Construction plant hire is a high-value, high-risk business. You’re lending out expensive machinery to customers working in unpredictable environments, often on tight deadlines, with multiple contractors on site. One accident, theft, or contract dispute can wipe out months of profit.
This guide explains what Construction Plant Hire Insurance typically includes, the risks it’s designed to cover, and how UK plant hire companies can structure cover that actually matches how they operate.
Construction Plant Hire Insurance is a set of policies designed to protect plant hire businesses against the main risks involved in owning, hiring out, transporting, and maintaining construction equipment.
“Plant” can include everything from mini diggers and dumpers to breakers, rollers, telehandlers, access platforms, generators, and specialist equipment. Some hire firms also supply operators, deliver equipment to site, or provide maintenance and servicing—each of which changes your risk profile and the insurance you need.
In practice, plant hire insurance is rarely one single policy. It’s usually a package combining:
Hired-out plant cover (your equipment while on hire)
Own plant cover (your equipment when not on hire)
Public liability
Employers’ liability
Commercial motor (if you deliver equipment)
Goods in transit (for tools/equipment in vehicles)
Property cover for your yard, workshop, and office
Business interruption
Legal expenses and contract dispute cover
Plant hire sits between construction, logistics, and asset finance. Your exposures aren’t the same as a typical contractor.
Key differences include:
You may not control the site, but your equipment is used there
Theft risk is higher because machines are left unattended
Damage can happen through misuse, overloading, or poor ground conditions
You may face arguments over “fair wear and tear” vs accidental damage
You can be pulled into claims even when the hirer was at fault
Your cashflow depends on utilisation—downtime hurts
A specialist plant hire policy should reflect real-world hire conditions, including short-term hires, long-term hires, cross-hire arrangements, and equipment moving between multiple sites.
Here are the most common claim drivers for plant hire companies.
Plant theft is a major issue across the UK. Common scenarios include:
Machines stolen from unsecured sites overnight
Tools and attachments stolen from vans or storage containers
Key theft and “drive-away” theft
Theft from your yard due to poor perimeter security
Insurers often require minimum security standards (tracking, immobilisers, key control, yard gates, CCTV, lighting). If you don’t meet them, theft claims can be reduced or declined.
Even careful operators can damage plant. Typical causes include:
Striking underground services
Rollovers on uneven ground
Collision with other equipment
Overloading and mechanical strain
Fire damage from hot works or fuel handling
The big question is whether your policy covers the plant while hired out, and whether it covers damage caused by the hirer.
If you deliver plant, the loading/unloading stage is a hotspot for claims:
Plant falls from ramps n- Attachments not secured properly
Damage caused by forklift handling
Road traffic accidents while transporting equipment
You may need a combination of commercial motor, goods in transit, and hired-in plant cover depending on how you operate.
A plant hire firm can face liability claims if:
A member of the public is injured by your equipment
Your delivery vehicle damages property
Your staff cause injury while delivering, installing, or demonstrating equipment
A defect in equipment contributes to an incident
Public liability is essential, but it must match your activities (delivery, installation, on-site demonstration, maintenance, operator supply).
Plant yards and workshops have their own hazards:
Manual handling injuries
Slips, trips, and falls
Crushing injuries during maintenance
Forklift incidents
Employers’ liability is legally required in most cases if you employ staff (including labour-only, temps, and apprentices).
Plant hire contracts can trigger disputes over:
Damage responsibility
Late returns and loss of hire
Non-payment
Sub-hire without permission
“Off-hire” arguments (equipment not working, breakdowns)
Legal expenses cover can help with recovery and defence costs, but it needs to be set up correctly.
Below are the main covers and what they do.
This is often the core of plant hire insurance. It protects your equipment while it is:
On a customer’s site
In the customer’s possession
Being used for the hired purpose
Key points to check:
Basis of settlement: new-for-old, market value, or indemnity value
Territorial limits: UK only, or including Ireland/Europe
Security conditions: trackers, immobilisers, storage requirements
Excess levels: often higher for theft and high-value items
Attachments and accessories: buckets, breakers, forks, GPS units
Loss of hire: optional cover for income lost while plant is being repaired
Your equipment is still at risk when it’s in your yard, being moved between depots, or being serviced. Own plant cover can include:
Theft from your premises
Accidental damage in storage
Fire, flood, storm damage
Vandalism
If you have multiple depots or a large yard, make sure the policy reflects all locations.
Many hire companies cross-hire equipment to meet demand. If you rent in plant from another supplier, you may be responsible for loss or damage. Hired-in plant insurance covers:
Damage to hired-in machinery
Theft of hired-in equipment
Your contractual responsibility to the owner
This is particularly important if your hire agreements make you liable regardless of fault.
Public liability covers compensation and legal costs if your business causes injury or property damage to a third party.
For plant hire companies, the “trigger” activities matter. Your policy should clearly include:
Delivery and collection
Loading/unloading
On-site demonstration
Installation/assembly (if applicable)
Maintenance and servicing (if offered)
Common limit levels are £2m, £5m, or £10m depending on contract requirements.
Employers’ liability is typically required by law if you employ staff. It covers claims from employees who are injured or become ill due to their work.
Most UK policies provide £10m as standard, but you should confirm:
Who counts as an employee (temps, labour-only, casuals)
Whether drivers and yard workers are included
Any exclusions for specific high-risk activities
If you use vehicles to deliver plant, you’ll likely need commercial motor cover. Depending on your fleet, this may be:
Single vehicle policy
Fleet policy
Any driver vs named driver
Important add-ons:
Goods in transit (tools, attachments, small plant)
Motor legal expenses
Breakdown cover
Your premises are a major part of your operation. Property cover can include:
Buildings (if you own them)
Contents (office equipment, tools)
Stock (consumables, parts)
Workshop machinery
Portable tools
If you store fuel, oils, or hazardous substances, disclose this clearly.
Business interruption covers loss of profit or increased costs of working after an insured event (like a fire) disrupts your operations.
For plant hire companies, the biggest BI triggers can be:
Fire at the yard/workshop
Theft of multiple high-value items
Flood damage to stored equipment
Make sure the indemnity period is realistic (often 12–24 months).
Some equipment requires statutory inspection (for example lifting equipment under LOLER). Insurance doesn’t replace compliance, but some insurers offer engineering inspection services.
If you supply lifting plant (telehandlers, MEWPs, cranes, lifting accessories), you should understand:
LOLER inspection intervals
PUWER requirements
Record keeping and certification
Having robust inspection processes can also improve your insurability.
Depending on your operation, consider:
Loss of hire (income protection while plant is off the road)
Tools and small plant (often stolen and frequently claimed)
Employee dishonesty (if you handle cash or high-value stock)
Cyber insurance (if you run online bookings, customer portals, or store payment data)
Directors’ and officers’ liability (for larger firms)
Professional indemnity (if you provide design, consultancy, or safety advice)
Plant hire insurance can fail when the policy wording doesn’t match reality. Watch for:
Unattended vehicle exclusions (tools stolen from vans)
Security warranties (tracker not active, keys left in office)
Wear and tear vs accidental damage disputes
Unauthorised drivers/operators using the plant
Use outside the hired purpose (e.g., using a telehandler as a crane)
Sub-hire without your consent
Territorial limits if plant crosses borders
A good broker will help align your hire agreements, operational processes, and insurance conditions.
Insurers typically look at:
Total value of plant (and maximum single item value)
Type of plant (high theft items vs low theft)
Hire terms (short-term vs long-term, with/without operator)
Security measures (tracking, immobilisers, key control)
Claims history
Yard security (gates, fencing, CCTV, lighting, alarms)
Geographic spread of hires (local vs national)
Transport arrangements (own vehicles vs subcontracted haulage)
Maintenance and inspection regime
If you can demonstrate strong risk management, you’re more likely to access better terms.
Here are steps that reduce claims and make underwriting easier:
Use GPS tracking and geofencing on high-value plant
Implement strict key control (locked cabinet, sign-out logs)
Photograph plant condition before and after hire
Use clear hire agreements defining responsibility for damage and security
Require proof of site security for overnight storage
Train staff on loading/unloading procedures
Keep LOLER/PUWER records organised and up to date
Vet customers for credit risk and fraud prevention
Plant hire businesses vary. The right structure depends on whether you:
Hire out plant only, or also supply operators
Deliver and collect equipment
Cross-hire plant regularly
Operate multiple depots
Store high-value equipment overnight
Many firms benefit from a commercial combined policy with plant sections added, but others need a more specialist plant hire wording.
Fast, well-documented claims tend to go better. If you have a theft or damage incident:
Report theft to the police immediately and get a crime reference number
Notify your insurer/broker as soon as possible
Preserve evidence (CCTV, photos, tracker logs)
Collect hire paperwork (hire agreement, off-hire notes, condition reports)
Record who had custody of the plant and when
For liability claims, avoid admitting fault before advice
Not as a single policy, but certain covers often are. Employers’ liability is usually a legal requirement if you employ staff. Motor insurance is required for vehicles used on public roads. Other covers (hired-out plant, public liability) are not legally required but are commercially essential.
It can, but it depends on policy conditions and security requirements. Many policies require specific security measures, especially overnight.
Hired-out plant covers your equipment when you hire it to customers. Hired-in plant covers equipment you rent in from other suppliers.
Often yes, but tools may sit under a different section with different limits and exclusions (especially for theft from vehicles).
Insurance usually covers sudden, accidental damage—not mechanical breakdown from wear and tear. Some businesses use separate maintenance contracts or engineering breakdown cover.
It’s an optional add-on that helps replace income while insured plant is being repaired after an insured event.
Usually yes. You can still face claims linked to delivery/collection, alleged defects, or third-party injury connected to your equipment.
It depends on the policy wording. Some settle on market value, others on indemnity value. Accurate asset schedules and valuations are important.
Yes, but you must ensure the policy is written on a “anywhere in the UK” basis (or specified territories) and that transit risks are addressed.
Plant hire is built on trust, utilisation, and uptime. The right insurance programme protects your equipment, your people, and your cashflow—and it helps you win contracts by demonstrating professionalism.
If you want a quote or a quick review of your current cover, speak to a specialist broker who understands plant hire operations, contract terms, and the realities of theft and damage risk.
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