Protecting Your Tools & Equipment: Inland Marine Insurance for Florida Plumbers

If you’re a plumbing contractor in Florida, you rely on your tools and equipment as the lifeblood of your business. Whether you use a high-end pipe inspection camera, a jetter, or everyday hand tools, each item plays a critical role in generating your revenue. Yet, many plumbing contractors overlook the fact that standard property or auto insurance often doesn’t cover these assets.

That’s where inland marine insurance for Florida plumbers comes in. It’s the specialized coverage designed to protect your tools and equipment—on the job site, in your truck, and everywhere in between.

In this post, we’ll break down what inland marine insurance is, what it covers, how it works for plumbing contractors in Florida, and how you can structure this policy to ensure you’re fully protected against theft, loss, and damage.

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What Is Inland Marine Insurance?

Despite its name, inland marine insurance has nothing to do with the ocean. Historically, it originated as a way to cover goods in transit over land, especially as commercial goods began moving by rail and road.

Today, inland marine insurance—often referred to as a contractor’s equipment floater—is used to protect tools, equipment, and materials that are frequently transported to different job sites or stored offsite.

For plumbing contractors in Florida, it’s the coverage that steps in when your tools are stolen from a job site, damaged during transport, or even destroyed by a sudden storm.

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Why Plumbing Contractors in Florida Need Inland Marine Insurance

Florida’s plumbing industry presents a perfect storm of risks when it comes to tools and equipment:

Job Sites Are Vulnerable to Theft

When you’re working on a residential remodel or a commercial build, you frequently leave tools on-site—especially overnight. As a result, opportunistic thieves target these locations because they know plumbing contractors often leave behind valuable gear like copper pipe, jetters, and cameras.

Tools Stored in Vehicles Are Easy Targets

Many plumbers use vans and work trucks as mobile workshops. However, if a thief breaks into your vehicle and steals your gear, your commercial auto policy won’t cover the loss. Instead, only inland marine insurance provides the protection you need in such cases.

Florida’s Weather Is Unpredictable

Florida is known for sudden downpours, hurricanes, and humid conditions. These weather events can quickly damage tools and equipment that are exposed or stored in trailers or sheds.

Multiple Job Sites Mean Increased Risk

As your company grows, you may have tools spread out across several locations or with different crews. The more decentralized your operations, the more risk there is of equipment getting lost, damaged, or stolen.

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What Does Inland Marine Insurance Cover?

A well-designed inland marine policy will cover the physical loss or damage of your tools and mobile equipment, wherever they go.

 Covered Items Often Include:

• Hand tools (wrenches, pliers, saws, etc.)
• Power tools (drills, cutters, grinders)
• Pipe threading machines
• Sewer inspection cameras and locating equipment
• Jetters and vacuums
• Welding or soldering gear
• Portable generators or compressors
• Material inventory (pipe, fittings, valves)

 Covered Perils May Include:

• Theft (from vehicles, job sites, or storage units)
• Fire and smoke damage
• Vandalism
• Accidental breakage or drops
• Wind, water, or storm damage
• Equipment lost in transit

Note: Some policies exclude damage due to wear and tear, employee dishonesty, or mechanical breakdown unless specifically endorsed.

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Real-World Scenarios Where Inland Marine Insurance Saves the Day

Let’s take a look at a few real-world scenarios that Florida plumbing contractors often face—and how inland marine coverage responds:

Scenario 1: Overnight Job Site Theft

Your crew is working on a new condo build in Sarasota and leaves several thousand dollars’ worth of tools locked in a job box overnight. The next morning, the box is pried open and everything is gone.

Without inland marine: You’re eating the replacement cost out-of-pocket.
With inland marine: Your policy reimburses the cost of stolen tools (less your deductible), helping you replace them fast and avoid job delays.

Scenario 2: Tools Stolen from a Van

An employee stops at a gas station and someone breaks into your service van, stealing a camera system, pipe threader, and multiple hand tools.

Without inland marine: Your commercial auto won’t cover the contents of the vehicle.
With inland marine: Your equipment is covered even while in transit or temporarily stored.

Scenario 3: Sudden Storm Damage

You’re doing an exterior job in Orlando and a fast-moving thunderstorm soaks several pieces of power equipment that were left outside. Water damage renders them unusable.

Without inland marine: You’d have to pay for repairs or replacement.
With inland marine: Your policy can cover storm-related damage to tools left at a site (assuming reasonable care was taken).

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Key Features to Look For in a Florida Plumbing Inland Marine Policy

Not all inland marine policies are created equal. Florida plumbing contractors should look for the following features to ensure proper protection:

 Scheduled vs. Blanket Coverage

• Scheduled policies require you to list each tool/item separately with a value.
• Blanket coverage provides protection up to a total limit without listing individual items—ideal for contractors with many tools under a certain value.

Most plumbers benefit from a hybrid approach: schedule high-value items like cameras and jetters, and blanket cover hand tools.

 Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value

Replacement cost pays what it takes to replace the item new, while actual cash value (ACV) factors in depreciation. Ask your agent to structure your policy using replacement cost if possible.

 Off-Premises & In-Transit Coverage

Make sure your tools are covered wherever they go—from job sites to trucks to storage yards.

 Employee Tools

Some inland marine policies can be endorsed to include tools owned by employees but used on company jobs—this can be a great perk for your crew.

 Rental Reimbursement

If a covered loss prevents you from using your equipment, some policies offer rental reimbursement so you can stay on schedule.

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Costs vary depending on:

• The total value of equipment
• Type and size of tools
• Claims history
• Deductible selected
• Type of coverage (scheduled vs. blanket)

On average, small to mid-sized plumbing businesses in Florida can expect to pay $500 to $1,500 per year for inland marine coverage, depending on their inventory.

This cost is a fraction of what you’d pay to replace tools after a theft or accident.

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Inland Marine vs. Other Coverages: Know the Difference

One of the biggest mistakes Florida plumbing contractors make is assuming other policies will cover their tools. Let’s set the record straight:

Scenario	Covered by?
Tools stolen from your van	Commercial Auto  Inland Marine
Tools lost in a fire at a job site	General Liability  Inland Marine
Employee breaks a camera system	Property Insurance  Inland Marine
Tools destroyed during transport	General Liability  Inland Marine

The inland marine policy is the only one designed for mobile tools and equipment.

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Working with the Right Insurance Advisor

When it comes to protecting your equipment, you need more than a policy—you need an advisor who understands your workflow, your risks, and your business goals.

An experienced commercial insurance agent who specializes in contractors and trades can help you:

• Evaluate your current tool inventory and exposure
• Select the right coverage limits and deductible
• Balance scheduled vs. blanket coverage
• Identify any potential coverage gaps (e.g., flood or mold damage)
• Ensure your policy aligns with other coverages (e.g., general liability, property, or auto)

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Final Thoughts: Don’t Let a Missing Tool Sink Your Job

Plumbers are problem solvers—and that means having the right tool at the right time. If your camera goes missing, your threader gets stolen, or your van is broken into, it can grind your entire operation to a halt.

That’s why inland marine insurance for Florida plumbers isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.

Your tools move with you. Your insurance should, too.

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Get a Free Tool & Equipment Coverage Review
Want to make sure your tools are protected no matter where you go? Click here to schedule your free consultation, and let’s build an inland marine policy that works as hard as you do.