Buy peace of mind today with Public Liability insurance

What is Public Liability Insurance?

Public Liability insurance is a type of business insurance that protects you if your work accidentally causes injury to a member of the public or damage to their property. It helps cover compensation payments, legal defence costs and other expenses if a claim is made against your business.

Accidents can happen on any job, even when safety measures are in place. Having Public Liability insurance provides important financial protection, helps demonstrate professionalism and is often expected by clients, main contractors and public-sector organisations before work can begin.

For a more detailed explanation, download our ‘What is Public Liability Insurance?’ infographic

What does public liability insurance cover?

Public Liability insurance protects your business if a member of the public or a client is accidentally injured, or their property is damaged, because of your work. In the UK, this type of cover is sometimes also referred to as general liability insurance or business liability insurance.

What’s covered

Public Liability insurance typically covers:

Accidental injury to members of the public, including physical and psychological harm
Accidental property damage caused by your work, tools or equipment
Legal defence costs if a claim is brought against your business
Compensation payments awarded following a successful claim
Incidents involving products you sell, supply or install, if Product Liability is included
Third-party claims arising from your business activities on-site, at client premises or in public places
Food-related injuries or illness, such as food poisoning, where your business is responsible (depending on circumstances/policy)

What’s not covered

Public Liability insurance does not typically cover:

Injury to employees (covered by Employers’ Liability insurance)
Damage to your own tools, equipment or property
Poor workmanship that does not cause injury or third-party damage
Contractual disputes, penalties or delays
Intentional acts, criminal behaviour or deliberate misuse of equipment
Claims arising from activities outside your declared business operations

Download our ‘What Does Public Liability Insurance Cover?’ Infographic

Always check your policy wording for full details of exclusions and limitations.

Why choose Public Liability cover from Trade Direct?

We specialise in Public Liability insurance for the trade sector, offering tailored protection that meets the needs of builders, plumbers, electricians, decorators and many more. Our cover is designed to give you confidence on every job, with features built around the risks you face every day.

Product features

Public Liability cover up to £5 million
Professional Indemnity cover available
Cover for Third Party Financial Loss
Capital Death Benefit
Tools cover up to £15,000
Temporary Total Disablement Benefit
Plus optional extensions and extras
Option to pay in monthly instalments

Who do we cover?

Sole traders
Contractors
Partnerships
Limited companies
Limited Liability Partnerships
Up to 15 employees
Businesses with turnover up to £3 million
Single and multiple trades

What trades do we cover?

Over 70 recognised trades covered
Plumbers Insurance
Builders Insurance
Heating & Gas Engineers Insurance
Electricians Insurance
Painters and Decorators Insurance
Cover for multiple trades available

Why Trade Direct?

Save 10% with B&Q TradePoint
Underwritten by Zurich Insurance Company Ltd
TrustPilot 4.8* Rated
Expert UK telephone support
Specialists trades cover

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Types of Public Liability cover

Public Liability Cover for Contractors

Designed for electricians, plumbers, builders, groundworkers and specialist contractors working on domestic and commercial sites,

Explore contractor cover

Public Liability for Sole Traders

Designed to help safeguard your livelihood, assets and income, so you can focus on the work you do best.

View cover for sole traders

Do I need Public Liability insurance?

This is something you need to consider carefully. For any tradesperson it is important to assess how much of a risk their type of work poses to customers and members of the public. Whether customers or the public are on your premises, or if you're working on theirs, it’s important to think about the types of claim that could be made against you or your business. Could your business afford to pay a potentially significant claim? Self-employed Public Liability insurance can give you peace of mind in knowing that your business is covered in the event of a claim.

Download our ‘Do I need Public Liability insurance?’ Infographic

Is Public Liability insurance a legal requirement?

Public Liability insurance is not a legal requirement in the UK. Unlike Employers’ Liability insurance, which is a legal requirement for the vast majority of businesses that employ staff (though some exemptions apply for certain family businesses or sole-director companies), there’s no statutory obligation to hold Public Liability cover.

However, many tradespeople and small businesses still need it because:

It’s often required by clients or contractors

Local authorities, main contractors, commercial sites and larger organisations frequently make Public Liability insurance a condition of working with them. Many contracts specify a minimum level of cover before you can start a job.

It protects you against costly claims

If your work accidentally injures or damages the property of your client or a member of the public, you could face a substantial compensation claim. Public Liability insurance helps cover Legal Defence Costs and compensation payments, which could otherwise be financially devastating for a small business or sole trader.

It demonstrates professionalism

Some trade associations, accreditation schemes and industry bodies require members to hold Public Liability insurance as part of their membership criteria. Even where it’s not compulsory, having cover can help reassure customers that you run a credible, responsible business.

Download our ‘Is it Law to Have Public Liability Insurance?’ infographic for more information

How much does Public Liability insurance cost?

We know cost is an important consideration for tradespeople and small businesses, which is why we keep our premiums competitive while ensuring you’re protected against the risks that could stop you trading.

The price of Public Liability insurance varies from business to business. Insurers assess several factors to calculate your premium, including:

Your trade and level of risk: Some trades naturally carry higher risk. For example, construction and electrical work may cost more to insure than lower-risk activities.
Annual turnover: Turnover can indicate the size and activity level of your business, which influences your exposure to risk.
Number of employees: More employees often means more work taking place, with more potential for incidents.
Business structure: Whether you operate as a sole trader, partnership or limited company may form part of an insurer’s assessment.
Where you work: Working in busy public areas or running a premises frequently visited by customers can increase risk compared to home-based or low-footfall businesses.
Your claims history: As with most insurance, a previous pattern of claims may increase your premium.
Your chosen level of cover: Higher indemnity limits generally cost more, though the difference is not always proportional. Many clients or public-sector contracts specify their own minimum level of cover.

Because every business is different, the most accurate way to understand your cost is to get a personalised quote.

Download our ‘How Much Does Public Liability Insurance Cost?’ infographic for more information

Your cover options

Compare Trade Direct’s Public Liability policy options and choose the level of cover that suits your business.

Essentials

Core protection for everyday risks

Our Essentials package includes Public Liability insurance and cover for Third Party Financial Loss.

Public Liability insurance up to £5 million
Third Party Financial Loss £100,000
Employers' Liability insurance £10 million available

Classic

Added cover for tools and professional risks

Our Classic package builds on Essentials by offering Professional Indemnity cover as well as Capital Death Benefit and Tools cover.

Public Liability insurance up to £5 million
Professional Indemnity cover £100,000
Third Party Financial Loss £100,000
Capital Death Benefit
First £1,000 of Tools cover (can be increased to £15,000)
Employers' Liability insurance £10 million available

Plus

Our most comprehensive option

The Plus package builds on Classic by adding Temporary Total Disablement Benefit, which can be increased based on your needs.

Public Liability insurance up to £5 million
Professional Indemnity cover £100,000
Third Party Financial Loss £100,000
Capital Death Benefit
First £1,000 of Tools cover (can be increased to £15,000)
Temporary Total Disablement Benefit up to £600 a week per person
Employers' Liability insurance £10 million available

Extras

Looking for extra insurances for your work? We have a list of optional extras to give you the cover you need:

Contract Works
Owned Plant
Hired in Plant
Jury Service cover
Tools cover (from £1,000 to £15,000)

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Fixed Price, Fixed Peace of Mind

Lock in your insurance price for two full years with Trade Direct’s Price Freeze with our Classic and Plus policies.

Whether you're a builder, plumber, electrician or decorator, we know your work load can be unpredictable - your insurance price shouldn’t be.

Public Liability Insurance FAQs

Public Liability insurance is important because it protects your business if someone successfully claims they were injured or their property was damaged due to your work.

Even with careful risk assessments, accidents can happen, and a single claim can result in thousands of pounds in compensation, legal fees and lost earnings. Many large organisations and trade associations also expect contractors to hold this cover. Being insured can strengthen your reputation and help you secure contracts.
You can apply for Public Liability insurance quickly by completing an online quote and providing a few key details about your business. Insurers may ask for your trade, business structure, turnover, where you operate, and any previous claims.

You’ll also need to choose your cover level and consider whether you need any optional extras. If your business has contact with the public, you’re usually eligible for cover, whether you’re a sole trader or a small company.

With Trade Direct Insurance, you can get a quote online in minutes or speak to a specialist adviser for guidance.
Public Liability insurance can cover personal injuries caused to members of the public, including customers or clients, as a direct result of your work activities.

Personal injury claims range from minor cuts or burns to serious, life-changing injuries, illnesses or psychological harm. For a claim to succeed, the injured person must show your business was responsible, whether through negligence or intent. Public Liability insurance does not cover injuries to your employees; this is normally handled by Employers’ Liability insurance.
Public liability insurance covers illnesses, including food poisoning, caused by your business activities. This goes beyond catering, and can apply to tradespeople if you provide site refreshments, run a hospitality stand at a trade show, or if your work accidentally contaminates a client’s water supply.

If a client or member of the public falls ill due to provisions you’ve supplied or a site you’ve managed, a public liability insurance policy will handle the resulting legal or medical claims.
“General liability insurance” is mainly an American term and isn’t widely used in the UK. Here, similar protection is usually called Public Liability insurance, or sometimes business liability or contractors’ insurance.

Public Liability covers injury or property damage caused to members of the public or clients through your work, while Product Liability covers harm caused by items you sell, supply or install. Some insurers bundle these covers together, so it’s important to check what is included to ensure the policy meets your needs.
Not all businesses are legally required to have Public Liability insurance, but some may need it if their work brings them into contact with the public or clients. Larger organisations, public-sector bodies and some trade associations often make it a contractual requirement, and you may lose out on work without it.

If an accident occurs and you’re uninsured, you could face substantial compensation and legal costs, which can be financially devastating for small businesses or sole traders.
The amount of Public Liability insurance you need depends on your business activities and level of risk. Claims can escalate quickly, especially where serious injury, property damage or legal fees are involved, so even small businesses may need cover in the millions.

Our cover limits are £1 million, £2 million, £5 million or £10 million (£10m available via phone only). Factors such as your turnover, type of work, equipment used, past claims and how much you interact with the public all play a part. Some contracts and trade associations also specify minimum cover levels.
Yes, you can get Public Liability insurance as an individual, and many sole traders and self-employed people choose to do so. Public Liability insurance isn’t based on the size of your business; it’s based on whether your work brings you into contact with the public or clients.

If an accident occurs and you’re found responsible for injury or property damage, you could face significant compensation and legal costs. Having your own Public Liability cover helps protect you and reassures clients that you operate professionally.

Get Public Liability cover today

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Buy peace of mind today with Public Liability insurance

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What is Public Liability Insurance?