Subcontractor insurance

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Two subcontractors on a break at work

Insurance for subcontractors – 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 £4.74** a month based on 2024 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.


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 £4.74 per month

Get your tailored quotes in 7 minutes

Example subcontractor insurance quotes, real prices

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What kind of excess should I expect?

An excess is an amount you pay towards any claim you make on your insurance. For example, if your excess is £250 and you make a claim worth £1000, your payout will be a maximum of £750.

Insurance cover

Lowest excess

Highest excess

Public liability

£100

£2500

Employers’ liability

No excess

No excess

Tools

£60

£500

Stock

£100

£500

Business and office equipment

£50

£750

The figures above are for guidance only and any excess applying to your quote may differ. You’ll get a breakdown of the excesses for each quote when you compare with us.


How it works

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How do I choose insurance?

Making sure you have the right type and level of business insurance can be the difference between getting a claim paid and having to cover the cost of an expensive accident yourself. Read our tips for guidance on what to consider when buying a policy.


Talk to an expert

Our team of UK-based insurance experts are here to help, Mon 09.00am – 05.30pm, Tues 09.00am – 05.30pm, Weds 09.00am – 05.30pm, Thurs 09.30am – 05.30pm, Fri 09.00am – 05.30pm, Sat 09.00am – 02.00pm

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0333 043 8527

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Contact us on our website whenever suits you

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FAQs

Find answers to common insurance questions


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.

£51 million in claims paid out in 2023

Example claim

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.

Chosen by nearly 1 million small businesses and landlords

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.

In some cases, the main contractor will have insurance in place which covers you too, but it’s always best to know exactly what’s in place, and any gaps you may need to fill to keep your business protected against a claim.

There may also be specific contractual requirements in place, for example a certain level of public liability insurance for subcontractors working on the project.

Finally, there are the risks a main contractor probably wouldn’t cover for you, from your own tools and machinery to the employees you hire to support you on or off-site. Remember, employers’ liability insurance is usually a legal requirement for anyone who hires people to work with them.

Your contract will usually demand a certain level of subcontractor liability insurance, even if the main contractor has their own cover in place. You may not be allowed on site without proof you have the right cover in place, so make sure you know exactly what’s required before taking on a job.

Each insurer looks at CCJs and IVAs differently – some apply stricter rules than others, but having a CCJ or IVA doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to buy insurance.

If you change your business legal structure from sole trader to limited company mid-way through your policy, give us a call straight away on 0333 043 8527. It’ll only take us a few minutes to cancel your existing policy and replace it with one that correctly covers your new legal structure. It’s worth bearing in mind that your insurer and premium amount may need to change.

This will depend on whether you have employers’ liability insurance in place. Public liability insurance is designed to protect your business against the consequences of legal action brought by members of the public for injuries or damage to their belongings. But when it comes to your employees causing injury or damage, this protection only activates if you also have employers’ liability insurance.

If you employ people, you’re required by law to have employers’ liability insurance.

There’s one exception here. Family businesses that aren’t incorporated as a limited company are not legally required to have employers’ liability insurance. The government defines a “family business” as one where all your employees are closely related to you (as a spouse, civil partner, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, step-parent, stepchild or half-sibling). So if you run an unincorporated family business and you choose not to get employers’ liability insurance, it’s important to know that your public liability insurance wouldn’t cover you against damage or injury caused by your team.

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 1 million small businesses and landlords

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