Crane hire sits right at the sharp end of construction and engineering risk. You’re moving high-value plant, lifting heavy loads over live sites, working to tight programmes, and often operating near the public, highways, rail, utilities, or occupied buildings. One mistake can mean major property damage, serious injury, project delays, contractual disputes, and reputational harm.
That’s why “standard” plant cover rarely fits crane hire properly. You typically need a package that combines plant insurance (for the crane and associated equipment) with construction and engineering insurance protections that reflect how cranes are used, hired, transported, maintained, and operated.
This guide explains what plant insurance for crane hire usually covers, the add-ons that matter most, and the practical steps that help you get broader cover at a sensible premium.
Plant insurance is designed to protect owned or hired-in machinery and equipment against loss or damage. For crane hire, that can include:
Mobile cranes (all-terrain, truck-mounted, rough terrain)
Crawler cranes
Tower cranes (including erection/dismantling exposures)
Lorry loaders / HIAB-type cranes
Pick-and-carry cranes
Mini cranes / spider cranes
Lifting accessories and tackle (slings, chains, spreader beams, hooks, shackles)
Ancillary equipment (outriggers mats, ballast/counterweights, remote controls)
Depending on your operation, plant insurance may be arranged as:
Specified items (each crane listed with value and details)
Unspecified plant (a blanket sum insured for smaller items)
Owned plant and/or hired-in plant
For crane hire businesses, the big question is not just “is the crane insured?” but when and where it’s insured: in transit, on site, during lifting operations, while stored, and while being erected or dismantled.
This is the foundation. It protects your cranes and equipment against accidental loss or damage, typically including:
Collision, impact, overturning
Fire, lightning, explosion
Theft and attempted theft
Vandalism and malicious damage
Flood and storm damage
Key details to check:
Basis of settlement: indemnity vs new-for-old (common for smaller plant; cranes often indemnity)
Sum insured: realistic market value including attachments
Excess: higher excesses are common for cranes due to claim severity
Territorial limits: UK only vs including Ireland/Europe
If you hire cranes or equipment from others (or hire in accessories), you may be responsible for loss/damage under the hire agreement. Hired-in plant cover can protect you for:
Damage to hired-in cranes/plant
Theft of hired-in equipment
Your contractual liability to the owner
Make sure the policy limit matches your maximum exposure at any one time (e.g., peak project periods).
Crane hire often involves frequent movement between depots and sites. Transit cover typically protects against:
Road traffic collisions while being transported
Loading/unloading incidents
Theft from vehicles
Damage while on low loaders or trailers
Check whether the policy covers:
Self-propelled movement vs movement on a transporter
Loading/unloading as standard or as an extension
Unattended vehicle theft conditions (locks, alarms, tracking)
Plant insurance protects the crane. Public liability protects you if your operations cause injury or property damage to third parties.
For crane hire, this is critical because a single incident can involve:
Damage to the client’s structure
Damage to neighbouring property
Injury to site workers or members of the public
Damage to underground/overhead services
You’ll want to confirm:
The policy does not exclude lifting (some general liability policies restrict this)
Adequate limits (often £5m–£10m+, depending on contracts)
Any restrictions on working near rail, airports, or highways
If you employ staff (including operators, slingers/signallers, fitters, yard staff), employers’ liability is typically a legal requirement in the UK.
For crane hire, insurers will look closely at:
Training and competence records
Supervision and method statements
Incident reporting and near-miss culture
If you’re not just supplying crane hire but also taking on elements of the works (or operating under a broader contract), you may need contract works cover for:
The works in progress
Materials on site
Temporary works
Even if the principal contractor has a project policy, you should confirm your responsibilities and whether your plant and liabilities are fully addressed.
Cranes are subject to strict inspection regimes. Insurance can be paired with (or separate from) engineering inspection services.
You may also consider machinery breakdown cover for sudden and unforeseen mechanical/electrical failure. It’s especially relevant for:
Slew ring and gearbox failures
Hydraulic system failures
Control system faults
Accessories are often the “forgotten” exposure. They’re relatively low value compared to the crane, but claims can be frequent (theft, damage, misplacement). Ensure:
Adequate unspecified plant limit
Clear cover for items stored in containers or vehicles
Counterweights are expensive and frequently moved. Check whether they’re:
Included in the crane’s sum insured
Covered in transit
Covered while stored at a client site
If you supply tower cranes, erection/dismantling is a high-risk phase. Confirm cover for:
Damage during erection/dismantling
Liability arising from those operations
Any height or wind-speed restrictions
Projects near docks, rivers, or coastal works can introduce “wet risk” exposures. Ask whether:
Plant is covered if it falls into water
Recovery costs are included
Pollution liability is addressed
If a key crane is out of action after an insured event, you can lose revenue and still carry costs.
Loss of hire cover can help with:
Lost income while the crane is being repaired
Ongoing finance payments
Replacement hire costs (if included)
Be clear on:
Indemnity period
Waiting days
Maximum benefit
Fitters’ tools, test equipment, and workshop kit can be covered under a tools section. Theft from vans is a common claim driver—expect security conditions.
Policies vary, but crane hire businesses often get caught by:
Wear and tear / gradual deterioration (maintenance is on you)
Mechanical breakdown (only covered if you buy the extension)
Overloading or using outside manufacturer limits
Unattended theft conditions (keys left in, no immobiliser, no tracking)
Defective workmanship (the cost to fix the defect may be excluded)
Damage to the load being lifted (often excluded unless specifically insured)
Contractual liability beyond negligence (hire contracts can be harsh)
A practical tip: ask your broker/insurer to confirm in writing how the policy treats damage to the load and damage to the item being worked upon. These are frequent dispute areas.
Insurers price crane hire based on severity potential. Expect detailed questions about:
Fleet list: make/model, age, capacity, replacement value
Operator competence: CPCS/NPORS, in-house training, experience
Maintenance regime: planned preventative maintenance, records
LOLER compliance: thorough examinations and defect management
Lift planning: appointed person, lift plans, method statements
Site selection and ground conditions: outrigger mats, ground bearing pressure checks
Telematics/tracking and security: immobilisers, geofencing, CCTV at depot
Claims history: frequency, cause, corrective actions
If you can demonstrate strong controls, you’re not just reducing premium—you’re reducing the chance of exclusions being applied after a loss.
Use a competent Appointed Person
Document lift plans for complex lifts
Confirm exclusion zones and traffic management
Many crane incidents start with ground failure.
Record ground bearing pressure assessments
Use appropriate mats and spreaders
Re-check after heavy rain, excavations, or backfilling
CCTV, lighting, access control
Tracking devices on high-value plant
Key control procedures
Planned maintenance schedules
LOLER thorough examinations
Defect reporting and close-out logs
Verify hire agreements and responsibilities
Check that hired-in plant is insured appropriately
Ensure operators are authorised and inducted
Underinsurance can reduce claim payments. Use realistic values based on:
Current used market prices
Replacement lead times and costs
Attachments and accessories
Consider:
Contract requirements (often £5m–£10m)
Working in public areas or near critical infrastructure
Potential for catastrophic losses
Base this on your maximum concurrent hire exposure, not average use.
To get accurate terms quickly, prepare:
Fleet schedule (values, serial numbers, year, capacity)
Claims history (last 3–5 years)
Details of typical work (sectors, locations, heights)
Security measures (depot and vehicle)
Maintenance/inspection regime
Any contract wording that imposes special liabilities
Is plant insurance mandatory for crane hire?
Not legally, but it’s often contractually required and financially essential.
Does plant insurance cover the load being lifted?
Often not by default. You may need a specific extension or separate cover.
Is overturning covered?
Usually yes under accidental damage, but ground condition and overloading issues can complicate claims.
Do I need hired-in plant cover if I only hire occasionally?
Yes, because a single hired-in crane can be a major exposure.
Are lifting accessories covered automatically?
Sometimes, but limits can be low. Check unspecified plant limits.
Does the policy cover cranes while being transported?
Only if transit is included. Confirm loading/unloading cover.
What’s the difference between plant cover and machinery breakdown?
Plant cover is for external events (impact, theft, fire). Breakdown is for internal failure.
Can I insure cranes on a new-for-old basis?
Sometimes, but many crane policies settle on an indemnity basis.
Does public liability automatically include lifting?
Not always. You must confirm lifting operations are included.
How can I reduce my premium?
Strong maintenance records, documented lift planning, good security, and a clean claims history help.
Crane hire is a specialist sector, and your insurance should reflect that reality. The right plant insurance programme can protect your fleet, keep contracts moving, and help you recover quickly after a loss—without nasty surprises hidden in exclusions.
If you want, share your crane fleet size, typical lift types (mobile/tower/crawler), and whether you supply operators. I can tailor the structure and FAQs to match your exact crane hire model and target keywords for SEO.
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