Electrician Insurance
Electrician Insurance Quotes
Cover for the work, the tools and the people around them.
Partnered with Quotezone
We’re partnered with Quotezone. As an Introducer Appointed Representative of Seopa Ltd (FCA FRN: 313860), we receive a commission if you purchase insurance products via SimplyQuote.co.uk.
We do not provide advice or make recommendations. Your choice of provider is entirely your own.
Compare insurance quotes from UK’s leading electrician insurers including:
What Is Electrician Insurance?
Electrician insurance is a package of cover designed to protect electrical contractors against claims for injury, property damage and financial loss arising from their work.
The core policy is public liability insurance, which pays legal fees and compensation if a third party is hurt or their property is damaged because of your electrical work.
Most electricians add employer’s liability, professional indemnity and tool cover to build a policy that matches the risks they face on site.
How To Compare Electrician Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes side by side is the fastest way to find cover that fits your trade and budget.
Enter your business details
Provide your trade (domestic, commercial or both), annual turnover and the number of employees or subcontractors you use.
Choose your cover level
Select a public liability limit (£1 million to £10 million) and tick any add-ons such as tool cover or professional indemnity.
Review your results
Quotes appear side by side so you can compare price, excess and policy wording. Check each insurer is Financial Conduct Authority regulated before you buy.
Buy online or call the insurer
Most policies start the same day. Pay annually for the lowest total cost or spread payments monthly for a small markup of around 8–11%.
What Does Electrician Insurance Cover?
A standard electrician insurance policy covers the main risks you face on every job, from accidental damage to legal disputes.
Third-Party Injury
If a customer or member of the public is hurt because of your work, your policy pays their compensation and your legal costs.
Property Damage
Drilling into a water pipe, scorching a worktop with a heat gun or cracking a tile during a first-fix are all covered under public liability.
Fire or Electrical Fault
The Health and Safety Executive reports that electrical faults are one of the leading causes of workplace fires. An installation error that triggers a blaze can generate claims worth tens of thousands, and your policy covers the compensation and defence costs.
Legal Defence Costs
Solicitor fees, court costs and expert witness charges are included even if the claim is eventually dismissed.
Compare Electrician Insurance
Compare electrician insurance quotes from UK insurers in minutes.
Who Needs Electrician Insurance?
Any electrician who works on someone else’s property or employs staff should carry insurance, regardless of business size.
| Who | Why They Need Cover |
| Sole-trader domestic electricians | One faulty connection could trigger a house fire and a six-figure claim |
| Commercial electrical contractors | Contracts above £5,000 almost always require £5 million or £10 million PLI |
| Electrical subcontractors | Main contractors routinely ask for proof of insurance before you start on site |
| NICEIC or NAPIT-registered electricians | Registration bodies expect members to hold current public liability cover |
| Electricians who employ apprentices | Employer’s liability insurance is a legal requirement once you hire staff |
| EV charger and solar panel installers | High-value installations increase the financial exposure if something goes wrong |
The tradesman insurance market covers dozens of trades, but electricians face higher fire risk than most, so the right level of cover matters more here.
What Is Not Covered By Electrician Insurance?
Every policy has exclusions, and knowing them in advance stops a claim being declined when you need it most.
Faulty Workmanship
The cost of redoing work you carried out incorrectly is not covered. Insurers pay for the damage the fault causes, not the labour to fix it.
Deliberate or Reckless Acts
Any claim arising from intentional damage or knowing disregard for safety standards is excluded.
Undeclared Activities
If you carry out gas, plumbing or roofing work that was not disclosed when you arranged the policy, related claims may be refused.
Employee Injuries
Injuries to your own staff are covered under employer’s liability insurance, not public liability. The two policies work together but cover different people.
Your Own Tools and Equipment
Damage to your own test meters, cable cutters or power tools requires a separate tool cover add-on.
What Add-Ons Are Available For Electrician Insurance?
Most insurers let you bolt extra cover onto a public liability policy so everything sits on one renewal date.
Employer’s Liability Insurance
A legal requirement if you hire staff or apprentices. The Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969 sets a minimum of £5 million, though most insurers provide £10 million as standard.
Fines for not having cover reach up to £2,500 per day.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Covers claims for financial loss caused by incorrect advice, faulty design or specification errors. If you produce electrical drawings or sign off Part P certificates, professional indemnity insurance is worth adding.
Tool and Equipment Cover
Protects your tools against theft, loss and accidental damage whether they are stored in your van, workshop or on site. Cover limits typically range from £1,000 to £15,000.
Contract Works Cover
Insures materials and partly finished work against damage before a job is signed off. Useful for larger rewires or new-build projects.
Van Insurance
If you drive a works van, commercial van insurance covers the vehicle, tools in transit and any signwriting.
How Much Does Electrician Insurance Cost?
Public liability insurance for a self-employed domestic electrician typically costs between £8 and £20 per month, depending on the cover level and the type of work you carry out.
| Cover Level | Sole Trader (Domestic) | Small Firm (2–4 Staff) | Commercial Contractor |
| £1 million PLI | £5–£10/month | £15–£25/month | £30–£50/month |
| £2 million PLI | £8–£15/month | £20–£35/month | £40–£65/month |
| £5 million PLI | £12–£20/month | £30–£50/month | £55–£85/month |
| £10 million PLI | £18–£28/month | £40–£65/month | £70–£120/month |
| Add EL (£10 million) | +£5–£8/month | +£15–£30/month | +£25–£50/month |
Worked example: a sole-trader domestic electrician in Leeds with £2 million public liability, £5,000 tool cover and no employees would pay around £120–£250 per year. Adding one apprentice and £10 million employer’s liability takes the total to roughly £280–£450.
What Affects Your Electrician Insurance Premium?
Insurers price electrician policies based on how much risk your business presents, not a flat trade rate.
Type of Electrical Work
Domestic rewires carry less risk than high-voltage commercial installations or solar panel fitting. The higher the risk, the higher the premium.
Cover Level
Jumping from £1 million to £5 million public liability adds only a few pounds a month, but £10 million costs noticeably more.
Number of Employees
Each employee or apprentice increases the employer’s liability premium. Subcontractors may also need to be declared.
Annual Turnover
Higher turnover signals more jobs and more exposure. Insurers use it as a proxy for overall risk.
Claims History
A clean claims record keeps your premium low. Even a single settled claim can push the price up at renewal, which is why comparing quotes across the wider business insurance market matters.
How To Save Money On Electrician Insurance
Cutting costs without dropping important cover comes down to matching the policy to the work you actually do.
Pick the Right Cover Level
If your contracts only require £2 million public liability, paying for £10 million wastes money. Review your client requirements before choosing.
Bundle Your Policies
Buying public liability, employer’s liability and tool cover from the same insurer often triggers a multi-policy discount.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
A higher excess lowers your monthly premium. Set it at a level you could comfortably pay if you needed to claim.
Keep Your NICEIC or NAPIT Registration Current
Some insurers offer lower rates to electricians registered with NICEIC or NAPIT because registration signals competence and reduces the likelihood of claims.
Review at Renewal
Auto-renewing without checking the market is the most common way to overpay. Tradesmen across every discipline, from plumbers to gas engineers, save money by comparing quotes annually.
Compare Electrician Insurance
Compare electrician insurance quotes from UK insurers in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Public liability insurance is not legally required, but employer’s liability insurance is compulsory once you employ anyone. Most clients and main contractors also require proof of PLI before you start work.
Most policies can be arranged online and start the same day. You receive your certificate of insurance by email within minutes.
Public liability insurance does not cover the cost of redoing your own work. It covers the damage your fault causes to third-party property, such as a fire triggered by incorrect wiring.
Most insurers offer monthly direct debit at a markup of around 8–11% on the annual price. Paying upfront in a lump sum is the cheapest option.
A single faulty connection in a domestic property can cause a fire and generate a claim worth tens of thousands. The size of the job does not limit the size of the claim.
Not automatically. Tool and equipment cover is an add-on you select when arranging your policy, with limits typically ranging from £1,000 to £15,000.
If you provide design services, produce electrical drawings or sign off compliance certificates, professional indemnity insurance protects you against claims for financial loss caused by errors or omissions.
£2 million is enough for most domestic electricians, while commercial contracts often require £5 million or £10 million. Check your client’s terms before deciding.
It depends on your policy: some insurers include bona fide subcontractors under your public liability cover, while others require each subcontractor to hold their own. Declare them when arranging cover to avoid refused claims.
Electricians typically pay more than builders or scaffolders for public liability because electrical work carries a higher fire risk. Adding construction insurance for site work may also be needed.
