Contractors All Risks Insurance: What It Covers and How to Get a Quote in the UK
Contractors all risks insurance protects the physical side of construction work: the works in progress, materials, plant and tools that can be damaged, lost or stolen on site. Just Quote Me compares quotes for UK contractors by online form, quick quote form or phone, and our advisers set the cover to the work you actually do.
What does contractors all risks insurance cover?
Contractors all risks insurance covers accidental loss or damage to the physical assets of a contracting job. That means the contract works themselves, materials on site, and the plant and tools you use to build. Each policy sets its own limits, extensions and exclusions, so the schedule decides what is covered.
The elements most often discussed when we build a quote are:
- Contract works: the structure or fit-out you are building, from first day on site to handover.
- All risks protection: cover for accidental damage and theft of insured items, subject to the policy terms.
- Plant and equipment: diggers, dozers, concrete mixers, cherry pickers, JCBs and specialist plant.
- Off-site storage: materials or equipment held in a yard or unit before they reach the site.
- In-transit cover: items moving between your yard, suppliers and the job.
- Specific or specialist vehicles and plant: items that need to be listed individually.
Which of these can be included depends on the insurer and the policy level you choose. We tell you plainly what each quote includes before you decide.
Who needs contractors all risks cover?
Anyone who carries financial risk in a building job needs to think about it. That includes builders, groundworkers, extension and renovation specialists, and tradespeople working under contract. If a fire, flood, theft or accidental collision on site would leave you paying to rebuild work or replace equipment, this cover is relevant.
A typical case: a small building firm is mid-way through a rear extension. Materials are delivered ahead of the next stage, a mini digger is on hire, and the structure is open to the weather. Damage to any of those items falls on the contractor unless a policy responds. The firm needs the materials, the plant and the works listed correctly, not a generic shop or office policy.
We list builders' insurance and tradesman insurance among our contractors services, and our advisers can talk through which covers fit a particular trade.
Covering owned and hired plant
Plant is where contractors most often find gaps. We compare cover for plant you own and plant you hire in or lease. For hired-in plant, protection can address your liability to the hiring company, compensation for damage and legal costs where applicable.
Some hire companies offer a hirer's waiver instead. Check its terms and the range of risks it covers before you rely on it, and ask us to quote a policy alongside so you can compare the two directly.
Telehandlers are a good example of how specific the cover gets. Our telehandler insurance comparison covers all risks, theft and vandalism, third-party liability, breakdown and recovery, hired-in plant and business interruption. The all risks element can respond to accidental damage in use, transit or storage, including collisions, overturning and mechanical damage. The sectors we see using it include construction, agriculture, logistics, plant hire and industrial contracting.
What information do I need for a contractors all risks quote?
Have the following to hand and a quote moves quickly:
- The type of work you do and the kind of sites you work on
- A description of current or typical contracts, including whether you are building, extending, refurbishing or fitting out
- The value of the works and materials you need protected
- A list of plant and tools, noting which items you own and which you hire or lease
- Where equipment and materials are stored when they are not on site
- Whether items travel between sites, and in what vehicles
- Your trading history and any previous claims
If you are unsure about a figure, say so. An adviser can help you reach a sensible sum to insure instead of guessing.
How do I get a contractors all risks quote from Just Quote Me?
You can request a contractors all risks quote online through our quotation forms, through a quick quote form, or by telephone on 0800 084 2325. Our advisers can also arrange a callback. As an independent broker we work with insurance providers to source cover, so you compare options in one place.
Our phone lines are open from 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, and from 09:00 to 13:00 on Saturday. Our office is at Lyemore Villa, 162A London Road, Chesterton, Newcastle Under Lyme, ST5 7JB.
No fixed premium is published for contractors cover, because the price follows the work, the plant and the values involved. A quote is the only honest way to see a figure.
How do I compare two contractors all risks quotes?
Compare the schedules line by line, not the headline premium. Check what is insured, the sums covered, the excess on each item, what happens to plant on hire, and whether storage and transit are included. Two quotes at different prices often cover different things, so the cheaper one may protect less.
| What to check | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Contract works | The sum insured matches the real value of the job |
| Materials | Cover applies on site and where you store them |
| Owned plant | Each item is listed with a realistic value |
| Hired-in plant | Liability to the hiring company and damage are addressed |
| Transit | Items are protected while moving between yard and site |
| Excesses | The amount you pay per claim is clear for each section |
| Exclusions | Any named exclusions suit the way you work |
Your vehicles are a separate matter from your plant. If you run one work van, look at our van insurance comparison. If several vehicles carry your team and equipment, our motor fleet insurance comparison covers multiple business vehicles and eligible drivers.
Other covers contractors ask us about
Contractors rarely need one policy alone. Public liability, employers' liability, tools in transit and plant cover are all listed on our site as separate covers. Ask for the ones that fit your work to be quoted at the same time so you can see the full picture.
If your work takes place on ladders, scaffold towers, roofs or access platforms, our guide to working at height insurance explains the covers involved. If you own property that is being renovated, our guide to commercial landlord insurance covers the owner's side.
Frequently asked questions
Does a contractors all risks policy cover tools in transit?
It depends on the policy. In-transit cover is a possible element on plant and contractors policies, but the terms and limits vary by insurer. Tools in transit insurance is also listed as its own cover on our site. Tell us how your tools and equipment travel and we will show you what each quote does and does not include.
Can I get a quote if I hire plant instead of owning it?
Yes. We compare cover for owned plant and for hired or leased plant. For hired-in equipment, a policy can address your liability to the hiring company, damage compensation and legal costs where applicable. If the hire company offers a hirer's waiver, check its terms first, then compare it with a quoted policy.
How much does contractors all risks insurance cost?
We do not publish a fixed premium, because the cost follows the type of work, the values you insure, the plant involved and your claims history. A quote through our online form or by phone shows the actual price for your business. Quotes are free and carry no obligation.
If you tell us what you build, which plant you own or hire, and where your materials sit overnight, we can compare contractors all risks quotes for you. Send those details through the form below this article.
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