Are the tools in your van actually insured?
Most van policies exclude tools, or cover them only in daylight. Four questions to ask before the side door is forced.
30 July 2026 · 3 min read
Tool theft from vans is the claim we handle most often for tradespeople, and it is the one most often turned down. Not because the insurer is being difficult, but because the policy never covered tools in the first place.
Four questions to ask of your policy
Does it cover tools at all? A standard van policy covers the van. Tools need their own section, or a separate tools policy, with a stated limit.
Does it cover them overnight? Many tools sections exclude theft between 9pm and 7am unless the van is in a locked garage or compound. If your van lives on the drive, that matters.
What counts as “locked”? Most insurers want signs of forced entry. A van left open while you nip into a customer’s house is not covered, however quick the trip.
Is the limit per item or in total? A £5,000 limit with a £500 single-item cap will not pay for a £1,200 mitre saw in full.
What we do
We add a tools section with a limit that matches what you really carry, check the overnight condition against where the van is kept, and keep a list of serial numbers on file so a claim does not depend on finding receipts.
Keep photos of your kit and the serial numbers somewhere that is not in the van. It turns a six-week claim into a six-day one.
