Van Tool Inventory & Insurance Checker

Who this is for

Any trade that carries tools in a van — electricians, plumbers, builders, joiners, groundworkers. A tool is stolen from a van somewhere in the UK every few minutes. If yours gets done, the difference between a paid-out claim and a rejected one is usually whether you can prove what was actually inside.

Will my insurer actually accept this?

An itemised list on its own is far stronger than a guess scribbled after the fact — insurers are used to seeing vague claims and treat them with suspicion. Pair this inventory with receipts or order confirmations and photos of serial numbers where you have them, and you've got a claim that's much harder to knock down. Keep a copy of the exported CSV somewhere safe that isn't in the van itself.

New-for-old vs market value — what's the difference?

Most trade tool insurance policies pay out on a "new-for-old" basis, meaning they'll cover what it costs to buy the same (or equivalent) tool brand new today — not what your five-year-old drill would fetch second-hand. That's why this tool asks for replacement cost, not what you paid or what it's "worth" now. Always check your specific policy wording, though — some cheaper policies still apply wear-and-tear deductions.

How much cover do trades actually need?

More than most people think. Kit value creeps up gradually — a cordless combi here, a new set of chisels there — and most trades never sit down and add it all up, so they're quietly underinsured without realising. Run your kit through this tool once, compare the total to your current policy limit, and you'll know in seconds whether you're covered or exposed.

Does this tool store my inventory anywhere?

No. Your business name, cover amount and every tool you add are saved only in this browser using local storage — nothing is uploaded or sent to us. Building, editing and saving the list on screen is completely free; you only pop your details in when you want the take-away printed inventory or a CSV copy. Clear it any time with the "Clear all" button, or export a CSV for your own records.

Keep tabs on the rest of the business too

While you're getting your paperwork in order, our Quote vs Actual Job Profit Tracker does the same job-by-job discipline for your margins — log what a job actually cost against what you quoted and see where the money really goes.