Hired-in Plant Insurance

Why choose Howden for Hired-in Plant Insurance?

We know how tricky it can be for tradesmen to find the insurance products they need for their business, and that’s why we do our best to do the heavy lifting instead, so you don’t have to. Thanks to the brilliant relationships we have with our selected panel of both standard and specialist insurers, we’re able to make the process of sourcing various different hired-in plant insurance options, on your behalf, simple and straightforward.

Here at Howden, our team of experts understand that each hired-in plant insurance policy needs to be unique and tailored to each tradesman and their business. That’s why we provide a personalised service to our clients, which focuses on getting to know you and your business better, whilst also learning more about what you want from your hired plant insurance policy.

So, what are you waiting for? Whether you need to make a claim, purchase new hired plant insurance policies, or renew an existing one, just know that we’re always here to help.

Benefits of working with Howden:

• You can trust us – we’re rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
• We’re driven to save you time, money, and hassle.
• Benefit from a tailored service that comparison sites can’t provide.
• Speak with your local branch, within your community.
• We’re right by your side in the event of a claim.

What is Hired-in Plant Insurance?

Hired-in plant cover, also known as plant hire insurance, is a type of insurance coverage designed to protect businesses or individuals who rent or hire plant machinery, equipment, or tools for use in construction, engineering, or other industries. The term "plant" in this context refers to various types of machinery and equipment used in construction, such as excavators, bulldozers, cranes, forklifts, and other specialised equipment.

Businesses or individuals often opt for hired-in plant insurance to mitigate the financial risks associated with potential accidental damage, theft, or loss of the rented equipment from the hire company. It provides a safety net, ensuring that unforeseen costs related to incidents involving the hired equipment are covered by the insurance provider, rather than being solely the responsibility of the renter.

What does Hired-in Plant Insurance cover?

A hired-in plant insurance policy can be broken down into three ways it can protect your business when you hire machinery or equipment.

All risks covered

Each insurer is different, but most hired-in plant policies will provide you with cover in the event that the equipment or machinery is:

• Stolen
• Damaged by a fire, storm or flood
• Accidentally damaged

Be aware that mechanical breakdowns and wear and tear issues are typically excluded, so you’ll need to check with the insurer before getting a policy or making a claim.

Wide-ranging machinery & equipment cover

Insurance providers will often provide cover for a wide range of different hired tools and equipment, whether it be generator or small drills, or large diggers and forklifts. Equipment, machinery and vehicles can all be covered under a policy with flexible cover limits.

Hire charges covered by policy extension

If a piece of equipment your hire is unrepairable or lost under your care, you’ll still need to pay the hire company for the hire until they get a replacement. With hired-in plant cover though, cover extensions are available which allow you to pay late hire charges via your insurance, not through your own back pocket.

Which tradesmen can benefit from Hired-in Plant Insurance?

Whether it be self-employed start ups or global mega businesses, right across the trade industry professionals require equipment, tools and machinery that they could only get their hands on through hiring from another company. With that, comes with a need for hired-in plant insurance, and here at Howden, we can source a wide range of policies that can be specifically tailored to suit the needs of various tradesmen, including:

• Bricklayers
• Builders
• Contractors
• Electricians
• Gardeners & Landscapers
• Roofers
• Sole Traders
• Subcontractors
• Tree Surgeons

If you’re a tradesman that isn’t mentioned in the list above and need plant hire insurance, don’t fret. Give us a call on 01993 894 700 and we can help you find a policy that makes the most sense for you and your business.

Other types of business insurance that we offer

Tradesman and business owners need more than just hired-in plant insurance to protect all aspect of their business. Take a look below and find out more about the various business insurance products we can source:

Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance is a must-have policy, designed to protect businesses following third-party claims that stem from accidental injuries or property damage.

Employers’ liability insurance

Does your trade business employ anyone? If so, you’re legally required to have employers’ liability insurance to protect your business and your employees.

Professional indemnity insurance

If you offer professional advice as part of your service and a client suffers following the advice and files a claim, professional indemnity cover can protect you and your business.

Business equipment insurance

This insurance does what it says on the tin – it supports your business in the event that valuable business equipment are stolen, lost or damaged by provided repairs or replacements.

Tools insurance

Your tools are priceless for your business, making it crucial that you have the right insurance in place to protect them.

Goods in transit insurance

Transport your goods with peace of mind knowing that they are fully covered thanks to goods in transit cover.

Personal accident insurance

Accidents can happen, but the consequences of injuries on workflow can be costly. Personal accident cover is the perfect policy for ensuring injuries and accidents don’t disrupt your everyday work.

Legal expenses insurance

Legal disputes and the fees that come with them aren’t cheap for businesses. That’s where legal expenses cover can help, minimising the financial impacts of legal fees and claims made against your business.

Contractors’ all risk insurance

Get all-round comprehensive cover for your contract work, whether it be your tools, your business premises or site, materials, your employees, and much more.

Still not sure what business insurance you need? That’s okay. Get in touch with us today and we can discuss your requirements, before helping you build a comprehensive insurance package that ticks each of your boxes.

How much does Hired-in Plant Insurance cost?

A hired-in plant insurance policy premium can vary in price depending on several factors. These include:

• Which machinery or tools you’re hiring
• The risks your business faces
• Your claims history
• Whether you pay in monthly instalments or upfront

Premiums can also differ depending on which insurance provider you opt to get a policy with, because they’ll each have their own terms and conditions and procedures when it comes to calculating policy rates.

Ultimately though, the best way to find out how much YOUR premium will be, is to get a hired-in plant insurance quote. Either visit us in your local Howden branch today, give us a call, or click Get a Quote at the top of this page, and a member of our team will help you find a policy that not only considers your requirements, but also matches your budgetary expectations.

Any client of ours can also opt to pay upfront or by direct debit through monthly instalments. It's your call.

Related articles

Want to learn more about topics related to hired-in plant insurance? Have a read of the articles below that you can find on the Howden Blog!

• What does builders’ insurance cover?
• What is Contractors’ All Risk Insurance
• Which tools are the most stolen?

Hired-in Plant Insurance FAQs