What would your tools cost to replace?
25 September 2026Posted by:
Viveka Alvestrand
Content Marketing Manager, Trade Direct Insurance
How much are the tools in your van actually worth?
You probably know roughly what your most valuable tools are worth.
A drill might be £200. A laser could be £300 or more. Then there’s the specialist kit that costs considerably more.
Those are usually the easy items to remember.
But what about the batteries, chargers, testers, hand tools, cases and accessories you carry from job to job?
Once you start adding those in, the value of everything you carry can soon look quite different.
So, if you had to replace what you regularly carry, what would it actually cost?
What would it cost to rebuild your kit?
Picture an empty van. What would you have to buy to restock it with your usual working setup?
Not newer or better versions. Just comparable replacements for the equipment you normally use.
That gives you a starting point for working out the replacement value of the kit you regularly carry.
What you paid might not be what it costs now
The price you paid for a tool isn’t necessarily what a comparable replacement would cost today.
Prices change. Models change. And a tool you’ve had for several years might now have a newer equivalent at a different price.
That’s why adding up old receipts may not give you the full picture.
You’re not trying to price an upgrade or replace everything with the newest model. The useful question is simpler:
If you had to rebuild the kit you normally work with at today’s prices, what would it cost?
Put a current price against what you carry
You don’t need to value everything to the nearest pound. The aim is to get a realistic total.
Work through the equipment you regularly carry and check the current price of a comparable replacement. If you carry several of the same item, account for the quantity too.
It can help to group your kit so the less obvious items don’t get missed. Think about:
- power tools
- hand tools
- batteries and chargers
- testers and measuring equipment
- specialist trade equipment
- cases and reusable accessories
Quantities can make a difference too. If you carry 4 batteries and a comparable replacement costs £70 each, that’s £280 before you’ve counted the tools they power.
For a working estimate, focus on the tools and equipment you’d realistically have to buy again to get back to your usual setup.
If you want to keep a more detailed record of the tools you own, including information that can help with identification and tracking, you may find our guide to tool tracking systems and tool marking for tradespeople helpful.
Then add up your replacement figures.
Is the total close to the number you had in mind?
More importantly, would your estimated kit value buy comparable replacements at today’s prices?
Does your tools cover still match?
If you have tools insurance you can compare your estimated replacement cost with your current level of cover.
Tools get added. Prices change. Equipment gets replaced. So the amount selected when a policy was first taken out may be different from the value of the kit carried today.
That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem. But knowing both figures gives you something to compare with the limits and terms of your policy.
Trade Direct Insurance offers tools cover, from £1,000 up to £15,000 on Classic and Plus policies. Cover can include handheld powered and non-powered portable tools, subject to policy terms and conditions.
You can add tools cover to a Classic or Plus liability package. If you’re only looking for tools insurance, a standalone policy is also available.
Tools kept in a vehicle can also be covered 24/7, subject to the policy terms, conditions and security requirements.
About the Author
Viveka Alvestrand
Content Marketing Manager, Trade Direct Insurance
Viveka Alvestrand is an experienced content and digital marketing professional with a background in editorial strategy, brand storytelling and multi-channel communications.
Trade Direct is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The company is a leading UK independent broker providing a wide range of policies to tradesmen and construction workers.
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