Public liability

Protect Your Business from Third-party Claims.

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What is Public Liability Insurance?

Public liability insurance protects individuals and businesses against claims made by third parties for injury, property damage, or financial loss caused by business activities.

If a client, contractor, or member of the public is injured or their property is damaged because of your business, they may sue for compensation. Public liability insurance covers these costs, helping protect your finances and reputation.

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What does it cover?

  • Compensation Costs – Covers payments to third parties for injury or damage caused by your business.
  • Medical Fees – Pays for treatment if someone is injured or becomes ill on your premises.
  • Repair Costs – Covers accidental damage to someone else’s property.
  • Legal Costs – Helps pay for legal defence and court fees if a claim is made against you.

Do I need Public Liability Insurance?

Public liability insurance isn’t legally required in the UK, but it’s strongly recommended if you interact with the public, clients, or contractors. Many clients may also insist you have it before working with you.

How much Public Liability Insurance do I need?

The level of cover depends on your business activities and risk level. For example:

  • High-risk work (e.g., construction, using heavy equipment) may require higher limits.
  • Even low-risk businesses should consider cover if they regularly interact with the public.

Most policies offer £1m, £2m, £5m, or £10m in cover, but higher limits are available. A minimum of £5m is generally recommended for most businesses.

The cost (or “premium”) for your Public Liability insurance will depend on several factors and is based on the predicted likelihood of a claim being made against you and the potential cost of a claim. It considers factors including the type of work you’ll be carrying out, and the level of cover that you have requested.

There is a small excess payment required for our Public Liability insurance. However, you only have to pay this if a claim against you is successful, so you can call us to discuss any worries or concerns you have about anything related to a potential claim without worrying that we are going to charge you for it. We are here to help.

Our Public Liability cover has no cut-off date for making claims, so as long as you have Public Liability insurance cover for the whole length of your contract, you will be covered for any incident that occurs during that time, regardless of how long afterwards it is brought to your attention.

Public Liability insurance protects you if a person or their property gets damaged while they are visiting you, or if you damage something belonging to them.

It does not cover you if you make a mistake during the course of your work that causes financial loss. This would be covered by Professional Indemnity.

It also does not cover accidents that happen to people who are working for you. If you employ staff then you should take out Employer’s Liability insurance to cover this.

For more information on what’s not covered, read our full list of exclusions below.

Public Liability insurance does not cover any claim or loss arising from:

  • Errors and Omissions. An actual or alleged breach of your company’s professional duty. This would be covered by Professional Indemnity.
  • Damage to your own property. Damage to property belonging to you or which at the time of the damage is in your care, custody or control. However, this exclusion does not apply to vehicles or personal belongings of your employees or visitors, or premises rented to you.
  • Employer’s Liability. Bodily injury to your employees would be covered by Employer’s Liability insurance.
  • A Computer Virus. Transmission of a computer virus.

Public liability insurance isn’t the only form of business liability insurance, and there are many other optional policies you can also take out to protect what’s yours. Whilst some are a legal requirement, others don’t need to be bought, but could be beneficial depending on the industry your business trades.

Need more help?

Our online quote is fast and simple but, if you need help or a wider range of policy options, our team of experts.

Call us today: 020 7846 0108

9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

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Why choose Tapoly?

Accessible Coverage

Get the protection you need, whenever you need it, with our easy-to-use online platform.

Affordable Pricing

Designed to fit your budget, ensuring you’re protected without breaking the bank.

Flexible and tailored

Choose coverage that grows with your business, from professional indemnity to public liability and beyond.

Learn more about insurance