Protect What Moves Your Business Forward
Not all business property stays in one place. If your equipment, tools, inventory, or materials are constantly in transit or stored off-site, you may have coverage gaps. That’s where Inland Marine Insurance comes in.
It’s a flexible, essential coverage for businesses that rely on property that moves—whether between job sites, customer locations, warehouses, or temporary storage.
At Keslar Insurance, we help businesses safeguard these mobile assets with coverage that’s easy to understand and tailored to your unique risks.
What Is Inland Marine Insurance?
Despite the name, inland marine insurance has nothing to do with watercraft. It’s designed to protect business property that is mobile, off-premises, or in transit—items that often fall outside the scope of traditional commercial property insurance.
Typical examples include:
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Tools and equipment in work trucks
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Inventory being transported to retailers or events
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Contractor materials on job sites
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Client property temporarily in your care
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Valuables stored at off-site locations
Who Needs Inland Marine Insurance?
You likely need inland marine insurance if you:
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Transport goods, tools, or equipment to multiple locations
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Store business property in places other than your main office
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Work at construction sites, homes, or customer facilities
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Temporarily hold or display high-value items off-site
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Are a contractor, vendor, installer, artisan, or mobile service provider
What Does Inland Marine Insurance Cover?
Inland marine policies are versatile and customizable. Coverage may include:
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Contractor’s Equipment – Protection for portable tools, machinery, and trailers
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Installation Floaters – Covers materials from delivery through installation
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Transit Coverage – For goods transported by truck or freight carriers
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Bailee’s Coverage – For businesses that temporarily store or service client property
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Builder’s Risk – Protection for buildings and materials under construction
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Exhibition or Fine Art Coverage – Coverage for high-value items temporarily displayed or stored
Inland Marine Insurance FAQs
1. What makes inland marine different from commercial property insurance?
Commercial property insurance typically only covers items located at your business premises. Inland marine covers items that move or are stored elsewhere—filling a major gap in protection.
2. What types of businesses benefit from inland marine coverage?
Contractors, landscapers, repair technicians, event planners, delivery services, artisans, photographers, and anyone who transports or stores business property off-site.
3. Is inland marine insurance expensive?
Generally, no. Inland marine insurance is usually affordable, especially considering the risks it covers. Cost depends on the value of the items insured, how often they move, and where they’re used or stored.
4. What items can be insured under an inland marine policy?
Examples include power tools, generators, merchandise, staging equipment, trade show displays, musical instruments, and even customer property left in your care.
5. Does it cover theft or vandalism?
Yes. Inland marine policies typically include protection against theft, vandalism, and damage caused by fire, wind, or accidental breakage.
6. How are claims valued—replacement cost or actual cash value?
It depends on the policy. Some offer replacement cost, while others use actual cash value, which factors in depreciation. Be sure to clarify this when selecting coverage.
7. Is theft from a vehicle covered?
Usually, yes—especially if the vehicle was locked and reasonable precautions were taken. Some policies have exclusions, so always review your terms and security requirements.
8. Does this policy cover goods in storage units or offsite warehouses?
Yes, many inland marine policies extend coverage to property stored temporarily at off-site locations or third-party storage facilities.
9. What’s a floater policy, and how does it relate?
“Floaters” are a form of inland marine coverage designed to follow specific property wherever it goes. For example, a contractor’s equipment floater would cover gear whether it’s in a van, at a job site, or stored overnight.
10. Can inland marine insurance be bundled with my other business policies?
Yes. It’s often added to a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) or a Commercial Package Policy (CPP) for streamlined coverage. Bundling may also offer cost savings.
