Tools Insurance FAQs

Explaining Tools insurance

Answering questions about our tools insurance, including what types of tools we cover and when and where you’re protected.

This information is provided as a guide only, and if you have any doubts or questions, you can give our expert team a ring on 08000 280 380.

Q. Where are my tools covered?

A. Our policy covers your portable powered and non-powered hand tools 24 hours per day anywhere in the European Union.

Q. What about theft from my van?

A. Our policy covers theft from any vehicle, provided that the doors of the vehicle are locked and all its windows and other openings are fully closed and properly fastened.

Q. Are the tools kept in my home garage or shed insured by my home insurance policy?

A. You need to check with your home insurance provider. Every insurer and policy is different. Some home insurance policies may cover tools that are for work or commercial use, but many standard home insurance policies do not. Under the ToolsInsuranceOnline policy your tools are covered anywhere in the EU, however if they are unattended they must be contained in a locked building or locked storage unit.

Q. My Business Insurance or Public Liability Insurance policy already includes tools cover. Do I need a separate policy?

A. You should check with your insurer to see if the tools insurance cover provided by your current policy is sufficient for your needs. You should check cover level, single article limits, new-for-old, geographic exclusions, and vehicle/security restrictions. As with all insurance, your tools can only be covered by one policy at a time, and should you have two policies covering them, the insurers will adopt what is known as Proportional Payments/ Liability, where each insurer will only be responsible for their proportionate share of the total claim amount.

Q. Can I insure all of my tools?

A. Our tools insurance policy covers powered and non-powered portable hand-held tools of all types belonging to you or your employee(s), as well as hired or leased items.

Q. What’s the difference between Plant and Tools?

A. Plant is large or heavy machinery and equipment such as concrete mixers, cranes and forklifts. It is not hand-held, and is therefore not covered under the ToolsInsuranceOnline policy which only covers portable handheld- tools (powered and non-powered). Most tools that can be carried under your arm are considered handheld tools, and should be covered. If you are unsure of what tools are covered, please give us a call on 08000 280 380.

Q. What is the limit of liability under the ToolsInsuranceOnline policy?

A. The limits available under the policy are £1,000, £2,000, £3,000, £4,000, £5,000, £6,000, £7,000, £8,000, £9,000, £10,000, £11,000, £12,000, £13,000, £14,000 and £15,000. There is no single article limit; the maximum amount payable is the total sum insured.

Q. How much will I be paid if an item is stolen or damaged beyond repair?

A. Our policy will pay the value to replace the item in a condition equal to but not better than its condition when new.

Q. What if the item can be repaired?

A. Our policy will pay to return the item to a working condition substantially the same as immediately before the damage occurred.

Q. What’s not covered?

A. Our policy does not cover damage to any tool caused by its own breakdown or explosion, or loss by disappearance or by shortage which is only discovered by a routine inventory or periodic stock-taking. Tools are also not covered whilst unattended in an unlocked open environment. Your excesses are not covered. Please refer to the policy wording for a full list of exclusions and conditions applying to this policy.

Q. I have employees/ apprentices who use tools as well. Will they be covered under the policy?

A. Tools belonging to you and your employees will be covered under the policy with the same terms of business and exclusions as detailed in the policy schedule.

Q. What is an Excess?

A. An excess is the amount that is deducted from any money paid to you in the event of a valid claim being paid. The level of excess is dependent upon the level of cover you have selected, however there is a minimum excess of £100 for all losses, and a minimum excess of £250 for claims where payment is made for computers, tablets or similar devices.

Q. Who provides the insurance?

A. Cover is provided by Zurich Ltd, one of the world’s largest insurers. You can be reassured that your policy is of high quality, giving you the peace of mind that you need to carry out your day to day business. Zurich Ltd provides the support you require for your insurance as well as a 24 hour claims line if you need to make a claim.

Q. Are mobile devices or wearables etc. covered under this policy?

A. Mobile phones, smart phones, smart watches or similar wearable devices are not insured under the ToolsInsuranceOnline policy.

Q. I currently have a Trade Direct Public Liability Insurance that doesn’t have tools cover. Can I amend my policy to include tools?

A. First of all, thank you for taking out a Public Liability Insurance with Trade Direct Insurance. Your existing Trade Direct Insurance Essentials Public Liability policy can be upgraded to Classic or Plus cover to include tools cover – please give us a call on 08000 280 380 to discuss your requirements. Alternatively, you can take out a ToolsInsuranceOnline policy separately by getting a quote and buying online here.

Q. How do I make a claim?

A. Claims are handled by Zurich Ltd directly. To notify them of a claim please use the online claims form, which is monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you wish to speak to us we are always happy to assist. If you need help with the claims process or have any difficulties, please give us a call on 0800 0280 380.

Q. Do you charge a fee for a policy?

A. We charge an administration fee of £10 for policies bought online, and for policies bought via our team, on the phone.

Q. How can I pay for my policy?

A. You can pay your policy premium annually or via instalments. You can purchase using a credit or debit card and pay in a single instalment. You can also choose to pay via instalments, paying an initial 15% deposit on a debit/ credit card, with the balance payable by 11 monthly instalments, paid via Direct Debit. See our Table of Fees for details. Trade Direct is a credit broker not a lender.

Q. Can I pay by debit / credit card?

A. Yes. We accept payments made using major credit and debit cards.

Q. Can I pay by instalments?

A. Yes. You have the option of paying for your insurance in instalments via Direct Debit. We work exclusively with a third-party who provides credit. Please see our Credit Example and Information for further details. Trade Direct Insurance is a credit broker, not a lender.

Q. How do I get my documents?

A. When you buy a ToolsInsuranceOnline policy, your policy documents will be emailed to you the next working day. If you don’t receive them, please check your Junk emails to ensure that it’s not in there. If you haven’t received your documents via email after 2-3 working days from purchase, please contact us on 08000 280 380.

Q. Will my policy renew automatically?

A. Prior to renewal, we will post you a renewal invitation detailing your tools insurance cover and your annual premium for the upcoming year. We do not save payment details, so we will call you to arrange payment of your renewal premium over the phone. If you’d like to notify us of any changes to your cover requirements, please ring us on 08000 280 380.

Q. Who are ToolsInsuranceOnline?

A. ToolsInsuranceOnline is part of Trade Direct Insurance who has over 30 years’ experience in the trades insurance industry and serve over 40,000 tradespeople and businesses. We’ve teamed up with Zurich Ltd to provide you a quality tools insurance that gives you peace of mind.

Q. What is a Cookie Policy?

A. The Cookie Law is a piece of privacy legislation that requires websites to get consent from visitors to store or retrieve any information on a computer, smartphone or tablet. Almost all websites use cookies - little data files - to store information in peoples' web browsers. We have a Cookie Policy that details our use of cookies, and how you may control them.

Q. What is a Privacy policy?

A. A privacy policy is a statement or a legal document (in privacy law) that discloses some or all of the ways a party gathers, uses, discloses, and manages a customer or client's data. It fulfils a legal requirement to protect a customer or client's privacy. Please refer to our Privacy Policy here.

Q. How do I amend my contact preferences?

A. Please email us at enquiries@tradedirectinsurance.co.uk, or alternatively ring us on 08000 250 380.

Q. What is a Accessibility policy?

A. The internet should be accessible for everyone regardless of ability. At ToolsInsuranceOnline we have an ongoing programme of changes to ensure that our website is as accessible to all, working towards the W3C WAI standards for web accessibility. Please refer to our Accessibility Policy here.

Any more questions?

If you have a question regarding our Tools Insurance that's not answered here, please ring us on 08000 280 380.
If you'd like to buy a policy you can Get a Quote here, in less than a minute.

Full details of our Terms & Conditions, Limits, Excesses and Policy Exclusions can be found in our Policy Wording. ToolsInsuranceOnline do not offer advice relating to insurance, and you need to ensure that insurance you choose meets your demands and needs as someone wishing to insure their personal portable tools.

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