If you run a landscaping business, your tools and equipment are your livelihood. That $8,000 commercial mower? The trailer full of trimmers, blowers, and edgers? They're not just assets on a balance sheet—they're what keep you working and your crews productive. And here's the uncomfortable truth: your commercial property insurance probably doesn't cover them once they leave your shop.
That's where equipment and tools insurance for landscaping comes in. Also known as inland marine insurance, this specialized coverage protects your gear wherever your business takes it—whether it's on a client's property, in your truck bed, or sitting in a storage facility overnight. With equipment theft costing the landscaping industry $400 million annually and 40% of stolen equipment never recovered, this isn't coverage you want to skip.
What Makes Inland Marine Insurance Different
The name "inland marine" is admittedly confusing—it has nothing to do with boats or water. It's actually a historical term from when cargo insurance covered goods being shipped by sea. Today, it refers to coverage for business property that moves from place to place on land.
For landscapers, this distinction matters because your equipment is constantly on the move. You might start the day at one property, hit three more job sites by afternoon, and park your loaded trailer at home overnight. A standard commercial property policy only covers items at your listed business address. The moment you drive off with your equipment, that coverage ends. Inland marine insurance travels with your property, covering it against theft, damage, vandalism, and accidents no matter where you are.
What's typically covered? Handheld tools like trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, and edgers; larger equipment including commercial mowers, aerators, and mini excavators; and accessories like tool racks and storage boxes. The policy protects against theft (the biggest risk landscapers face), damage from accidents or weather, vandalism, and fire.
Understanding Your Coverage Options: Scheduled vs. Blanket
When you're shopping for equipment insurance, you'll encounter two main approaches: scheduled and blanket coverage. Understanding the difference will help you get the right protection at the right price.
Scheduled coverage means you list each high-value item individually on your policy with its make, model, serial number, and agreed-upon value. Think of it like a detailed inventory. This approach works great for expensive equipment like a $12,000 zero-turn mower or a $5,000 trailer. If something happens to a scheduled item, there's no ambiguity about what was covered or what it's worth—you've already established that value with your insurer.
Blanket coverage, on the other hand, sets one total amount that covers all your equipment collectively. Instead of listing each item, you might say "I need $50,000 in blanket tool coverage." This approach makes sense for numerous lower-value items—the dozens of hand tools, rakes, shovels, safety equipment, and smaller power tools that would be tedious to schedule individually.
Many landscaping businesses use a hybrid approach: schedule the big-ticket items individually and carry blanket coverage for everything else. This gives you comprehensive protection without getting bogged down in paperwork. Just keep good records and photos of your equipment—you'll need documentation to support any claim, even with blanket coverage.
The Real Cost of Equipment Loss
Here's what keeps landscaping business owners up at night: equipment theft isn't just common, it's epidemic. The National Equipment Register estimates the average cost of a single equipment theft incident at $30,000. And because landscaping tools have high resale value and are relatively portable, they're prime targets for thieves.
But the financial hit goes beyond replacement costs. When your crew shows up to a job without the right equipment, you're looking at lost revenue, disappointed clients, damaged reputation, and the scramble to rent or borrow equipment while you sort things out. For a small landscaping operation, a single major theft can threaten the entire business.
Insurance doesn't prevent theft, but it does prevent theft from ending your business. For most landscaping companies, inland marine coverage costs around $800 per year for $100,000 worth of equipment protection—that's less than $70 a month. Smaller operations can get coverage for $5,000 to $25,000 in equipment with a $500 deductible, with minimum premiums starting around $500 annually.
What's Not Covered (And What You Need to Know)
Before you assume everything is covered, there are some important exclusions to understand. Trailers that are attached to a vehicle typically fall under commercial auto insurance, not inland marine. Heavy mobile equipment like tractors, loaders, skid steers, and bulldozers usually require separate equipment floater policies.
Normal wear and tear isn't covered—this is insurance against sudden, unexpected loss, not a maintenance plan. And here's something that catches people off guard: insurers can deny claims based on insufficient evidence or maintenance issues. If you can't prove what was stolen or demonstrate that you maintained equipment properly, you might be out of luck even with coverage in place.
This is why documentation matters so much. Take photos of your equipment, keep serial numbers on file, save purchase receipts, and maintain service records. If something happens, this documentation is what separates a smooth claims process from a denied claim.
Getting the Coverage You Need
Shopping for equipment insurance doesn't have to be complicated. Start by making a complete inventory of your tools and equipment with current replacement values. For items worth more than $5,000, plan to schedule them individually. Everything else can likely go under blanket coverage.
Talk to insurance agents who specialize in contractor or landscaping coverage—they'll understand your specific risks and coverage needs better than a general business insurance agent. Ask about bundling options; many insurers offer better rates when you combine inland marine coverage with your general liability or business owner's policy.
And remember: insurance is only one part of protecting your equipment. Lock your trailer. Use GPS trackers on expensive items. Never leave equipment unattended at job sites during lunch breaks. Engrave or mark your tools with your business name. These simple steps reduce your theft risk and show insurers you're a responsible operator, which can help with both claims approval and premium costs.
Your landscaping equipment represents years of investment and your ability to earn a living. Equipment and tools insurance gives you the peace of mind to focus on your work instead of constantly worrying about theft or damage. For less than $100 a month in many cases, you can protect the tools that protect your livelihood. That's coverage worth having.
