{"id":8745,"date":"2025-01-06T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-06T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.businessinsuranceusa.com\/news\/?p=8745"},"modified":"2026-05-13T11:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T18:07:08","slug":"inland-marine-insurance-contractors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.businessinsuranceusa.com\/blog\/insurance\/inland-marine-insurance-contractors\/","title":{"rendered":"Inland Marine Insurance for Contractors: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inland marine insurance is not about boats. It is a type of commercial property insurance designed to help protect tools, equipment, and materials that move from place to place. If you regularly transport gear to job sites or store property away from your main location, inland marine coverage can help close a common coverage gap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why contractors consider inland marine insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your tools and equipment drive your revenue. When a key piece of equipment is stolen or damaged, the cost is not only the replacement bill. It can also mean delayed jobs, missed deadlines, and unhappy customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many commercial property policies focus on property at a described premises and may offer only limited coverage away from that location. Inland marine coverage is commonly used to extend protection to mobile property at job sites, in transit, and at temporary storage locations, subject to the policy\u2019s limits, deductibles, exclusions, and covered territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example scenario<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You load a tile saw, compressor, and specialty tools into your truck for tomorrow\u2019s job. Overnight, the equipment is stolen. With the right inland marine or contractor\u2019s equipment coverage in place, the loss may be covered if theft is a covered cause of loss and the policy conditions are met. Without that coverage, you may be paying out of pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inland marine insurance can cover for contractors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Inland marine coverage is flexible and is often tailored to the way contractors work. Common categories include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tools and contractor equipment
<\/strong>This can include hand tools, power tools, and mobile equipment that moves between locations. Some policies schedule higher-value items individually or cover groups of items under a blanket limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Materials and supplies
<\/strong>Materials intended for a job may be covered while in transit, while temporarily stored, or while at a job site, depending on the form you buy. Some contractors also look at an installation floater <\/a>when they are responsible for materials until installation is complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Property you do not own, when properly included
<\/strong>Depending on the policy, you may be able to include coverage for rented or leased equipment, or property of others in your care, custody, or control. Always confirm these exposures in writing because they are not automatic in every policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What inland marine insurance typically does not cover<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Inland marine insurance<\/a> is property coverage. It does not replace general liability insurance<\/a>, workers\u2019 compensation<\/a>, or commercial auto liability<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coverage varies by insurer and form, but policies commonly include exclusions and conditions. Examples can include wear and tear, gradual deterioration, mechanical breakdown, and certain types of water damage, flooding, or earthquake, unless endorsed. Theft coverage can also be affected by policy conditions, how and where equipment is stored, and any required protective safeguards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to choose limits and deductibles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Start with a current inventory of tools and equipment, including model and serial numbers, and estimate replacement cost. Then think through your worst-case day. What is the most equipment you would have on a single truck or at a single job site at one time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many contractors use a combination approach:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n