Painters and decorators fleet insurance for decorating crews and painting contractors
Vans loaded with paint, spray kit, ladders and towers, covered on one policy for the whole crew. Complete one short form and a specialist broker who knows decorating firms can talk through the options.
- Paint stock and spray equipment
- Ladders and towers on the roof
- Commercial redecoration contracts
Painters and decorators fleet insurance in brief
Painters and decorators fleet insurance is one motor policy for the vans a decorating or painting contractor runs, so every crew van shares a schedule and a renewal date. It is part of the broader picture of fleet insurance for trades, with the van policy covering the vehicles and separate covers dealing with stock, spray kit and work on clients' premises.
What sets decorators apart is the load: heavy tins, flammable thinners, spray machines and access equipment, often moving between occupied offices, schools and homes.
The decorating van
What does a painting contractor's van carry?
Insurers ask about the van, but brokers ask about its contents too, because a decorating van can hold a surprising amount of value and weight.
Paint and materials
Tins of trade paint, primers, fillers, caulk, tape and dust sheets for the job in hand.
- Heavy loads add to the van's laden weight
- Stock for a large contract can be worth a lot
- Thinners and solvents are worth mentioning
Airless sprayers and extraction
Spray rigs, hoses, sanders and dust extraction units used on larger jobs.
- High-value kit and a known theft target
- Often needs its own equipment cover
- Ask about limits for kit left in vans
Ladders, towers and boards
Extension ladders on the roof, plus mobile towers, trestles and staging inside.
- Roof racks and ladder clamps are a change to the van
- Long ladders overhang some vans
- Towers left on site are usually not a motor matter
Spills, tins and kit
Which decorating mishaps does the van policy actually cover?
Paint and solvent inside a moving van create risks that few other trades have. The table shows where cover for common mishaps usually sits, comprehensive cover assumed.
| What happens | Van fleet policy | Where cover usually sits |
|---|---|---|
| Spilt paint damaging the van's interior | Sometimes, under accidental damage | Worth checking on the van policy |
| Paint tins thrown forward in a collision, injuring a passenger | Yes | Covered as injury to people in the van |
| Spray machine stolen from the van overnight | No | Tools or equipment cover |
| Ladders taken from the roof rack | No | A tools policy, usually with security conditions |
| Paint dripped on a client's carpet | No | Public liability cover |
Treat this as a rough guide. Each insurer sets its own terms, so the details are a question for the broker.
Commercial work
Redecorating occupied offices, schools and homes
Larger decorating firms win contracts to repaint offices, hotels, schools and housing blocks, often while people are still using the building. That work affects how the vans are used and what clients ask to see.
Evening and weekend shifts
Painting an office after hours or a school in the holidays means vans on the road at unusual times, sometimes parked on client car parks overnight. It is worth telling the insurer where vans stay during long contracts.
Evidence of cover
Main contractors and facilities teams usually want certificates before work starts. Alongside the fleet policy, crews employed directly usually need employers' liability insurance, and most clients ask for public liability too.
Crews travelling together
A crew of three in a crew-cab van to a hotel refurbishment is a different risk from one decorator in a small van. Seat numbers and passengers are part of the picture.
For the quote form
What decorating firms need to have ready
A quote goes faster when the broker can see the shape of the business at a glance. These are the details usually asked for.
- Value of paint and spray kitRough totals per van help a broker set tools and stock limits.
- Roof racks and internal rackingDeclared as changes to the vans, with ladders and towers noted.
- Domestic or commercial workPrivate homes, commercial contracts or a mix, and the size of typical jobs.
- Crew driversWho drives, including apprentices and self-employed decorators brought in for big jobs.
- Overnight parkingHome driveways, a unit or client sites during longer contracts.
- Claims historyPast van claims, thefts from vans and any liability claims.
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 decorating 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
What to ask about a decorating fleet policy
Decorators tend to discover the gaps after a theft or a spill. Asking these up front avoids surprises.
- Is paint spill damage inside the van covered?Some policies treat it as accidental damage, some exclude it.
- Are spray machines covered overnight?High-value kit often has its own conditions.
- Do ladders on the roof need to be locked?Many tools policies expect locking clamps.
- Can temporary crew members drive?Self-employed decorators on big jobs may need adding.
- Is evening work on commercial sites included?Out-of-hours driving is worth checking.
- Does the policy allow a crew-cab with passengers?Seats and passengers are part of the risk.
FAQs
Painters and decorators fleet insurance FAQs
What is painters and decorators fleet insurance?
It insures all the vans of a painting and decorating business under one motor policy. Every van shares one schedule and renewal date, with cover for the vehicles, the people driving them and other road users.
Does the van policy cover paint and stock in the van?
Usually not. Paint, materials and equipment carried in the vans are normally covered by a separate tools and stock policy or an add-on. The motor policy covers the van itself and the people it might injure.
Do we need to declare that we carry thinners and solvents?
It is worth mentioning. Small amounts of everyday decorating products are normal for the trade, but larger quantities of flammable products are something an insurer may want to know about.
We are setting up a decorating company with two vans. Is fleet cover an option?
Often, yes. Some insurers accept a fleet from two vans, and new business fleet insurance explains how insurers look at a company with no fleet claims record yet. Drivers' own histories carry more weight at the start.
Is a decorating van different from a general maintenance van?
The vans are similar, but the load is not. A decorator carries paint stock, spray kit and access equipment for one job, while a property maintenance fleet carries a little of many trades for lots of small repairs.
Can our vans go on a general van fleet policy?
Yes. Decorating vans are usually insured for own goods use on a standard van fleet insurance policy. The trade description, roof racks and fitted racking all need to be declared accurately.
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.
Get your decorating vans quoted
Describe the crew, the vans and the work, and a specialist broker can come back with options.