What is solar panel installer insurance?
Solar panel installation insurance is a collection of covers designed to protect your business from the unique risks of installing and maintaining solar energy systems.
From accidental property damage to legal disputes, solar panel installer insurance means you won’t be left covering costs out of your own pocket if something goes wrong. It typically includes the key liability covers and protection for tools and equipment.
- Public liability insurance—Covers injury or damage to third parties.
- Professional indemnity insurance—Protects against claims of bad advice or design faults.
- Employers' liability insurance—A legal requirement if you have staff.
- Contract works cover—Helps if something happens to an ongoing installation.
- Tools & business equipment cover—Because your kit isn’t cheap.
- Plant & machinery insurance—Covers owned and hired equipment.
- Commercial legal expenses—Helps with legal disputes and regulatory issues.
Public liability insurance for solar contractors
When you’re handling large panels, electrical wiring, and rooftop installations, there’s always a risk of accidental damage or injury. Public liability insurance steps in to cover legal costs and compensation claims if your work unintentionally harms someone or damages their property.
Example: You drop a solar panel while lifting it onto a roof, and it crashes through a client’s conservatory. Without solar installer insurance, you’d be footing the repair bill yourself.
Most clients expect solar contractors to have at least £1 million in public liability cover, though larger projects may require more.
Other covers usually included in solar energy contractors' insurance
Depending on the scale of your business, you may need extra protection beyond public liability. Here’s what’s often included:
Professional indemnity insurance
Solar technology is complex, and incorrect system design or installation can lead to efficiency losses or failures. If a client claims your advice, design, or installation caused financial loss, professional indemnity insurance covers legal fees and compensation costs.
Employers liability insurance
Legally required if you have employees, this covers claims from staff who suffer work-related injuries or illnesses.
Example: One of your installers falls from a ladder while fitting panels and sues for lost wages and medical expenses. Without employers' liability insurance, you’d be covering that cost yourself plus paying a fine. Employers' liability insurance is a legal requirement in the UK.
Contract works cover
Your installation work isn’t complete until the final bolt is tightened. Contract works cover protects projects in progress, covering damage from events like storms, fire, theft, or vandalism.
Example: A storm wrecks your partially installed solar system overnight. This cover helps with repairs and replacements.
Tools & business equipment cover
Solar installers rely on specialist tools—and they’re not cheap. Tools & business equipment insurance protects tools and equipment from theft or malicious damage.
Example: Your van is broken into, and your inverters and power drills disappear. With this cover, you can replace them quickly.
Plant & machinery
If you own or hire machinery like cherry pickers, plant and machinery insurance ensures you won’t be left with hefty repair or replacement costs if they’re stolen or damaged.
Example: A hired cherry picker is vandalised on-site, leaving you liable for the repair bill.
Commercial legal expenses
From contract disputes to tax investigations, commercial legal expenses insurance helps cover the cost of hiring solicitors and dealing with legal claims.
Example: A client refuses to pay for a completed installation, and you need legal help to recover the debt.
