Business
Tools and Equipment Coverage: What It Is and What to Check
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated October 1, 2026
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The short answer
Your business property policy usually covers things at your shop address. Once your tools leave that address, that cover often stops. Inland marine picks up from there.
It's the coverage people look for after a trailer gets broken into or a saw walks off a job site.
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Thimble is a participating provider that offers inland marine coverageSponsored for tools and equipment online.
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Who usually needs it
- Trades. Electricians, plumbers, roofers, HVAC techs, painters and landscapers.
- Photographers and video crews. Cameras, lenses, lights and drones.
- Caterers and food trucks. Gear you move to each event.
- Anyone hauling materials. Lumber, wire, tile or fixtures you bought for a job.
What it can cover
- Your own tools and gear while they're in your truck, on a trailer or at a job site
- Rented or borrowed equipment you're responsible for by contract
- Materials in transit that belong to a job you haven't finished
- Property left at a job site overnight, if the policy says so
What moves your price
- Total value of what you're covering. Add up your list, not just your favorite tools.
- What you do. Roofing and excavation read differently than photography.
- Where the gear sleeps. A shop with a lock is different from a driveway.
- Your deductible.
- Past claims.
What to ask before you choose
- "Is each item covered for what it costs to replace, or for what it's worth used?" Replacement cost pays more.
- "Is there a limit per item?" A $1,500 per-item cap won't replace a $6,000 machine.
- "Is theft from a truck that was not locked covered?" Often it isn't.
- "Do I have to list every item?" Some plans want a schedule. Some cover a blanket amount.
- "Are rented and borrowed tools included?" Rental contracts usually make you pay for damage.
- "Is equipment breakdown covered?" Usually it isn't. Wear and tear almost never is.
The catch: wear, breakdown and things you simply can't find again are normally excluded. This covers sudden events like theft, fire, or a crash, not a motor that wore out.
Keep reading
Insurance by trade: contractor, handyman, landscaping, cleaning business, builder's risk.
Specialty business coverage: Errors and omissions · Commercial truck insurance · Builder's risk · Surety bonds · Event insurance · Employment practices liability (EPLI) · Commercial umbrella · All business services
Insurance by trade: Contractor insurance · Builder's risk · Lawn care and landscaping · Cleaning business insurance · Handyman insurance · Food truck insurance · All business services
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