Your Equipment Moves. Your Coverage Should Too.

Inland marine insurance is one of the most misunderstood terms in commercial coverage — and one of the most important for contractors, builders, and anyone whose tools or equipment travel between job sites. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with boats. It protects property that moves: tools in a work truck, equipment staged at a job site, materials in transit from a supplier. If your business depends on gear that doesn't stay in one place, this coverage is worth understanding.

Personal Insurance Built Around What You Actually Own

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What Inland Marine Insurance Actually Covers

The name comes from early maritime law — insurers extended coverage from ocean cargo to property transported over land, and the term stuck. Today, inland marine insurance is the standard solution for mobile property and equipment that falls outside the scope of a typical commercial property policy.

 

A standard commercial property policy covers what's inside your building. Inland marine coverage picks up where that leaves off:

 

  • Tools and hand equipment carried in a vehicle or stored off-premises
  • Contractor equipment moved between job sites
  • Property in transit — materials, supplies, or finished goods being transported
  • Leased or rented equipment your business is responsible for
  • Specialized equipment used at temporary work locations

 

If your property is regularly on the move, a commercial property policy alone likely leaves gaps. Inland marine coverage is designed to close them.

Who Typically Needs This Coverage

Inland marine coverage comes up most often for contractors and construction-related businesses, but the need extends to any operation where valuable property doesn't stay put.

 

Businesses that commonly carry inland marine coverage include:

 

  • General contractors and subcontractors moving tools and equipment between sites
  • Builders and remodelers with materials staged at active job locations
  • Landscapers, excavators, and operators of heavy mobile equipment
  • Businesses transporting goods or supplies as part of regular operations
  • Any operation that rents or borrows equipment and carries liability for it

 

If you're already looking at contractors insurance or builders risk coverage, inland marine is worth discussing at the same time — these lines often work together to give you complete protection across a project.

How We Help You Figure Out What You Actually Need

Most business owners who ask about inland marine coverage start with the same question: do I actually need this, or is my equipment already covered somewhere? That's exactly the right question to ask, and it's one we can walk through with you directly.

 

We work with 14 carriers, which means we're not pushing you toward a single policy structure. We look at what equipment you have, how it moves, and what your existing coverage does and doesn't include — then we help you decide whether inland marine makes sense and, if so, how to structure it. No pressure to buy a policy you don't fully understand.

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Common Questions About Personal Insurance

Common Questions About Inland Marine Insurance

  • What does inland marine insurance cover?
    Inland marine insurance covers mobile property and equipment that travels away from a fixed business location. This typically includes tools and contractor equipment moved between job sites, property in transit, leased or rented equipment, and specialized gear used at temporary work locations. It fills the gap that a standard commercial property policy leaves for property that isn't kept on-premises.
  • Do contractors need inland marine insurance?
    Many contractors do, particularly those who regularly move tools, equipment, or materials between job sites. A commercial property policy generally covers what's at your primary business location. If your equipment is in a truck, staged at a site, or in transit, inland marine coverage is often what protects it. The right answer depends on your specific operation, which is worth reviewing with an agent.
  • Is inland marine the same as equipment floater coverage?
    An equipment floater is a type of inland marine coverage — one of the most common forms for contractors and construction businesses. Inland marine is the broader category that includes equipment floaters, installation floaters, builders risk, and other forms of coverage for mobile or in-transit property.
  • What's the difference between inland marine and commercial property insurance?
    Commercial property insurance covers your building and its contents at a fixed location. Inland marine insurance covers property that moves — tools in a vehicle, equipment at a job site, materials being transported. The two policies often work together rather than one replacing the other.
  • How much does inland marine insurance cost in Vermont?
    Cost depends on the type and value of equipment being covered, how often it moves, and the nature of your business operations. Because we work with 14 carriers, we can compare options and find coverage that fits your situation without overbuilding the policy. The best way to get an accurate number is to request a quote directly.

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We have staffed offices in Derby and Barton, and we serve homeowners across Northern Vermont and into New Hampshire. Whether you're insuring a home in Newport, a farmhouse outside Barton, or a property in Colebrook, we're a phone call away — not a chatbot.