11.60 /month
£116.01 /year
A self-employed welder who works locally and does not undertake oxyacetylene welding
- 1-2 years’ experience
- Sole trader
- No employees
- Based in Bristol
Public liability
£1,000,000
Employers’ liability
Not included
Tools
Not included

£170.97 /month
£1,709.66 /year
A small limited welding company who work on medium sized contracts (residentially and commercially)
- 5+ years’ experience
- Limited company
- 2 employees
- Based in Cardiff
Public liability
£2,000,000
Employers’ liability
£10,000,000
Tools
£8,000
How we work out example quotes These examples are real quotes from our online system (created 17/03/2025). They’re based on a range of factors, like employees and location. Your own quote will be based on what you tell us about your business. Prices may go up or down from day to day, so the prices you’re quoted may differ to the ones you see here.
How it works
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Only pay for what you need
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How do claims work?
Unlike price comparison websites, we take the hassle out of claims for you. We know how important it is to get your business back on track quickly – and with a minimum of fuss. That’s why you get access to your dedicated claims any time, day or night. Call them on 0333 207 0560 or claim online. They’ll do their best to be fair and supportive.
£68 million in claims paid out in 2024
76% of claims were settled in 2024.
The figure above is rounded across our range of products. “Settled” covers paid, declined or withdrawn. Our claims process may vary for different products and operates on a ‘claim by claim’ basis. Our specialist partner Sedgwick will pay the claims on behalf of the insurer. Reviewed on 26/02/2025.
Example claim for subcontractors insurance
Having subcontractor public liability insurance through Simply Business has saved professionals thousands of pounds when the unexpected happened.
Rory saved more than £11,200
After a bathroom refit job, Rory (not his real name) was sued by his client, who claimed he’d caused a leak and water damage throughout the property. The subcontractor public liability insurance in his policy covered the accidental damage.
Insurance payout
£11,205.26
Covering the cost of accidental damage
Rory’s costs
£100
The excess amount stated in Rory’s policy terms
Chosen by nearly one million small business and landlord customers
We started out as a team of five back in 2005. We’ve grown since then, with nearly a million customers across 1,500 trades now trusting us to provide their business insurance.
Insurance for subcontractors FAQ
Whether you’re new to buying business insurance or you’ve been trading for a while, here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about subcontractor insurance. You can also check out our business insurance FAQs.
We create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always check policy documentation for details and seek professional advice. Read our full Terms and Conditions
Chosen by nearly one million small business and landlord customers
We started out as a team of five back in 2005. We’ve grown since then, with nearly a million customers across 1,500 trades now trusting us to provide their business insurance.