Plant records and tracking
If you hire plant or machinery for work, you may be responsible under the hire agreement if it is lost, stolen or damaged while it is in your care. Hired-in plant insurance is designed to help cover that liability, subject to the terms, limits and exclusions of the policy.
This guide explains how plant hire insurance works for UK contractors, what hired-in plant cover may include, what can affect the cost and what information may be useful if you need to make a claim.
KYNEKT does not provide insurance. It helps businesses keep equipment records organised, prove ownership of plant they own and, where K|TRAK is appropriately fitted, monitor tracked plant through live GPS location and movement alerts.
If you hire plant or machinery for a job, the hire agreement may make you responsible for that equipment while it is in your care. Hired-in plant insurance can help cover loss, theft or accidental damage to hired equipment, depending on the policy and the circumstances.
Cover varies between insurers, so check exactly what is included. Policies can also contain exclusions and conditions relating to how the plant is used, secured or stored.
Wear and tear, deliberate damage and use outside the terms of the hire agreement may be excluded, depending on the policy.
Hired-in plant insurance relates to machinery that your business hires from another company. You do not own the equipment, but you may be responsible for loss or damage while it is in your care.
Plant that your business owns requires different cover from equipment you hire. Before arranging insurance, check who owns the machinery, what responsibility you accept under the hire agreement and what your policy actually covers.
There is no standard price for hired-in plant insurance. The cost varies depending on the insurer, your business and the cover required.
Factors can include the type and value of the equipment, the level of cover selected and previous claims or losses. More valuable or specialised plant may also affect the premium.
When comparing policies, look beyond the price. Check the cover limits, exclusions and conditions to make sure the policy reflects the plant you hire and your responsibilities under the hire agreement.
If hired plant is stolen, lost or damaged, having clear information about the equipment and the incident can make it easier to provide what your insurer requests.
Keep the hire agreement and relevant equipment details available, and follow your insurer’s reporting requirements if something happens. The evidence required can vary between insurers and claims.
For plant your business owns, KYNEKT Inventory can keep photos, serial numbers, model details and proof of purchase together in one digital record.
If hired plant is permitted to have K|TRAK fitted by the equipment owner or hire company, tracking can provide live GPS location and movement alerts. This does not replace plant hire insurance or guarantee recovery, but the information may be useful when responding to a theft.
Keep your plant records ready in the app.
Download KynektStart by checking what responsibility you have for the equipment under the hire agreement and what your hired-in plant insurance covers. Review the cover limits, excess, exclusions and any security or storage conditions that apply.
Notify the plant hire company and your insurer as soon as possible, following the requirements set out in your hire agreement and insurance policy.
If the plant has been stolen, report the theft to the police and obtain a crime reference number. Take reasonable steps to prevent further loss or damage where it is safe to do so.
Your insurer may ask for information such as the hire agreement, details identifying the equipment, photographs, information about what happened and police reference details where theft is involved.
Keeping these records organised can make it easier to provide the information requested during the claims process.
Provide your insurer or broker with the information and supporting evidence they request. The insurer will assess the claim against the terms and conditions of your policy.
KYNEKT does not provide insurance, submit claims or decide whether a claim is accepted. Where tracking has been fitted to hired plant with the permission of the owner or hire company, location and movement information may provide additional information following a theft.
Have your plant records ready if you need to claim.
Download KynektKeep the hire agreement and key equipment information organised, including details that identify the plant and the terms under which it was hired.
If hired plant is lost, stolen or damaged, keep a clear record of what happened. This may include photographs, incident details and a crime reference number where theft is involved, depending on what your insurer requests.
Where the owner or hire company permits tracking and K|TRAK is appropriately fitted, live GPS location and movement alerts can provide additional information if equipment is stolen.
Tracking does not replace plant hire insurance, guarantee recovery or guarantee that an insurance claim will be accepted.
Take the next step
Plant hire insurance can help protect you against certain losses involving hired equipment, depending on the policy and hire agreement. Clear records can also make it easier to provide the information requested if an incident happens.
Use KYNEKT to keep equipment details and ownership records organised for plant your business owns, and use tracking information where K|TRAK is appropriately fitted and permitted.
Plant hire insurance, often called hired-in plant insurance, can help cover loss of or damage to plant and machinery you hire for work while it is in your care, depending on the policy and hire agreement.
No. Hired-in plant insurance is for equipment your business hires from someone else. Plant your business owns normally requires separate own-plant or equipment cover.
Cover varies between insurers, but policies may include accidental damage, theft or loss of hired plant. Limits, exclusions and conditions can apply, so always check your own policy wording and hire agreement.
Your insurer may ask for details of what happened, information identifying the equipment, photographs or other evidence, and police details including a crime reference number where theft has been reported. The exact information required will depend on the insurer and the claim.
There is no standard price for hired-in plant insurance. The cost can vary depending on factors such as the type and value of the equipment, the level of cover required and previous claims or losses.
Where the plant owner or hire company permits tracking and K|TRAK is appropriately fitted, live GPS location and movement information may provide useful information after a theft.
Tracking does not replace plant hire insurance, guarantee recovery or guarantee that an insurance claim will be accepted.
No. KYNEKT is not an insurer and does not provide plant hire insurance or decide whether a claim is accepted.
KYNEKT can help businesses keep equipment and ownership records organised for plant they own. Where K|TRAK is appropriately fitted and permitted, it can also provide location and movement information for tracked equipment.
