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Inland Marine Insurance
Help protect the tools and equipment your business takes from one job to the next.
- In short
- Inland marine follows property that moves; commercial property stays at the address.
- Who or what is protected
- Tools, equipment, goods in transit, and property of others in your care.
- Where it stops
- The vehicle carrying the tools is an auto matter; property permanently at the premises is a property matter.
Property that travels with the work
This guide helps you follow property as it leaves the premises and see where a fixed-location policy stops.
Policy background and wording
Inland marine insurance covers property that moves or is located away from your fixed business location, which standard commercial property policies often limit. Despite the name, it has little to do with boats; it evolved to cover goods moving over land.
Common forms include contractors' equipment coverage, tools, transit coverage for goods you ship, and specialized floaters for valuable or specialized items. It is frequently paired with property insurance to close off-premises gaps.
Property that moves needs its own review
A premises policy may restrict off-site property. Check schedules, transit, storage, and theft conditions for tools and equipment wherever they travel.
Who typically looks at it
- Contractors hauling tools and equipment
- Delivery and logistics operations
- Repair and field-service businesses
- Photographers, A/V, and media crews
- Installers moving high-value materials
How it works
Following equipment through a working week
Commercial property applies at the premises. Inland marine follows equipment through transit, the job site, and storage.
Read the diagram as text
In order:
- Your premises
- In transit
- At the job site
- Overnight storage
- Commercial property
- Inland marine: tools, equipment, goods, floaters
- Vehicle: business auto
Terms on this page
- Floater
- A form that schedules specific equipment or high-value items.
- Schedule
- The list of covered items and values.
- Care, custody or control
- Property of others while you hold it.
- Why “marine”?
- The name grew out of ocean-marine coverage for goods moving over land.
Look deeper
What if an item is worth more than scheduled?
Items over scheduled limits can be limited.
What to check: Update the schedule when you buy equipment.
Do theft conditions apply?
Storage and theft conditions can differ by location.
What to check: Ask what security a locked trailer or yard must meet.
Inland marine or commercial property?
The two are commonly used together.
| Commercial property | Inland marine | |
|---|---|---|
| Where property is | At your fixed location | Moving or away from your location |
| Typical items | Building, furniture, stock | Tools, contractors’ equipment, goods shipped |
| Common gap it leaves | Off-premises property | Property permanently at the premises |
Scroll sideways to compare all columns.
What it may cover, and where it stops
Exact terms depend on the carrier, policy form, endorsements, and applicable law. Review the wording with your agent.
May cover
- Tools and equipment in transit or at a job site
- Contractors' mobile equipment
- Goods and materials you are shipping
- Property of others in your care, custody, or control
- Specialized or high-value items via a floater
Commonly excluded or limited
- Property permanently located at your main premises
- Vehicles themselves, which auto coverage addresses
- Wear, tear, and mechanical breakdown
- Loss from poor maintenance
- Items specifically excluded or over scheduled limits
Working through an example
Hypothetical and for illustration. Whether a real loss is covered depends on the facts and the policy.
- What happens
Tools stolen from a job site
A contractor’s tools are stolen from a locked trailer at a job site overnight.
- Which part is relevant
Tools away from the premises are the property inland marine is built for.
- What could change the outcome
- Items must be scheduled or otherwise covered, within limits.
- Theft and storage conditions must be met.
- The trailer itself is an auto question.
Other situations
Equipment damaged in transit
Specialized equipment is damaged while being transported between sites. The policy may help with repair or replacement, subject to terms.
Before you talk to an agent
What underwriters usually weigh
- Type and total value of mobile property
- How often and how far property moves
- Security measures and storage practices
- Claims history and industry
- Selected limits and deductibles
Other questions owners ask
Why is it called inland marine?
The name is historical. It grew out of ocean-marine coverage to address goods moving over land, and today applies broadly to mobile property.
Do I still need commercial property insurance?
Yes. Inland marine focuses on mobile and off-premises property, while commercial property covers assets at your fixed location. The two are commonly used together.
Does it cover the vehicle carrying my tools?
No. The vehicle itself is generally covered by commercial auto, while the tools and equipment inside may be covered by inland marine.
What is an equipment floater?
A floater is an inland marine form that schedules specific equipment or high-value items, often with broader coverage tailored to those assets.
Talk through inland marine insurance with an agent
We compare carriers, explain the wording, and help you choose limits that fit how your business actually runs.