What tools and equipment insurance covers
- Theft from a locked vehicle, trailer, or job site
- Fire, vandalism, and accidental damage
- Gear in transit between jobs
- Rented or borrowed equipment, if you add it
What tools and equipment insurance does not cover
- Normal wear and tear or mechanical breakdown
- Theft from an unlocked vehicle, under many policies
- Tools left unattended in the open, under some policies
How much does tools and equipment insurance cost?
Average inland marine premium for construction businesses buying through Insureon. Your price follows the value of the tools and equipment you list.
Source: Insureon, construction business insurance cost (updated July 2026). A typical figure, not a quote.
Why general liability does not cover it
General liability pays for damage you cause to others. Your own drills, saws, and ladders need their own cover, either as a stand-alone inland marine policy or as an add-on to a business owners policy.
Scheduled vs unscheduled
High-value items such as a mini excavator, a sprayer, or a pressure-washing rig are usually listed by serial number. Smaller hand tools can be covered as a group up to a set amount per item.
Replacement cost vs actual cash value
Replacement cost pays what it takes to buy new. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation, so an older kit pays out less. Check which one each quote uses.
Which trades need tools and equipment insurance?
How often each trade needs this coverage, based on what clients, GCs, and states usually ask for.
| Trade | How common | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Landscaping insurance | Usually required | Mowers, trimmers, and blowers walk away easily |
| Carpenter insurance | Usually required | Saws, nailers, and jobsite gear |
| Concrete insurance | Usually required | Mixers, saws, and power trowels |
| Pressure washing insurance | Usually required | Pressure washers and surface cleaners |
| Fencing insurance | Usually required | Augers, skid steers, and post drivers |
| Handyman insurance | Most carry it | Covers a van full of tools |
| Electrician insurance | Most carry it | Meters, benders, and wire pullers |
| Plumber insurance | Most carry it | Cameras, jetters, and press tools |
| HVAC insurance | Most carry it | Recovery machines, gauges, and units awaiting install |
| Painter insurance | Most carry it | Sprayers and lifts |
| General contractor insurance | Most carry it | Owned and rented equipment |
| Flooring insurance | Most carry it | Saws, sanders, and materials before install |
| Drywall insurance | Most carry it | Lifts, sanders, and taping tools |
| Janitorial insurance | Depends | Floor machines and extractors |