Contractors’ All Risk vs Public Liability vs Professional Indemnity

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Understanding the key differences between construction insurance policies

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We arrange specialist construction insurance from leading UK insurers

  • Allianz
  • Aviva
  • QBE
  • RSA
  • Zurich
  • NIG

THREE CORE TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION INSURANCE

Why Understanding the Difference Matters

Each of these policies covers a very different type of risk. Confusion between them is one of the most common causes of uninsured losses and rejected claims in the construction and engineering sector.

What Does Contractors’ All Risk (CAR) Insurance Cover?


  • Damage to works in progress
  • Materials on site or in temporary storage
  • Fire, flood, storm and accidental damage
  • Theft and malicious damage
  • Plant, tools and site equipment (if included)

What Does Public Liability Insurance Cover?


  • Injury to third parties (members of the public)
  • Damage to third-party property
  • Legal defence and compensation costs
  • Claims arising from site activities
  • Contractually required by most clients

What Does Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover?


  • Design, specification and advice errors
  • Professional negligence claims
  • Financial losses caused by mistakes
  • Claims made after the work is completed
  • Essential for design & build contractors

Which Insurance Do You Need?


  • Most contractors need more than one policy
  • Clients and lenders often specify minimum covers
  • Combined packages can reduce gaps
  • Design responsibility triggers PI exposure
  • Project size affects CAR requirements

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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Do I need all three types of insurance?

Many construction businesses require a combination of policies depending on project type, contract wording and whether design responsibility is involved.

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Is public liability included in CAR insurance?

No. Contractors’ All Risk insurance covers the works themselves, not injury or damage to third parties — public liability is separate.

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Does PI cover physical damage?

No. Professional indemnity covers financial loss caused by professional errors, not physical damage to property.

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