CoverMapWhat is tradesman van insurance?
For most builders, plumbers, carpenters and other trades, the van itself needs carriage of own goods cover. That class covers carrying your own tools and equipment to different jobs. Our business van insurance guide explains each class of use and which jobs fit.
The van policy usually stops there. Quotezone says most standard van insurance does not include tools or van contents. So a “tradesman” package is usually built from three parts:
- Van insurance with business use (see our main van insurance guide for costs and cover levels).
- Tools cover for equipment kept in the van, on site or at home.
- Liability cover: public liability, and employers’ liability if you have staff.
Van tool theft in 2025 and 2026
Different organisations measure tool theft in different ways, so the numbers below are not directly comparable. Taken together, they show that vans are a major target.
| Source | Finding | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Howden (May 2026) | 26,724 reported tool thefts in 2025, one every 20 minutes. Nearly 42% happened from vehicles. Average value stolen £1,300. | Freedom of Information request |
| NFU Mutual (February 2026) | One in three tradespeople had equipment stolen from their vans in the previous 12 months. Average loss £4,300 per victim. 39% were hit more than once. | Survey of tradespeople |
| Simply Business (March 2026) | 51% of tradespeople have had tools stolen. 94% never got them back. Average stolen-tool claim £2,646, up 24% since 2020. | Simply Business research |
| Police Scotland | 1,765 reports of tool theft from December 2024 to December 2025, worth an estimated £1.8 million. | FOI, reported by The Scotsman (February 2026) |
| North Yorkshire Police | Tool thefts from vans rose from 121 in 2023 to 190 in 2024. | FOI response (July 2025) |
Source: Howden, NFU Mutual via Roofing Today, Simply Business, Police Scotland via The Scotsman, North Yorkshire Police. North Yorkshire Police warns its figures should not be compared with other forces.
Howden also found that 23% of victims didn’t report the theft. For whole-van theft figures, see our main van guide.
Tools in van cover: the small print that matters
Tools insurance pays to repair or replace your equipment if it is stolen or damaged. Most claims problems come from the conditions, not the cover itself. These are the ones to check.
Overnight exclusions
This is the big one. Everywhen’s tool insurance says “overnight theft is excluded from vehicles unless locked in a secure building”. Quotezone says most van tool policies exclude theft from a van parked overnight on a public road, and some define overnight by set hours, such as 7pm to 7am.
Compare that with how tradespeople actually work. NFU Mutual found more than three-quarters leave tools and equipment in their vans overnight. If you park on the street and leave tools inside, a policy with a strict overnight exclusion may pay nothing for the most common type of theft. Some policies are more flexible, so compare the overnight wording, not just the price.
Locked-van and forced-entry conditions
Everywhen requires an unattended vehicle to be “fully secured, all doors and windows closed with all locks fully engaged”, with any alarm set. Quotezone says insurers usually want evidence of forced entry, and may require tools to be kept out of view, bolted down or in a lockbox. If a thief gets in without leaving a mark, check how your policy treats that.
Single-item and total limits
Policies cap what they pay. Everywhen offers single-item limits of up to £1,500 and total cover of £1,000 to £5,000, with a standard £100 excess (Everywhen’s own terms). Quotezone says single-item limits are typically £500 to £1,500. If you carry a high-value item, such as a laser level or a large power tool, check it falls within the limit or list it separately.
Compare those limits with the losses reported above: an average of £2,646 per claim in Simply Business’s data and £4,300 per victim in NFU Mutual’s survey. A low total limit can leave a gap.
| Condition | What to check |
|---|---|
| Overnight cover | Is theft from the van covered overnight on the street, on your drive, or only in a locked building? What hours count as overnight? |
| Security | Must tools be out of sight, in a lockbox or bolted down? Must the alarm be set? |
| Forced entry | Is visible forced entry required for a theft claim? |
| Limits | Single-item limit, total limit and excess. |
| Where tools are covered | In the van, on site, at home, or all three? |
Source: Everywhen tool insurance, Quotezone (May 2026). Checked October 2026.
Cutting the risk of tool theft
Better security can protect your tools and can also help you meet policy conditions. Simply Business’s March 2026 guide suggests:
- Upgrade the locks with deadlocks or slamlocks, and fit a Thatcham Category 1 alarm.
- Use a van vault.
- Fit window film.
- Park against a wall or within view of CCTV.
- Keep keys in a signal-blocking (Faraday) pouch.
Howden’s January 2026 van locks guide explains the main options. A deadlock works separately from central locking: a key throws a bolt into the bodywork. A slam lock locks itself when the door shuts, which suits jobs with lots of stops. A hook lock uses a hooked bolt that is harder to prise open, and lock shields protect the lock area from drilling. Howden says Thatcham-approved locks, alarms and immobilisers can cut theft risk, which could lower your premium. It gives no discount figure, so ask each insurer.
Public liability basics for tradespeople
Your van insurance covers accidents on the road. It does not cover damage or injury you cause while doing the job. That is what public liability insurance is for.
- What it covers: Markel says it covers injury to members of the public and accidental damage to other people’s property caused by your work.
- Is it compulsory? No. But Markel says clients such as councils and major construction clients, main contractors and trade bodies such as Checkatrade may require it. If a contract requires it and you don’t have it, you are in breach of contract.
- Cover levels: Markel says standard policies start at £1 million and go up to £5 million. Match the level to what your clients and contracts ask for.
Employers’ liability is different: it is a legal requirement as soon as you become an employer, with some exceptions such as family members. Our main van guide sets out the GOV.UK rules, including the minimum cover level and the daily fines, and our shop insurance guide covers business liability in more depth.
Public liability and tools cover may be sold together as a tradesman package. Buying them together can be simpler, but compare the tools section on its own terms: a cheap package with a strict overnight exclusion may not suit you if you keep your kit in the van.
Tradesman van checklist
- Choose carriage of own goods for the van, unless you also carry other people’s goods for payment.
- Check whether your van policy includes any tools cover at all.
- Read the overnight wording on any tools policy against where you really park.
- Check single-item and total limits against the value of your kit.
- Keep receipts, serial numbers and photos of your tools.
- Decide what public liability level your clients need.
- Declare signage: Quotezone treats it as a modification you must declare.
If you also take on paid delivery work, read our courier van insurance guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does tradesman van insurance cover my tools?
Usually not. Quotezone says most standard van insurance excludes tools and van contents, so you normally need separate tools cover or a tradesman package that includes it.
Are tools covered if left in the van overnight?
Often not, or only in limited circumstances. Everywhen excludes overnight theft from vehicles unless they are locked in a secure building, and Quotezone says most van tool policies exclude overnight theft from vans parked on a public road.
What is a single-item limit on tools insurance?
It is the most a policy will pay for any one tool. Quotezone says single-item limits are typically £500 to £1,500. Expensive items may need to be listed separately.
How common is tool theft from vans?
Howden reports 26,724 tool thefts in 2025 from FOI data, with nearly 42% from vehicles. NFU Mutual found one in three tradespeople had equipment stolen from their vans in the previous 12 months.
Is public liability insurance a legal requirement for tradespeople?
No. But Markel says clients, main contractors and trade bodies such as Checkatrade may require it. Markel says standard policies run from £1 million to £5 million. Employers' liability is compulsory once you become an employer, with some exceptions.
What class of use does a tradesman van need?
Usually carriage of own goods, which covers carrying your own tools and equipment to different sites. Paid deliveries of other people's goods need hire and reward.
Sources
- Howden – Nearly half of tool theft is from vehicles (May 2026)
- Roofing Today – Trades vehicles remain target for tool theft (NFU Mutual, Feb 2026)
- Simply Business – How to keep tools safe in a van (Mar 2026)
- Howden – Best van locks guide (Jan 2026)
- The Scotsman – Tool theft in Scotland (Feb 2026)
- North Yorkshire Police – FOI tool thefts from vans (Jul 2025)
- Everywhen – Tool insurance
- Quotezone – Does van insurance cover tools? (May 2026)
- Quotezone – Modified van insurance (Nov 2025)
- Markel – Is public liability insurance compulsory? (May 2025)
- Confused.com – Van insurance classes of use (Jan 2025)