Trade Direct Insurance FAQs

We currently offer two ways of paying for your Tradesman Public Liability insurance policy. You can either pay with a credit or debit card in a single instalment, or via instalments on Direct Debit. Please note that Trade Direct acts a credit broker and not a lender.

Please do not use the “Pay a Policy Premium” to pay for a policy when you purchase it. Please select either “Credit/ Debit Card” or “Instalments”.

Yes. We accept payments made using major credit and debit cards.

Yes. You have the option of paying for your insurance in instalments via Direct Debit. We work exclusively with a third-party who provides credit. Please see our credit example and information document for further details, which can be found on our policy wordings page. Trade Direct Insurance is a credit broker, not a lender.

When you buy Public Liability insurance through our website, your documents are available immediately from the “My Trade Direct” area of the website. You will need to log in using the email address that you provided to us as your username, and the password that you created for yourself when you activated your account. We do not email policy documents directly from the website.

Yes. When you purchase a Tradesman Public Liability insurance policy from Trade Direct Insurance via our website, we automatically create an online account for you, using the email address that you provided in the quotation process as your username. You should have received an email from us with a link to create your password.

If you buy a Tradesman Public Liability insurance policy via the telephone, before you can access your documents online, you’ll need to activate your online account. Account activation for policies bought on the phone requires your email address and your full postcode.

Yes. Before you can manage your Tradesman Public Liability insurance policy, you will need to activate your online account. Account activation for policies bought on the phone requires your email address and your full postcode.

If you have bought Tradesman Public Liability insurance from us over the telephone and want to view or download your documents, you will need to create and activate an online account. Account activation for policies bought on the phone requires your email address and your full postcode.

Yes. Before you can change your password, you will need to log in to your online account. If you’ve forgotten your password, then you’ll need to use the “Forgot?” function, which is available from the Account area of our website.

We have a forgotten password link on our website. Clicking the “Forgot?” link in the “Account” area of the website (after completing your email address) will send you an email with a link to reset your password.

Yes. To change your username, you first need to log in to your Account using the email address that you were previously using. You can then click on “Account details”, update your email address and click/ tap "Save".

Yes. To change your email address (which is your username), you first need to log in to your Account using the email address that you were previously using. You can then click on “Account details”, choose a new email address and click/ tap “Save”.

Claims can be worrying, and at Trade Direct we’re passionate about helping our customers. You’re welcome to contact us, and we’ll help in any way we can, however claims processing is handled by the insurer - not us.

We have a comprehensive list of Claims contact numbers on our Making a claim page.

Yes. We have a number of online functions. When you get a full quote, we automatically create an online account for you, if you don’t already have one. You will need to use this online account to manage your quote(s) and policie(s).

During your policy term, if you need to make any changes, you will need to ring us on 0800 0280 380, and we will adjust your policy for you. You can still access and download your updated documents in your online account.

At the renewal of your policy, you can view your renewal documents online, and if you don’t need to make any changes, you can pay your renewal premium online. If you’d like to change your cover at renewal, or notify us of any changes, you will need to ring us on 0800 0280 380.

You’re welcome to contact us, and we’ll help in any way we can, however claims processing is handled by the insurer - not us.

We have a comprehensive list of Claims contact numbers on our Making a Claim page.

If you bought a Tradesman insurance policy from the Trade UK website between September 2012 and 1st September 2014, unfortunately you are not currently able to view or download documents from the Trade Direct website. To access your documents, please ring us on 0800 0280 380 and we will be able to email them to you. If you bought a Trade UK policy on the Trade Direct website after the 1st September 2014, you will be able to Sign-In and access your documents, as detailed in other FAQs on this page.

Yes. Like many companies, we provide documents electronically when you buy on our website, and also when you purchase on the telephone. This is quicker and environmentally friendly. This means you get your documents in minutes and we do our bit for the environment. It’s also cheaper, which helps us bring you quality insurance at trade prices.

Our policy for tradespeople covers a range of business types including Sole Traders, Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships and Limited Companies.

We insure a wide range of trades, in fact it’s over 70, so whatever you do from air conditioning engineers to wheelie bin cleaners, there’s a good chance that we insure your trade.

We insure businesses with a turnover of up to £3M per annum. If your turnover limit is higher than this, please ring us on 0800 0280 230.

Some insurance companies and policies offer a voluntary excesses, where you can opt to reduce the amount that would be paid in the event of a claim. This can discourage smaller claims from being made, and means that claims pay-outs can be lower, so the insurance company may charge less for the policy as a result.

Because you’re insuring your livelihood, we believe that the right cover is important, rather than the lowest price. You can choose from our Essentials, Classic or Plus cover, which include different levels of optional cover, but it is important that the amounts you choose reflect your needs. Should you choose a low level of cover, and need to claim a higher amount, the claim may be reduced or not paid.

Yes. Our tradesman insurance covers businesses in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. You can purchase tradesman insurance for businesses in Northern Ireland online, or ring us on 0800 0280 380. We offer the same product, cover options and limits whether you’re in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Yes. Our tradesman insurance covers businesses in the Isle of Man, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands. You can purchase tradesman insurance for businesses in the Isle of Man online, or ring us on 0800 0280 380. We offer the same product, cover options and limits whether you’re in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Yes. Our tradesman insurance covers businesses in the Channel Islands, Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and the Isle of Man. You can purchase tradesman insurance for businesses in the Channel Islands online, or ring us on 0800 0280 380. We offer the same product, cover options and limits whether you’re in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

If you’ve bought car or van insurance, you’ll probably know all about No Claim Discounts. No Claim Discounts, sometimes known as a No Claim Bonus, are discounts that are offered to people who haven’t claimed against their insurance policy for a given period of time. We offer up to 10% No Claim Discount, if you have 2 years or more claim free. If you have a claim during a period of insurance with us, we may reduce or remove your No Claim Discount.

Yes. We offer up to 10% No Claim Discount off our Tradesman's insurance if you have 2 years or more claim free.

In the event that you need to make a claim, the insurance provider may perform checks relating to your claims history, and you may have to demonstrate your no claim discount entitlement. In the event that undeclared claims come to light, your claim may be reduced, or the claim may be rejected.

We insure a manual work force of up to a total of 15 employees and/ or trainees, who work manually away from your premises. Trainees must be on a regular, ongoing training course. This number does not include clerical staff, who do not need to be listed as they are covered as standard.

We currently offer two ways of paying for your Tradesman Public Liability insurance policy. You can either pay with a credit or debit card in a single instalment, or via instalments on Direct Debit. Please note that Trade Direct acts a credit broker and not a lender.

Please do not use the “Pay a Policy Premium” to pay for a policy when you purchase it. Please select either “Credit/ Debit Card” or “Instalments”.

When you buy Tradesman Public Liability insurance through our website, your documents are available immediately from the “My Trade Direct” area of the website. You will need to log in using the email address that you provided to us as your username, and the password that you created for yourself when you activated your account. We do not email policy documents directly from the website.

Yes. We have a number of online functions. When you get a full quote, we automatically create an online account for you, if you don’t already have one. You will need to use this online account to manage your quote(s) and policie(s).

Claims can be worrying, and at Trade Direct we’re passionate about helping our customers. You’re welcome to contact us, and we’ll help in any way we can, however claims processing is handled by the insurer - not us.

We have a comprehensive list of Claims contact numbers on our Making a claim page.

Yes, if your van is for private use, we can insure it.

No, we don’t currently insure vans registered in Northern Ireland.

Yes, we insure vans registered in the Channel Islands.

One of the differences between a single-vehicle policy and a fleet vehicle policy is how your vehicles are rated. Instead of rating on each vehicle and earning 'No Claims Discount', the insurer will rate on the claims experience of your policy as a whole.

Your Trade Direct policy can be upgraded to include tools cover – please give us a call on 0800 0280 380 to discuss.

Claims are handled by Zurich Insurance Company Ltd directly. To notify them please fill out the form on their website.

The line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you want to speak to us, we’re always happy to help. If you need help with the claims process or have any difficulties, please give us a call on 0800 0280 380.

We charge a £10 administration fee for policies bought online or via our team, on the phone.

You can either pay monthly or annually. Pay in one lump sum on a credit or debit card for  a full year.

If you choose monthly, you’ll pay an initial 15% deposit on a debit or credit card, with the balance due in 11 monthly instalments, via Direct Debit. See our table of fees for details.

Yes. We accept payments made using most major credit and debit cards.

Yes – you can pay for your insurance in instalments via Direct Debit. We work exclusively with a third-party who provide credit. Check out our information on credit document for further details, which can be found on our policy wordings page.

When you buy a policy, your policy documents will be sent to you at the email address you gave us. If you need replacement copies, we can email them to you on request.

Our Tradesman's Liability insurance policy, which we often refer to as “Public Liability insurance” is more than just a Public Liability policy. It has been developed exclusively for Trade Direct Insurance, and is designed to be a comprehensive and high quality combined liability policy, with a range of core and optional covers, and limits that can be selected to help meet individual circumstances.

We offer three different levels of product, and these packages have been carefully designed to meet the varying needs of tradespeople and small businesses:

Essentials

Essentials is a unique and comprehensive product, with Products and Public Liability insurance at its heart, and Employers’ Liability included as standard if you have employees. In addition to this core cover, you have the option to add a range of optional extensions, such as Jury Service, Contract Works, Hired-In Plant and Owned Plant.

Classic

Classic builds on Essentials, with Professional Indemnity cover included within the policy, as well the first £1,000 of Personal Tools cover (which you can increase), and other benefits designed to pay a lump sum should you die, or if you lose a limb while at work.

Plus

This is our most comprehensive product level, adding to the features and benefits included in our Essentials and Classic products. It includes Personal Accident cover, which is designed to pay a weekly sum to workers noted on the policy should they be unable to work due to an accident at work.

The personal accident weekly benefit shall be payable for not more than 104 weeks (excluding the first 14 days) in respect of any one injury.

*This optional extension is not available on our Essentials or Classic products
** This optional extension is not available on our Essentials product

In this guide, we explain each of the core covers, as well as providing an overview of the optional extensions.

In many situations, we should be able to extend your policy. If things don’t go as planned and you need to extend, please ring us on 0800 230 0225.

Fleet insurance premiums are calculated on a range of different factors, including prior claims experience, the number and type of vehicles being insured and No Claims Discounts.

We do not insure fleets driven in Northern Ireland.

Yes, we insure fleets registered and driven in the Channel Islands.

We currently offer two ways of paying for your fleet policy – one single payment for the full annual premium or a monthly direct debit (available if you are over the age of 18).

Trade Direct is a credit broker and not a lender.

When you buy a fleet insurance policy via our website, your documents will be posted to you the next working day. We do not email policy documents directly from the website.

Please contact our specialist team to make changes (adjustments, claims, renewals etc.) to your policy. Our team is always happy to help.

We know how stressful making a claim can be, so we have a comprehensive list of all claims contact numbers on our Making a Claim page.

If you buy our Classic or Plus product, you receive £100,000 of Professional Indemnity insurance cover. This limit cannot be changed, and as such, you cannot reduce the amount that you pay if you have this cover.

Should you require a higher level of Professional Indemnity cover, please ring us on 0800 0280 380.