Inland marine insurance covers the tools, equipment, trailers, and materials that landscaping crews haul between job sites every day — property that a standard commercial property policy won't protect once it leaves your shop or yard. For landscapers, a standalone inland marine policy (often called a "contractor's equipment floater") is the primary way to insure mowers, skid steers, trailers, irrigation supplies, and plant nursery stock in transit.
Who this is for: Lawn care operators, landscape contractors, irrigation specialists, hardscape and tree-service companies that own or lease mobile equipment worth more than a few thousand dollars.
TL;DR — Key Takeaways
- Inland marine (contractor's equipment floater) travels with your tools; commercial property stays on your premises.
- Policies typically cover theft, vandalism, fire, and accidental damage — on your trailer, in transit, or at the job site.
- Landscaping equipment floaters start around $300–$700/year for small operations and scale with the total scheduled value.
- Most commercial contracts and municipal bids require proof of inland marine or equipment coverage alongside general liability and commercial auto.
- Replacement cost (RCV) coverage rebuilds your fleet at today's prices; actual cash value (ACV) deducts depreciation — the gap matters most on mowers 3+ years old.
What Does Inland Marine Insurance Cover for Landscapers?
Inland marine for landscapers is a "scheduled" or "blanket" floater that insures owned or leased equipment, tools, and materials while they are in transit, at a customer's property, or temporarily stored away from your main business location.
Covered property (typical)
| Item | Notes |
|---|---|
| Zero-turn and walk-behind mowers | Schedule by make, model, serial number, and replacement value |
| Skid steers, mini excavators | Often sub-limited; verify per-item limit |
| Trailers (open and enclosed) | Separate from commercial auto; cargo inside is floater, trailer hull may need commercial auto |
| Hand and power tools | Blowers, trimmers, chainsaws, hedge cutters |
| Irrigation and lighting equipment | Including pipe, wire, and heads staged on-site |
| Nursery stock and plant materials | Often a separate sub-limit; perishables may require endorsement |
| GPS/telematics units | If attached to equipment, typically covered |
What inland marine does NOT cover
- Damage to the transporting vehicle itself in a collision — that loss is routed through commercial auto (owned-auto physical damage); the equipment in transit on the vehicle generally remains covered by the floater.
- Employee tools (covered under inland marine only with a specific "employee tools" endorsement).
- Wear and tear, mechanical breakdown, or gradual deterioration.
- Property at your permanent shop or yard if it is already listed on your commercial property policy.
How Much Does Landscaper Inland Marine Cost?
Premium is driven primarily by total scheduled value, deductible, claims history, and geographic theft risk. The table below reflects 2024–2026 market averages for contractor's equipment floaters placed through independent agencies — not guarantees.
| Operation Size | Total Equipment Value | Typical Annual Premium | Deductible Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo operator / 1–2 crew | $15,000–$40,000 | $300–$650 | $500–$1,000 |
| Mid-size crew (3–8 workers) | $40,000–$150,000 | $650–$1,800 | $1,000–$2,500 |
| Multi-crew / commercial contractor | $150,000–$500,000+ | $1,800–$5,500+ | $2,500–$5,000 |
| Tree service / crane operations | Add 20–40% surcharge | — | Higher per-occurrence |
Rate factors: Equipment stored in a locked, alarmed building overnight reduces premiums 10–20%. GPS tracking on high-value units (skid steers, excavators) may qualify for an additional discount with some carriers. Operating in high-theft metro areas (South Florida, Southern California, parts of Texas) can push premiums 15–30% above state averages.
Replacement Cost vs. Actual Cash Value — Why It Matters for Mowers
Landscaping equipment depreciates fast. A commercial zero-turn purchased new for $14,000 may carry an ACV of only $6,500 after three seasons. If it is stolen from your trailer overnight, an ACV policy pays $6,500 (minus your deductible). A replacement cost value (RCV) policy pays what it costs to buy an equivalent new mower today.
The annual premium difference between ACV and RCV is typically 10–18% — often $150–$400/year on a mid-size fleet. For equipment less than two years old the gap is small; for a fleet of well-used mowers and trailers, RCV can prevent a five-figure out-of-pocket shortfall after a serious theft.
Best practice: Schedule equipment at RCV for any item over three years old or worth more than $5,000. For aging small tools under $1,000, ACV may be cost-effective.
How to Get a Landscaper's Inland Marine Policy in 5 Steps
- Inventory your equipment. List every item by make, model, year, serial number, and current replacement cost. Include trailers, irrigation inventory, and stored nursery stock.
- Decide: scheduled vs. blanket coverage. A scheduled floater names each item and its value; a blanket floater sets an aggregate limit (e.g., $75,000) covering all items up to that cap. Blanket is simpler to manage as you add equipment; scheduled gives precise limits for high-value pieces.
- Choose ACV or RCV for each category using the guidance above.
- Select your deductible. A higher deductible (e.g., $2,500 vs. $500) lowers annual premium but increases out-of-pocket exposure on frequent small claims — common with hand tools.
- Bind and certificate. After underwriting review (usually 1–3 business days), your agent issues the policy. Request a certificate of insurance (COI) listing any general contractor, municipality, or property manager that requires evidence of equipment coverage.
Real-World Scenario: Trailer Theft in Austin, TX
Background (illustrative example — not a guarantee of coverage or recovery amount):
A five-crew Austin landscaping company parks an enclosed trailer overnight in a commercial lot. The trailer contains two zero-turn mowers ($22,000 combined RCV), three backpack blowers ($1,800), two hedge trimmers ($900), and a trailer hitch GPS unit ($300). The trailer itself is on the commercial auto policy.
- Inland marine floater: $80,000 blanket limit, RCV basis, $1,000 deductible
- Theft is discovered at 6 a.m. The owner files a police report and calls their agent.
- The carrier confirms coverage under the floater for contents (mowers, tools, GPS unit). The trailer hull claim goes to the commercial auto policy.
- Floater payout: $25,000 total contents RCV − $1,000 deductible = $24,000 net recovery.
- The company replaces equipment within the week and resumes operations with minimal revenue disruption.
Without the inland marine floater, the owner would have faced a $25,000 out-of-pocket loss — enough to eliminate most of the season's profit.
Texas does not require inland marine by statute, but many commercial bid contracts and HOA management agreements in the Austin metro explicitly require evidence of contractor's equipment coverage [verify state / contract language with your agent].
FAQ — Landscaper Inland Marine
Does my commercial auto policy cover tools stolen from my truck or trailer? No. Commercial auto covers the vehicle itself and its collision or liability. Tools and equipment inside the truck or trailer are personal property — they require a separate inland marine (equipment floater) policy. Some commercial auto policies include a small "contents" sub-limit (e.g., $500–$1,000), but this is rarely adequate for a landscaping crew's full load.
Is inland marine the same as a tools and equipment policy? Effectively yes, for most landscapers. Insurers use different marketing names — "tools and equipment coverage," "contractor's equipment floater," "inland marine floater" — but the underlying coverage form is inland marine. Always confirm the coverage territory (on-site, in transit, nationwide) and what triggers a covered loss.
Do I need inland marine if I lease my mowers? Yes — possibly more urgently. Lease agreements almost always require you to maintain physical damage coverage on leased equipment. If a leased skid steer is stolen or damaged, you are contractually liable to the lessor regardless of who caused the loss. An inland marine floater satisfies that lease obligation.
Will my general liability policy cover stolen or damaged equipment? No. General liability covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to others. It does not cover your own business property. Equipment coverage requires inland marine or commercial property.
What deductible should I choose? A $1,000 deductible is the most common choice for mid-size landscaping operations — it meaningfully reduces premium while keeping out-of-pocket exposure manageable. If your smallest insured item is worth $3,000 or more and you self-insure small losses, a $2,500 deductible can cut premiums 20–30%. Avoid deductibles higher than the value of your most frequently used small tools.
Does inland marine cover plant nursery stock and mulch on my trailer? It depends on the policy form. Many contractor's equipment floaters include a sub-limit for materials (commonly $5,000–$25,000) but exclude perishables. If you regularly transport high-value nursery stock, ask your agent about a "stock floater" endorsement or a separate inland transit policy.
Can I add or remove equipment mid-policy? Yes. Most floaters allow you to schedule new equipment by endorsement at any time; premium is pro-rated. ACV blanket policies automatically include newly acquired equipment up to the blanket limit for a defined period (typically 30–90 days) — check your specific policy language.
What if a subcontractor damages my equipment on-site? Inland marine covers accidental damage regardless of fault. You'd file under your own policy; your carrier may pursue the subcontractor's general liability policy for recovery (subrogation). To avoid gaps, require all subs to name you as an additional insured on their GL policy and carry their own equipment coverage.
Why Morrow for Landscaper Inland Marine
- Independent agency, multiple carriers. Morrow shops your equipment floater across admitted and surplus-lines carriers who actively write landscaping risks — meaning competitive rates and coverage terms, not a single-carrier take-it-or-leave-it quote.
- Trade-specific coverage review. We review your equipment list, lease obligations, and client contract requirements to confirm your blanket limit is adequate and that nursery stock, employee tools, and seasonal inventory are addressed — not assumed.
- Fast COI turnaround. Need a certificate proving equipment coverage for a municipal bid or HOA contract by tomorrow morning? Morrow's service team issues COIs same business day in most cases [Morrow to confirm current SLA].
- Full commercial package placement. Inland marine works best as part of a coordinated package — GL, commercial auto, workers' comp, and umbrella. Morrow places all lines and reviews overlap and gaps at each renewal.
- Claims advocacy. If your equipment is stolen or damaged, a Morrow advisor walks you through the claim process, confirms covered property, and advocates with the carrier adjuster — so you spend time running your crews, not navigating paperwork.
Get a Quote
Ready to protect your equipment fleet? Request a landscaper inland marine quote from Morrow or call [Morrow to confirm phone number] to speak with a commercial lines advisor.
Trust strip: Morrow (Afthonea Inc, DBA Morrow) is a licensed independent insurance agency [Morrow to confirm licensed states and NPN]. We place coverage with A-rated admitted and surplus-lines carriers. [Morrow to confirm carrier panel and review platform/score.]
Related Pages
- Landscapers Insurance — Industry Overview
- General Liability for Landscapers
- Commercial Auto for Landscapers
- Workers Comp for Landscapers
- What Is Inland Marine Insurance?
- Contractor's Equipment Floater: Cost Guide
Author: Written by the Morrow Commercial Lines Editorial Team. Content reviewed for technical accuracy by a licensed P&C insurance professional with experience in contractor and landscaping accounts.
Published: June 2026 | Last updated: June 2026
Sources: - Insurance Information Institute (III) — Inland Marine Insurance overview - National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) — Commercial Lines Market Data - International Risk Management Institute (IRMI) — Contractor's Equipment Floater definition - Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) — commercial property and inland marine filing guidance - ISO (Verisk) — Inland Marine coverage form references (filed forms vary by carrier)