Locksmith fleet insurance for mobile locksmith and key cutting vans
Vans fitted with key cutting machines and stocked with locks, out at all hours on lockout calls. One short form puts you in touch with brokers who can look at cover for a team of mobile locksmiths.
- Key cutting machines fitted
- Lock stock and blanks on board
- Round-the-clock lockout callouts
Locksmith fleet insurance in brief
Locksmith fleet insurance is one motor policy covering the vans of a mobile locksmith business, so each technician's van is insured on the same schedule rather than on a policy of its own. It is one of the narrower forms of fleet insurance for trades, usually taken out by a small team of locksmiths, sometimes including self-employed technicians working under one brand.
Two things shape the quote more than anything else: how well the contents of each van are protected, and the hours the vans spend on the road.
The van
What makes a locksmith's van a target?
A mobile locksmith's van is a workshop on wheels. It may hold a key cutting machine, a stock of locks and cylinders, blank keys, decoding tools and entry kit, all of it useful to a burglar.
Key cutting machines and benches
Machines bolted into the van, often with their own power supply, add to the van's value and need declaring.
- Fitted equipment may need its own sum insured
- Inverters and leisure batteries are worth mentioning
- A conversion changes what the van is worth
Locks, cylinders and blanks
Locksmiths carry a wide range of locks so they can make a door secure on the first visit.
- Stock is normally insured apart from the van
- Values can be higher than they look
- Cover after dark is often limited
Opening and decoding tools
Specialist tools for non-destructive entry are costly and would be a real worry in the wrong hands.
- Locked storage inside the van helps
- Insurers may ask how tools are kept
- Prompt reporting of losses is often a condition
Callout hours
Lockouts in the small hours: how round-the-clock work affects cover
Locksmiths are called when someone is locked out, a key snaps in a lock or a door is left insecure after a break-in, and that can be at any hour. Night driving, lone working and vans parked at home are all part of the picture.
- Night driving: Late callouts often mean driving tired, on unfamiliar roads, to reach a customer standing outside in the cold.
- Vans at home: Technicians on call keep their vans at home, so home addresses and parking arrangements go on the quote.
- Boarding up after burglaries: Some locksmiths secure homes and shops after break-ins at the request of police or home insurers, which can mean urgent trips.
- Commuting and business use: Setting off from home to a job needs the right use on the certificate.
Your technicians
Self-employed locksmiths working under one brand
Many locksmith businesses grow by bringing in self-employed technicians who wear the company name and take its jobs. Who owns each van decides how it is insured.
Vans owned or leased by the business
These go on the business fleet, and technicians can be named individually or covered through any driver fleet insurance if vans change hands.
- One schedule and renewal date
- Branding declared to the insurer
- Driver details for each technician
Technicians using their own vans
A self-employed locksmith driving their own van normally insures it personally, with business use and their own tools cover.
- Many firms check certificates each year
- Business use is the key point
- Their tools cover is their own
Moving on from separate policies
A locksmith firm with only a few vans can often bring them together on a small fleet policy.
- Fewer renewals to keep track of
- Past claims records are worth gathering
- Some insurers set a minimum fleet size
What insurers ask
What will an insurer ask a locksmith firm?
Most of the questions come back to security and hours. Having the answers ready keeps the quote moving.
- Fitted equipmentKey cutting machines, benches, power supplies and their values.
- Stock and tools carriedLocks, cylinders, blanks and entry tools kept in each van.
- Van securityExtra locks, alarms, trackers and steel storage cabinets.
- Callout hoursDaytime only, evenings, or round the clock.
- Who owns each vanCompany vans, leased vans or technicians' own vehicles.
- Technician detailsAges, licence history and any convictions.
- Previous claimsThefts, break-ins and accidents involving the vans.
How it works
One quote form, specialist fleet brokers
Insure Fleet is an information site, not an insurer or a broker. We link you to MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to brokers who arrange fleet insurance every day.
Start your quote
Get my fleet quote takes you to our partner, MyMoneyComparison.com.
Describe the locksmith fleet
The form asks about the vehicles, the work they do and who drives, so you can be matched with a specialist fleet broker.
Compare and decide
A broker contacts you with options, subject to insurers' acceptance criteria. There is no obligation to buy.
Before you buy
Points locksmiths check before buying fleet cover
The van is the business for a mobile locksmith. These are the gaps worth closing before a quote is accepted.
- Is the key cutting machine covered with the van?Fitted equipment may need declaring to be included.
- What happens if stock is stolen overnight?Stock and tools covers often set conditions for theft after dark.
- Are self-employed technicians covered on company vans?They may need adding as drivers, just like employees.
- Does round-the-clock work change the price?Some insurers ask about night driving.
- Will a hire van be provided after an accident?Without a van, a locksmith cannot take callouts.
- Are unmarked vans treated differently?Some locksmiths prefer plain vans so the kit inside is less obvious.
FAQs
Locksmith fleet insurance questions
What is locksmith fleet insurance?
It is a fleet motor policy for the vans used by a locksmith business. It works like any van fleet insurance, with one schedule and one renewal date, but the insurer will ask about fitted machines, stock and callout hours.
Is lock stock covered by the fleet policy?
Usually not. The fleet policy is there for the vans and for harm they cause to others. Locks, blanks and tools are normally insured under a separate stock or tools cover, which often has conditions for items left in vans overnight.
Can self-employed locksmiths drive company vans?
Yes, if they are allowed under the policy's driver terms. The insurer will usually want their age, licence details and any convictions, as with employed technicians.
Do locksmiths who fit access control and alarms need a different policy?
Usually not for the vans, though the work and kit can differ. Firms that mainly install wiring, door entry and alarm systems are closer to electrical contractors, covered on electricians fleet insurance.
Does working at night make locksmith fleet insurance harder to get?
Not usually harder, but it is a detail insurers weigh. Late callouts mean more driving in the dark and more vans parked at home, so being clear about hours helps the broker find suitable terms.
Should a locksmith van be signwritten?
It is a business choice. Signwriting helps customers find you, while plain vans draw less attention to the tools inside. Either way, livery is worth declaring to the insurer.
Does Insure Fleet sell insurance?
No. Insure Fleet is an information site and an affiliate of MyMoneyComparison.com, a comparison service that gives businesses a gateway to specialist brokers. When you start a quote you continue to MyMoneyComparison.com, and we may be paid a small commission if you are matched with and speak to a broker.
Related fleet cover
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