Freelance insurance that protects your livelihood

As soon as you start working with clients on a freelance basis — even on your first project. Whether you meet clients in person, visit their premises, or work entirely remotely, many will require proof of cover before engaging you. Cover should be in place before you take on any paid work.

No — it isn't a legal requirement in the UK. However, many clients, agencies, and platforms require freelancers to have public liability insurance as a contractual condition. Without it you may find yourself unable to secure certain contracts or clients, and personally exposed to claims with no financial protection.

It covers compensation claims and legal fees if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged as a result of your freelance work. Common examples include a client being injured at a location where you're working, accidental damage to a client's property during a visit or on-site work, or a third party being affected by your activities at a shared event or workspace. It covers both the compensation payment and your legal costs, even if a claim turns out to be unfounded.

Public liability insurance covers claims from members of the public — it doesn't cover losses caused by professional mistakes or errors in your work (you'd need professional indemnity for that), claims from anyone you employ (that's employers' liability), or damage to your own equipment. Always check your policy wording carefully to understand exactly what's included.

Yes — a freelance public liability policy covers your business activities across all the clients and projects you work on, not just one at a time. As long as the type of work you carry out is accurately described in your policy, you're covered regardless of how many concurrent projects you have.

Yes — we can arrange cover quickly and you'll receive proof of your policy instantly, which you can share with your client straight away. If you have an urgent requirement, give our team a call on 0345 222 6318 and we'll get you sorted as quickly as possible.

Standard cover starts at £1 million, which is sufficient for most freelancers. Many larger clients and agencies will require £2 million or £5 million as a contractual minimum. Check your client and platform requirements before selecting your cover level.

Yes — business insurance is an allowable expense, which means you can deduct the cost when calculating your taxable profit. Make sure you keep your policy documents and receipts as records for HMRC. If you're unsure, speak to your accountant.

Yes — you'll receive proof of cover instantly when your policy is in place, which you can share with clients and agencies straight away. If you also take out employers' liability cover, a Certificate of Employers' Liability will be issued immediately.

We've been arranging insurance for over 50 years — now trading as insurd — and we're authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Register Number: 308508), and over a thousand real customers have shared their experiences with us on Trustpilot.

You can verify our status directly on the FCA register.