Electricians' insurance

What insurance do electricians need?

There are a few types of insurance you should consider as an electrician:

• Electricians’ public liability (PL) insurance is a must-have as you work around lots of people, like clients and other tradesmen. It pays for a lawyer to defend you against third-party claims of injury or property damage. Like a dropped drill smashing a customer’s tile or, worst case scenario, hitting someone. It also sorts out any compensation you might owe.
• Next, you need to think about your employees, if you have any. Employers’ liability insurance is a legal obligation if you have any employees, even if they’re part-time or temporary. If you don’t have it, you can be fined for every day you should've had it but didn't.
• Electricians’ professional indemnity (PI) insurance is key for when your service comes under scrutiny. It covers you if you’re accused of making a mistake or providing a bad service. Like designing a lighting system that a client claims doesn’t meet the spec they gave you. It’ll pay for your legal fees and, like PL, pick up the tab for any compensation or damages you might owe.
• Lastly, you need to protect one of the most important parts of your business: your tools and equipment. Electrician tool insurance pays to repair or replace your kit if it’s lost, stolen, or damaged. Best of all, it’ll cover your equipment whether you’re at home, on-site, or in transit. And cover the cost of hiring replacement kit while yours is repaired or replaced.

What insurance do I need for my electricians’ governing body?

There are three main governing bodies/associations for electricians in the UK.

They all require that you have a minimum amount of both public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

The Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA), National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC), and NAPIT all require:

• £2 million public liability
• £250,000 professional indemnity

Before you buy your insurance, make sure you double check with your governing body what the most up-to-date requirements are.

To be able to issue electrical installation condition reports (EICR), you’ll also need to be a registered electrician. As part of this process, you’ll typically need public liability and professional indemnity insurance too. Your governing body/association will have more information about this.

What does electricians’ public liability insurance cover me for?

Public liability (PL) insurance for electricians covers you for property damage and injuries to clients or the public that are found to be your fault.

You’ll be covered whether you’re at your own premises, an event, or elsewhere. And all your legal costs and any compensation you might owe will be handled by PL too.

So, if you accidentally damage a piece of furniture while you’re putting a new plug socket in or a client trips over your toolbox while they’re bringing you a cuppa, you’ll be covered.

What insurance does a self-employed electrician need?

Sole trader electrician insurance isn’t all that different from an electrician with employees. Although, you could say it’s even more important that you have the right cover in place. Because if an accident does happen, it’s all on you.

Chances are you won’t need employers’ liability insurance. However, you might do if you ever employ temporary staff or use subcontractors.

Public liability insurance is still a must-have, though. You can be as careful as possible, but when a claim comes your way, you’ll be relieved that your legal fees and compensation are paid for.

You’ll also want to have tools & equipment insurance. Having a key piece of kit out of action for a week or two could mean the difference between paying your bills and having to dip into your savings.

Tools & equipment cover will give you peace of mind that even if something is lost, stolen, or damaged, you’ll be able to hire a replacement while you wait for yours to be repaired or replaced.

Professional indemnity insurance for electricians can save you in a tight spot too. If you’re accused of negligence, whether it’s true or not, it’ll cover your legal bills. And any compensation, if it goes that far.

How much does electricians’ insurance cost?

How much your electricians’ insurance will cost depends on a variety of different things.

The kind of work you do, and where you do it, will have an impact on the cost of your cover. For example, you’ll probably pay more if you work on large-scale, commercial electrical projects compared to being a local, mostly domestic electrician.

The kind of tools you use, and how many you use, will change the cost of your tools & equipment cover.

Whether or not you have any employees will affect your cost too, as you’ll need to invest in employers’ liability insurance.

However much it ends up being, though, it’s worth its weight in gold with the amount of protection it provides your business.

Why should I buy my insurance from you?

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• an "I'm insured" badge for your website
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