Coverage That Goes to the Job Site with You

Your commercial property policy covers what's inside your building. Inland marine insurance covers everything else — the tools, equipment, and materials that move with your business every day.

What "Inland Marine" Actually Means

Despite the name, inland marine insurance has nothing to do with water. The term is a holdover from the days when marine policies were the standard for covering goods on the move. Today, it refers to business property that travels — contractor equipment hauled to a job site, goods shipped across the state, materials staged at a project location, or specialized tools that rarely sit in the same place twice.

 

Standard commercial property policies are designed around a fixed location. They typically have narrow limits — or no coverage at all — for equipment and inventory once it leaves your premises. If your business depends on property that moves, a property policy alone is likely to leave gaps where you need coverage most.

What Inland Marine Insurance Can Cover

Inland marine is a broad and flexible category. Depending on the policy form and carrier, it can be structured to cover a wide range of mobile and off-premises business property, including:

 

  • Contractors' tools and equipment stolen or damaged at a job site
  • Heavy and mobile equipment, including machinery used across multiple locations
  • Goods in transit — inventory or materials damaged while being shipped or transported
  • Installation floaters for materials and equipment during a construction or installation project
  • Leased or rented equipment your business is responsible for
  • Fine art, electronics, and other high-value property that moves between locations
  • Employee tools covered under a scheduled or blanket policy

 

The right structure depends on what your business owns, what it leases, and how that property moves. We review your situation and compare coverage options across our carrier network to find a policy that fits the way your business actually operates.

Built for Arizona Contractors and Trades

Arizona's construction and trades industries run across wide geographic territory — from Phoenix metro job sites to projects in Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, and beyond. Contractors, landscapers, HVAC technicians, solar installers, electricians, and other tradespeople routinely leave thousands of dollars in tools and equipment on job sites overnight, in trucks, or at staging areas. That exposure doesn't disappear because a property policy exists.

 

We write inland marine coverage for contractors and trades businesses across Arizona, including equipment floaters for owned and leased tools, installation floaters for materials staged at active projects, and goods-in-transit coverage for businesses moving inventory or product across the state. If your livelihood depends on equipment that isn't always behind a locked door, we can help you find coverage that reflects that reality.

How Inland Marine Fits Into a Broader Coverage Program

Inland marine rarely works in isolation. For most contractors and trades businesses, it's one piece of a larger commercial coverage structure. Depending on your operation, it may work alongside:

 

 

We look at how these policies interact so your coverage doesn't have gaps between them. An inland marine policy placed without reviewing the rest of your program may duplicate some things and miss others.

Common Questions

Inland Marine Insurance — Common Questions

  • Does my commercial property policy cover tools and equipment at a job site?

    Most commercial property policies provide limited or no coverage for business property away from your primary location. Some include a small off-premises sublimit, but it's often not enough to cover a full set of contractor tools or a piece of heavy equipment. An inland marine or equipment floater policy is designed specifically for this exposure.

  • What is an equipment floater, and how is it different from an installation floater?

    An equipment floater covers tools and equipment your business owns or leases while they're in use, in transit, or stored at a job site. An installation floater covers materials and equipment that are being installed as part of a construction or renovation project — from the time they leave your facility until the installation is complete and accepted by the owner. Many contractors need both, depending on the scope of their work.

  • Can inland marine insurance cover goods my business ships to customers?

    Yes. Goods-in-transit coverage under an inland marine policy can cover inventory, raw materials, or finished products while they're being transported — whether by your own vehicles or a third-party carrier. This is distinct from cargo insurance, though the two are often confused. We can help you identify which form is appropriate for how your business moves product.

  • Is inland marine insurance required for Arizona contractors?

    It is not typically required by state law, but general contractors and project owners frequently require subcontractors to carry equipment floaters or installation floaters as a condition of a contract. Reviewing your contract requirements before a project starts can help you avoid coverage gaps that create compliance issues.

  • How much does inland marine insurance cost in Arizona?

    Premiums vary based on the type and value of property covered, how it's used and stored, your claims history, and the specific policy form. Because inland marine is a flexible product with many coverage structures, the most accurate way to understand cost is to request a quote based on your actual equipment inventory and business operations.

Talk to R.P. Ryan About Inland Marine Coverage

If your business depends on tools, equipment, or goods that move, we can help you identify where your current coverage may fall short and compare inland marine options across our carrier network. We serve contractors, trades businesses, and commercial clients across Arizona from our Phoenix office.