Most insurance companies only insure workshop/garage contents for a nominal amount wether attached or not. For a number of years I have taken an additional £15000 policy with Walker Midgley (now called everywhen). That costs almost £200 which I consider somewhat of a rip off, but there’s not much alternative.

I’m not so worried about theft as to take everything would need a lorry and a lot of time, more for the risk of fire where everything could be lost in minutes.

Andy.

My NFU policy has an endorsement giving extra cover for theft of workshop contents.

On 22 October 2026 at 16:25 Macolm Said:

This is a proper nasty. Firstly, most policies are “new for old”, so what do you consider the “new value” of older British and European machines if still in good condition?

I’d love to get a replacement for my 1952 Hardinge HLV. at indexed new-for-old value 😀

Otherwise, Walker Midgley, who are now Everywhen insurance have done specific workshop and similar insurance for quite a while.

Also Liverpool Victoria , now LV. have been mentioned in posts as having a good view of workshops.

No contact with, or a customer of either, so I’ve got no personal feelings on it.

It is very difficult to get decent hobby workshop cover at a sensible price. And you only find out how good the cover is when you make a claim. It’s too late to change then of course. The big issue is “new for old” and valuation. Electronic test equipment (other interest of mine) is even worse than machine tools. Just my main “RF” stack has a ridiculous new replacement cost. I paid less the £2000 for the lot because of careful buying and most of it needing some kind of repair. Keysight (HP) and Rhode & Schwarz will happily give a replacement cost for the current models of the units (20GHz VNA, 26 GHz spectrum analyser, 18 GHz signal generator, 2.7GHz communications test set, 26GHz counter, power meter with heads) but it comes to more than my house. The 2.7 GHz test set alone was £185,000 when it was new. I’ve never found an insurer who would consider a lesser “agreed value” cover for this sort of equipment.

The under-insured issue can be addressed by declaring it to the company and excluding it from the cover. Some will not want to do that claiming it is a increased risk of you being targeted but just find a more sensible company.

It’s worth checking that the policy covers not just your tools and equipment, but also public liability if someone gets injured while visiting your workshop. I’d also check whether cover applies to tools used away from home and whether there are any limits for high-value machinery. The details can vary quite a bit between insurers.