Business Insurance
Inland Marine Insurance (Tools & Equipment)
Inland marine insurance covers property that moves: tools, equipment, and materials in transit, on job sites, or stored away from your main location. It fills the gap that standard property policies often leave for mobile property.
What is Inland Marine Insurance?
Despite the name, inland marine insurance has nothing to do with boats. It covers business property that moves over land, such as contractor tools, mobile equipment, and materials in transit or temporarily stored at a job site.
Standard commercial property policies typically cover property at your listed business location. Inland marine picks up where they leave off, protecting the tools in your truck, the equipment on your trailer, and the materials waiting at the job site.
Key Benefits
Common Uses for Inland Marine
Tools in your truck
Tools and gear stolen from or damaged in a work vehicle
Equipment between jobs
Mobile equipment damaged while moving between sites
Job site materials
Materials on site before installation are damaged or stolen
Borrowed or rented equipment
Coverage options for equipment you rent or borrow
What Inland Marine Typically Covers
Typically Covered
- Tools and equipment at job sites
- Property in transit between locations
- Mobile machinery on trailers
- Materials in temporary storage
- Theft from vehicles, in many policies
- Rented or borrowed equipment, with the right coverage
Typically Not Covered
- Property kept permanently at your location (commercial property)
- The vehicles themselves (commercial auto)
- Wear and tear and gradual breakdown
- Employee-owned tools without an endorsement
- Structures under construction (builder's risk)
Coverage varies by policy and provider. Review policy terms carefully before purchasing.
How It Works
Getting covered is simple, and it is free for business owners.
Tell Us About Your Business
Answer a few questions about your operations, team, and the coverage you are looking for.
Compare Quote Options
See coverage options from providers that work with businesses like yours.
Get Covered
Choose the option that fits, get your certificates, and move forward with your work.
How Much Does Inland Marine Cost?
Inland marine is often one of the more affordable policies contractors carry. Many businesses pay between $250 and $1,500 per year depending on the value of tools and equipment insured. High-value machinery raises the premium, while blanket coverage for smaller tools is often inexpensive to add. Comparing quotes from multiple providers may help.
What Affects Your Premium
- Total value of tools and equipment
- Scheduled items vs blanket coverage
- Type of equipment and theft exposure
- Deductible
- Claims history
- Storage and security practices
Who Typically Needs Inland Marine?
Frequently Asked Questions
Inland marine typically covers business property that moves or is stored away from your main location, including tools, mobile equipment, and materials in transit or on job sites. Coverage often applies to theft, damage in transit, and certain perils at temporary locations. Policy details vary by provider.
The name is historical. Marine insurance originally covered goods shipped over water, and inland marine grew out of it to cover goods moving over land. Today it is the standard coverage category for mobile business property like contractor tools and equipment.
Theft of tools from a vehicle is one of the most common inland marine claims, and many policies cover it. Coverage terms vary, and some policies have limits or conditions for unattended vehicles, so it is worth reviewing how a policy handles vehicle theft before purchasing.
Commercial property insurance typically covers property at the fixed location listed on your policy. Inland marine covers property that moves: tools in transit, equipment at job sites, and materials stored temporarily away from your premises. Many businesses that work in the field carry both.
It can. Many policies offer coverage for equipment you lease, rent, or borrow, either built in or as an endorsement. Rental agreements often require you to insure the equipment while it is in your care, so this coverage is worth confirming before you sign one.
Higher-value items are typically scheduled individually on the policy at stated values, while smaller tools are often covered under a blanket limit. Some policies pay replacement cost and others pay actual cash value with depreciation, which is an important difference to check.
Coverage guides by industry: Contractors & TradesLandscaping & Lawn Care
Related Coverage Options
Commercial Property Insurance
Protects buildings, equipment, and inventory from fire, theft, and weather.
Learn more →Commercial Auto Insurance
Covers business-owned vehicles for liability and physical damage.
Learn more →Builder's Risk Insurance
Protects structures and materials while under construction or renovation.
Learn more →Ready to Cover Your Tools and Equipment?
Find inland marine options that may fit the tools and equipment your business depends on.