If you are a freelancer, you will probably work on your own for a variety of clients and your reputation will mean a lot to your business. Your income will be reliant on the work continuing to come in and you will be personally liable for your work.
As such you should consider protecting both yourself, your family and business with adequate insurance that removes this risk. If you work in public areas or members of the public visit your premises you should have public liability insurance.
If you provide advice and professional services, you should have professional indemnity cover. These insurance covers limit your liability and protect you from the costs of any claims. Below we have examined what insurance is available for freelancers.
The table below gives a quick price comparison of the top UK providers for freelancer insurance.
| Company | Minimum cover | Maximum cover |
|---|---|---|
| Aviva | Not stated | £5 million |
| AXA | Not stated | £10 million |
| Direct Line for Business | Not stated | £10 million |
| Lloyds Bank | Not stated | Not stated |
| Covéa | Not stated | £10 million |
| Hiscox | Not stated | £10 million |
| Markel direct | Not stated | £10 million |
| Churchill | Not stated | £10 million |
* The facts and figures included here come from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing but may have since changed. Also, please keep in mind these may not be apples to apples comparisons as each provider offers different solutions. This guide should be used as a starting off point for more research on your part.
Below we profile each of the companies’ services and features in a bit more detail.
Note companies are ranked in no particular order and this no way indicates one solution is better than another.
Topics
1. Aviva
Some of the features and benefits of Aviva’s freelancer insurance.
- Self-Employed Insurance
- Suitable for freelancers and sole traders
- Tailored cover
- Public liability
- Professional indemnity
- Tools, stock and equipment cover
- Offers a range of optional extras
- Business income insurance
- Vehicles
- Buildings and contents insurance
Aviva is an insurance provider that offers a wide variety of business insurance products that cater for a broad range of businesses including the self-employed, freelancers and sole traders. Their range of business insurance packages includes Self-Employed Insurance which includes cover for freelancers.
Aviva’s Self-Employed Insurance allows you to tailor the cover that you need with a choice of insurance products. This includes up to £5 million public liability insurance, up to £2 million professional indemnity insurance, and tools, stock and business equipment cover up to £30,000. You can also add business income, vehicle insurance, buildings and contents cover, and employer’s liability if you have employees.
2. AXA
Some of the features and benefits of AXA’s freelancer insurance.
- Self-Employed Insurance
- Suited to freelancers
- Flexible cover
- Choice of cover options
- Public liability
- Professional indemnity
- Tools, plant and equipment
- Business equipment
- Personal accident cover
- Breach of confidentiality and infringement of copyright cover
AXA is an insurance provider that offers a range of business insurance products which includes combined package products designed to meet the needs of specific business types. Their range includes Self-Employed Insurance which covers freelancers and they will cover both existing and new businesses.
AXA’s Self-Employed Insurance is a flexible policy that allows you to select the cover that you require. This cover includes public liability, professional indemnity and employer’s liability if you have employees. They also offer a range of optional covers such as tools, plant and equipment for tradesman, business equipment cover for professionals, personal accident cover, breach of confidentiality and infringement of copyright cover.
3. Direct Line for Business
Some of the features and benefits of Direct Line for Business’ freelancer insurance.
- Insurance for contractors and freelancers
- Flexible policy
- Public liability
- Professional indemnity
- Content and stock
- Business interruption
- Legal expenses
- Employer’s liability if needed
- Cyber cover
- Guarantee to beat other quotes
Direct Line for Business is a part of Direct Line which caters specifically for business insurance for smaller businesses in the UK. They offer a variety of insurance cover as combined packages which include insurance for contractors and freelancers.
Direct Line for Business’ insurance for contractors and freelancers offers a tailorable policy where you select the cover that you require from a list of options. You can choose to include up to £10 million public liability, professional indemnity, content and stock cover, up to £25,000 business interruption, legal expenses and cyber cover. You can also add employer’s liability insurance if you employ anyone.
Direct Line for Business website
4. Lloyds Bank
Some of the features and benefits of Lloyds Bank’s freelancer insurance.
- Public liability insurance for tradesman and the self-employed
- Tailored cover
- Public liability as standard
- Level of cover options from £1 million to £5 million
- Choice of additional cover options
- Professional indemnity
- Employer’s liability if needed
- Protects your business from claims
- Easy to buy cover
- Provided in partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher
Lloyds Bank is a financial provider that also provides business insurance products in partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher. Together they offer a range of business insurance products that are tailored to meet the needs of specific trades and professions. This range includes public liability for tradesman and the self-employed.
Lloyds Bank’s public liability cover can be tailored to the needs of specific trades and professions and will cover freelancers with a choice of cover of £1 million, £2 million or £5 million public liability cover. You can also add other cover to the policy such as professional indemnity and employer’s liability insurance if you have employees.
5. Covea
Some of the features and benefits of Covea’s freelancer insurance.
- Tradesman and Professionals Insurance
- Designed for smaller businesses including freelancers
- Available to professional, manual and clerical trades
- Offers basic cover with a range of optional cover
- Public and product liability
- Tools and goods in transit
- Own and hired plant
- Contract works
- Accidental death
- Employer’s liability if needed
Covea specialises in insurance products for small businesses with a range of products tailored to specific trades and professions. Their range includes Tradesman and Professionals Insurance which caters for a variety of businesses including freelancers in professional jobs and manual or clerical trades.
Covea’s Tradesman and Professionals Insurance includes public and product liability as standard up to £5 million with accidental death cover. They also offer optional extras such as tools, goods in transit, contract works, own and hired plant. They provide cover up to 10 employees and offer employer’s liability cover up to £10 million if you employ staff as this is a legal requirement.
6. Hiscox
Some of the features and benefits of Hiscox’s freelancer insurance.
- Self-Employed Insurance
- Tailored cover for freelancers
- Professional indemnity
- Public liability
- Office insurance
- Cyber and data risk insurance
- Personal accident
- Portable equipment cover
- Contractors insurance
- Employer’s liability if needed
Hiscox is an insurance provider that offers a variety of business insurance products that are designed to cater for specific trades and professions with standalone or combined insurance products. Their range of products includes Self-Employed Insurance which is a tailored policy for freelancers.
Hiscox’s Self-Employed Insurance is designed for a wide range of businesses and professions which offers public liability and professional indemnity insurance as well as a range of optional covers. You can also add office insurance, cyber and data risk cover, personal accident, portable equipment cover, contractors insurance and employer’s liability if you employ staff.
7. Markel direct
Some of the features and benefits of Markel direct’s freelancer insurance.
- Freelancer and Contractor Insurance
- Tailored cover for small businesses
- Suitable for consultants, contractors and designers
- Choice of a range of cover options
- Public and product liability
- Professional indemnity
- Office insurance
- Occupational personal accident
- Cyber and data risks
- Directors and officer’s insurance
Markel Direct is a specialist small business insurance provider offering a wide range of business insurance products designed to meet the needs of specific trades and professions. Their products include Freelancer and Contractor Insurance which is suited to consultants, contractors and designers.
Markel direct’s Freelancer and Contractor Insurance offers flexible cover that allows you to tailor your policy from a choice of options. Their cover can include public and product liability from £1 million to £5 million, professional indemnity up to £5 million, office insurance, occupational personal accident, legal representation, cyber and data risks, directors and officer’s insurance, and employer’s liability up to £10 million if you employ staff.
8. Churchill
Some of the features and benefits of Churchill’s freelancer insurance.
- Consultants Insurance
- Tailored policy
- Public liability
- Increased cover from £1 million up to £10 million
- Business equipment
- Stock cover
- Personal accident
- Employer’s liability if needed
- 24/7 legal helpline
- Peace of mind cover
Churchill is an insurance provider that offers a small range of business insurance products that are designed for smaller businesses and the self-employed. They offer a range of insurance products that have public liability insurance at their core with a range of optional covers. These products include Consultants Insurance which is designed for a variety of business types including freelancers.
Churchill’s Consultants Insurance offers public liability insurance at £1 million as standard with the option to increase it to £2 million, £5 million or £10 million. They offer a range of optional covers which include business equipment, stock cover, personal accident and employer’s liability insurance if you employ anyone.
Financial Disclosure: We may be paid a fee if you purchase insurance via the link to Simply Business.