Compare public liability, tools and full trade cover from the UK’s leading business insurers — built for sole traders and electrical firms alike.
Most electricians need public liability insurance (£1m–£5m of cover, from around £60–£150/year for a sole trader). If you employ anyone — even a part-time apprentice — employers’ liability is a legal requirement. Many also add tools cover, and if you design or certify, professional indemnity.
Public liability isn’t required by law, but it’s effectively essential — most clients and sites won’t let you work without it. Compare quotes to see your real price across all these covers in one go.
Electrical work carries real risk — a wiring fault can cause a fire, a client can trip over a cable, and a single claim can run into six figures. Most electricians build their cover from a few core parts. Here’s what each one does:
Covers injury to others or damage to their property caused by your work — like a fire from faulty wiring.
EssentialCovers claims from staff or apprentices who are injured or fall ill on the job.
Legally required if you employCovers theft or damage to your tools — including from the van overnight on many policies.
RecommendedCovers claims that your design, specification or certification caused a financial loss.
If you design/certifySole trader, hands-on work only? Public liability + tools is usually enough. Employ an apprentice? Add employers’ liability — it’s the law. Issue EICRs or design installations? Consider professional indemnity too.
This is the cover almost every electrician needs. It pays out if your work injures someone or damages their property — and in electrical work the stakes are high. A wiring fault that causes a house fire, a client tripping on a trailing cable, or accidental damage to a customer’s property could all lead to claims running into tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Most electricians carry £1m, £2m or £5m of cover. The right level often depends on where you work — many commercial sites, main contractors and letting agents demand a minimum of £5m before you can set foot on site. If you’re weighing up limits, see our guide to £5m vs £10m public liability. For the full picture, read our dedicated guide to public liability insurance for electricians.
Public liability won’t cover everything — for example, it doesn’t cover faulty workmanship claims or your own tools. It’s worth knowing what public liability does not cover so you’re not caught out, and many clients will ask to see your public liability certificate before you start.
Employers’ liability insurance is legally required if you employ staff — including part-time workers and apprentices. You can be fined up to £2,500 for every day you’re not properly insured. The main exception is a genuine sole trader with no employees.
So the moment you take on an apprentice or a mate who works for you, you need it. The standard cover level is £10m. See employers’ liability for electricians, check what employers’ liability costs, and if you work alone, read whether sole traders need it. If you’re not sure whether your situation counts as employing someone, our guide on whether insurance is legally required explains the rules.
Tools cover is one most electricians add without thinking twice — your tools are your livelihood, and van break-ins are common. It covers theft and damage, often including tools left in the van overnight (always check the overnight-in-vehicle terms, as some insurers require a locked, alarmed van or tools removed at night).
Professional indemnity matters if you do more than hands-on installation. If you design installations, specify systems, or issue electrical certificates like EICRs, PI covers claims that your professional judgement caused a client a financial loss. It’s the same cover relied on by IT contractors, architects and other advice-givers — see what professional indemnity costs if it applies to you.
Your price depends on turnover, number of staff, the cover levels you choose and your claims history. As a 2026 guide:
| Setup | Typical annual cost | Usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Sole trader, public liability only | ~£60–£150 | £1m–£2m public liability |
| Sole trader + tools cover | ~£120–£250 | PL + tools/equipment |
| With 1–2 employees | ~£250–£500 | PL + employers’ liability + tools |
| Contracting / higher limits | ~£400–£800+ | £5m PL, PI, larger tool cover |
Indicative ranges — your real price depends on your business. Premiums for the same electrician vary a lot between insurers, so comparing is the only way to know. For a wider view, see typical public liability insurance costs.
Picking £1m when a site needs £5m means you can’t take the job. Under-valuing your tools means a short payout if the van’s broken into. Match the cover to the work you actually want to win — you can usually adjust limits later for a bigger contract.
Say you’re rewiring a domestic property and a fault in your work later causes a small fire, damaging a kitchen. The homeowner claims for repairs and temporary accommodation — £40,000. Without public liability, that comes out of your pocket. With it, the insurer handles the claim and legal costs. Now imagine the same fault on a commercial site where a £5m minimum was required: if you only held £1m, you’d never have been allowed on site in the first place. That’s why the cover level matters as much as having cover at all.
Most electricians need public liability (£1m–£5m) plus tools cover, employers’ liability if they have staff, and professional indemnity if they design or certify. Expect roughly £60–£150/year for basic public liability as a sole trader, rising once you add tools, staff and higher limits.
Premiums vary a lot between insurers for the same business, so the smartest move is simple: compare quotes before you buy or renew. Not sure what you need? Try our cover checker.
CoverFinder is an independent insurance media and lead-generation platform. We are not an insurer or an insurance broker and we are not FCA-regulated to provide insurance advice. Where appropriate, we introduce you to FCA-regulated brokers or providers who can discuss your needs and provide quotes.
Prices are indicative 2026 ranges and vary by business — always confirm cover, terms and pricing directly with the provider. This content is general information only and may not reflect all policy terms, conditions or exclusions.