Do self-employed UK tradespeople legally need insurance?

Employers' liability is legally compulsory the moment you pay anyone a single day's labour — including apprentices, labourers, CIS subcontractors and cash-in-hand helpers. Public liability isn't legally required for sole traders, but every UK letting agent, main contractor, housing association and emergency network requires £2m or £5m of PL before they'll book you. Van insurance is legally required to drive.

How much does trade insurance cost in the UK in 2026?

A typical self-employed UK tradesperson spends £75–£220/mo across PL, tools, van and EL — depending on trade, cover levels and postcode. Bundled through Onsite, the same cover plus business banking, accounting and CIS handling typically runs £85–£200/mo all-in, which is around £400–£800/yr cheaper than buying each cover separately.

What's the difference between public liability and employers' liability?

Public liability covers third-party injury or damage to people and property outside your business — a customer's car, a neighbour's wall, a member of the public on site. Employers' liability covers injury or illness to people you pay to work for you — apprentices, labourers, CIS subbies. EL is legally compulsory; PL is contractually compulsory. You need both as soon as you take on labour.

Are my tools covered if they're stolen from a locked van overnight?

Yes on every Onsite tools policy — provided the van was locked, alarm activated if fitted, and the theft reported to police within 24 hours with a crime reference. Standard van insurance from a non-trade insurer typically excludes tools left overnight, which is why a dedicated tools policy matters. Onsite covers up to £10,000 of kit new-for-old with high-value items scheduled separately.

What is the CIS scheme and how does Onsite handle it?

The Construction Industry Scheme is HMRC's tax-at-source mechanism for the UK construction industry. If you sub-contract construction work, you verify each subbie with HMRC (0%, 20% or 30% deduction rate), deduct the tax from their invoice, pay HMRC monthly, and file a monthly contractor return. Onsite Accounting (£39/mo) automates the loop — verification, bank-payment deductions, monthly returns and gross-payment-status applications when you qualify.

Is Onsite regulated by the FCA?

No. Onsite is a proof-of-concept demo. It is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not sell, advise on or underwrite insurance. No regulated advice is given on this site. Submit interest via the form and we will be in touch.

Can I cancel my Onsite policy if I change my mind?

Yes. Every Onsite insurance policy carries a 14-day cooling-off period from the date you bind — full refund, no questions. After the cooling-off period, you can cancel any product any time with a pro-rated refund of unused premium. There are no exit fees and no minimum-term penalties.

How long does it take to get a certificate of insurance?

Under 60 seconds from binding payment. The certificate of insurance, employers' liability poster and schedule of cover all appear in your Onsite dashboard as PDF, ready to share with letting agents, main contractors and customers. Mid-term adjustments (adding a labourer, raising a tools limit) update the certificate the same day.

Does Onsite work for limited companies as well as sole traders?

Yes. Onsite supports sole trader, partnership and limited company structures. Limited company directors get a single login with multiple business profiles, and the accounting module switches between Self-Assessment (sole trader) and corporation tax / dividends (limited company) automatically. CIS handling works for both contractor and subcontractor roles.

How does Onsite compare to Simply Business or Direct Line for Business?

Simply Business and Direct Line for Business both sell competitive insurance through online brokerages. Onsite is competitive on premium pricing (we benchmark monthly against both) and bundles in the things tradespeople actually need every day: business banking, accounting, CIS handling, expense tracking and an AI assistant that knows your trade. Most users tell us the time saving is bigger than the premium saving.

New Insurance, accounting, banking, AI. One login.

One platform for every part of your trade.

Onsite is the operating system for self-employed tradespeople. Public liability, tools cover, van insurance, business banking, accounting, expenses, CIS, and an AI assistant that knows your business. All under one login.

Build your bundle Try the AI assistant

60s to set up

£24 avg saved /month

4.9 Trustpilot, 1,200+ reviews

Your bundle

£91£67 /mo

Five products bundled. You save £24/mo.

Public liability Tools Banking + 2 more

Onsite AI

Added Makita SDS drill (£319.99) to your tools cover. Premium up £0.40. Logged as a capital expense with 25% depreciation.

Auto-applied 2 min ago

Backed by

FCA regulated

UK accounting partners

Open Banking certified

ISO 27001 data security

Built for

Plumbers, sparkies, builders, gas engineers. Every kind of trade.

Whatever you fit, fix, install or build, your business has the same five problems. Insurance, banking, expenses, tax, and finding time for any of it. Onsite handles all of them.

Your trade not here? Onsite covers 40+ skilled trades across the UK. Type yours in the quote to start a tailored bundle.

See all trades

The bundle

Tick what you need. Onsite does the rest.

Mix and match. Save more when you bundle. Cancel anything anytime. The bundle below updates in real time.

Public liability insurance

£1m to £5m cover. Protects you from third-party injury or property damage claims on the job.

from£14/mo

Tools insurance

All your kit covered against theft, accidental damage and loss. Up to £10,000 cover, new for old.

from£8/mo

Van insurance

Goods in transit included. UK and EU cover. Multi-van discount if you run a small fleet.

from£49/mo

Employer's liability

Required by law if you take on subbies or staff. £10m minimum cover. CIS-aware tracking included.

from£12/mo

Business banking + Mastercard Free with bundle

UK current account, instant Mastercard, expense categorisation built in. No monthly fees.

Free

Accounting and CIS handling

Filing, expenses, CIS deductions, depreciation, mileage. UK-qualified accountants. Self-Assessment or limited company.

from£39/mo

Tools and van financing Coming soon

Replace gear and grow your fleet without disrupting cash flow. Repayment matched to your work calendar.

fromTBC

Everything in one place

Your business. On one screen.

No more spreadsheets. No paper receipts. No chasing three different logins. Onsite is the single home for everything that runs your trade.

onsite.co/dashboard

Onsite

Dashboard

Insurance

Banking

Accounting

Expenses

Mileage

Workflows

CIS returns

Subcontractors

Tax estimate

Good morning, Tom.

Wednesday 13 May 2026 · Week 20

VAT headroom: £15,800

Public liability

Active

Renews 14 Dec 2026

Tools cover

£8,420 insured

12 items on schedule

Van cover

Active

Renews 02 Mar 2027

CIS this month

£840 withheld

Across 4 subbies

Income vs expenses

Last 12 months

YTD profit £42.1k

Recent activity

Last 24 hours

Added Makita SDS drill to tools cover (£319.99) 12:48 today

Logged Birmingham job mileage: 142 miles 11:02 today

CIS deducted from John Smith invoice: £160 09:30 today

Ask Onsite AI anything about your business Press /

Tax estimate updated You're saving £620 by claiming new tools this quarter.

John Smith paid invoice #0042 £1,200 received. £240 CIS withheld, logged.

Public liability claim approved Payout in 2 working days.

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An assistant that knows your business inside out.

Onsite's AI sees your jobs, expenses, insurance and tax position. It answers questions, takes actions, and flags things you might have missed.

09:41

Onsite AI

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Build your bundle in 60 seconds.

Eight quick questions. Indicative price on screen, confirmed quote after a quick call. No admin fees, ever.

What is your main business activity?

These are the activities you will be covered for.

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or pick from popular trades

What is your main business activity?

These are the activities you will be covered for.

Plumber

Do you need cover for any other business activities?

What is your business type?

How many years of experience do you have working in this industry?

What is your estimated turnover for the next 12 months?

Don't worry if this is going to change. You can update your policy at any time, no admin fees.

How many people work in your business?

Include yourself, employees, and any subcontractors you use regularly.

Do you currently have business insurance?

We can match or beat your current policy. Helps us know what you already cover.

Where should we send your bundle quote?

Indicative price on the next screen, then a quick callback to confirm.

What we’re quoting for

What happens next

Quick callback within one working day on your number to confirm details and final cover
Final price emailed to your email with your underwritten bundle
Live in 24 hours from confirmation, with full cover from the moment you accept

Reference ONSITE-XXX

Question 1 of 8

One platform for every part of your trade.

Plumbers, sparkies, builders, gas engineers. Every kind of trade.

Tick what you need. Onsite does the rest.

Your business. On one screen.

An assistant that knows your business inside out.

Build your bundle in 60 seconds.

What is your main business activity?

What is your main business activity?

Do you need cover for any other business activities?

What is your business type?

How many years of experience do you have working in this industry?

What is your estimated turnover for the next 12 months?

How many people work in your business?

Do you currently have business insurance?

Where should we send your bundle quote?

Your quote is on its way

What we’re quoting for

What happens next

Trade insurance, banking and CIS — questions UK tradespeople ask us most.