Insurance for your tools and equipment, wherever the job is.
General liability and commercial auto don't cover your own tools. A contractor's equipment policy, also called inland marine, covers tools, equipment and materials against theft and damage on the job, in your truck and in storage, under your policy's terms.
- Tools covered on the truck and at the job
- Owned, leased and rented equipment
- Materials in transit and before installation
What tools and equipment insurance covers, in plain English
Coverage, limits and exclusions vary by carrier and policy. Your policy documents are what decide a claim, and we walk you through them before you buy.
Why GL and auto don't cover tools
General liability covers damage to other people's property, not yours. Commercial auto covers the vehicle, and usually not the tools inside it. Tools and equipment need their own policy.
Unscheduled tools
Hand and power tools covered under a blanket limit, without listing each one. There is usually a per-item maximum, often a few thousand dollars, so expensive items should be listed.
Scheduled equipment
Excavators, skid steers, compressors, lifts and other valuable items listed one by one with a value. Lenders and lessors usually require it for financed equipment.
Rented and borrowed equipment
Covers equipment you rent or borrow while it's in your care. Rental companies often charge a daily damage waiver if you can't show this coverage.
Installation floater
Covers materials and fixtures in transit, stored on site, and until the job is accepted, like cabinets, HVAC units or windows waiting to be installed.
Theft from an unattended vehicle
Some policies only pay for tool theft from a locked vehicle with signs of forced entry, or exclude theft overnight. We point out these conditions before you buy.
Replacement cost or actual cash value
Replacement cost pays for new tools. Actual cash value subtracts depreciation, so older tools pay out much less. The premium differs, so ask which one you're getting.
Is this you?
- Trades with tools on the truck every day
- Contractors who own or rent heavy equipment
- Landscapers with mowers and trailers
- Installers carrying materials to a job
- Anyone a lender or rental contract asks for proof of coverage
Why Rhino
- Tools covered on the truck and at the job
- Owned, leased and rented equipment
- Materials in transit and before installation
- Quoted with your GL and commercial auto
Have this ready
- A list of your main tools and equipment with rough values
- Serial numbers for expensive items
- Equipment you rent and how often
- Where tools are kept overnight
Three steps, one agent
- 1
Tell us what you need
Use the form, call or text. It takes a couple of minutes.
- 2
We shop several carriers
You see real prices side by side, not one company's offer.
- 3
You're covered
Pick a plan and we handle the paperwork, ID cards and certificates.
Tools and equipment questions
Are my tools covered under my general liability?
No. GL covers injury and damage to other people. Your own tools need a contractor's equipment, or inland marine, policy.
My tools were stolen from my truck. Does my auto policy cover them?
Usually not. Auto policies cover the vehicle. A tools policy can cover theft from the truck, often only if it was locked and broken into, depending on the policy.
Do I have to list every tool?
No. Smaller tools can go under a blanket limit with a per-item maximum. List expensive equipment individually so it's fully covered.
Does it cover equipment I rent?
It can, if you add rented equipment coverage. It can be cheaper than the rental company's damage waiver. See excavation contractor insurance for heavy equipment.
Does my homeowners policy cover tools I keep at home?
Business property usually has a low limit under a home policy, and many policies don't cover it away from home at all. Contractors' tools belong on a business policy.
Ready when you are.
Talk to a licensed agent at (800) 700-9181, Mon–Fri 9am–6pm PT.