Here's something most pest control business owners don't realize until it's too late: that $15,000 worth of sprayers, bait stations, thermal imaging cameras, and specialty equipment sitting in your truck? Your standard business property insurance probably won't cover it once you leave the office. And your commercial auto policy? It only protects equipment that's permanently attached to the vehicle. Everything else you haul to job sites is essentially uninsured.
That's where inland marine insurance comes in. Despite the confusing name (no, you don't need to be near water), this coverage protects your business equipment and tools while they're in transit or temporarily at job sites. For pest control operators who spend their days moving between residential and commercial properties, it's not just helpful—it's essential.
What Inland Marine Insurance Actually Covers
Inland marine insurance is basically mobile property insurance. It follows your equipment wherever your business takes it, covering theft, damage, and loss that happens away from your primary business location. For pest control companies, this typically includes sprayers and application equipment, bait stations and monitoring devices, ladders and safety gear, inspection tools like moisture meters and thermal cameras, protective equipment and respirators, and even your laptop or tablet if you use it for on-site estimates and invoicing.
The coverage kicks in when equipment is damaged during transport, stolen from a job site or your vehicle, lost in transit, or damaged by weather while you're working outside. What it doesn't cover is wear and tear, intentional damage, or equipment that breaks down from normal use—that's just part of doing business.
Inland Marine vs. Commercial Property Insurance
This is where people get confused. Your commercial property insurance covers your office, warehouse, and the equipment stored there. It's location-based coverage. Once that equipment leaves your business premises, the protection typically stops. Inland marine insurance picks up where property insurance leaves off, covering your mobile equipment wherever it goes.
Think of it this way: if someone breaks into your warehouse and steals equipment, that's a property insurance claim. If someone breaks into your truck at a job site and steals the same equipment, that's an inland marine claim. Most pest control businesses need both types of coverage working together to protect their full inventory.
Scheduled vs. Blanket Coverage: Choosing Your Approach
When you set up inland marine coverage, you'll need to decide between scheduled and blanket coverage—or more likely, use a combination of both.
Scheduled coverage means you list each expensive item individually with its specific value. Your $8,000 thermal imaging camera gets its own line item, as does your $3,500 electric sprayer. The benefit? You know exactly what's covered and for how much. If that thermal camera gets stolen, you'll get its full replacement value without argument. The downside is administrative hassle—every time you buy new equipment, you need to call your agent and update the schedule.
Blanket coverage, on the other hand, gives you one overall limit that covers all your qualifying equipment. If you have $25,000 in blanket coverage, any combination of covered equipment up to that amount is protected. The huge advantage here is flexibility. Buy a new sprayer? It's automatically covered up to your blanket limit without updating your policy. Forget to report that you bought two new ladders last month? Still covered. The insurance company might ask for an inventory list for premium calculation purposes, but you're not locked into covering only what's listed.
Most pest control businesses use a hybrid approach: schedule the expensive specialty items individually and use blanket coverage for everything else. Your fumigation equipment and high-end inspection tools get scheduled. Your collection of sprayers, ladders, and hand tools falls under the blanket limit. This gives you guaranteed replacement value for your most valuable gear while keeping coverage flexible for the everyday stuff you're constantly replacing and upgrading.
What This Coverage Actually Costs
The good news is that inland marine coverage is typically affordable, especially compared to the cost of replacing your equipment out of pocket. According to 2025 industry data, pest control businesses pay an average of $32 per month for basic general liability coverage, with equipment protection often added as a rider for a relatively small additional premium.
Your actual cost depends on several factors: the total value of equipment you're insuring, whether you choose scheduled or blanket coverage, your claims history and security measures, and the type of equipment you use. Companies using specialized fumigation equipment and expensive inspection technology will pay more than those using basic spraying equipment. If you're running multiple service trucks loaded with gear, expect higher premiums than a solo operator with one vehicle and minimal equipment.
Many insurers offer discounts if you implement security measures like GPS tracking on expensive equipment, locked storage compartments in vehicles, or security systems at job sites. Even something as simple as etching your company name and phone number on your equipment can lower your premium, since marked equipment is harder to resell and more likely to be recovered if stolen.
Common Coverage Gaps to Watch Out For
Even with inland marine coverage, there are situations where you might not be protected. Tools and equipment left unattended in an unlocked vehicle might not be covered—most policies require reasonable security measures. Personal tools that employees bring from home typically aren't covered under your business policy. Consumables like pesticides and bait usually need separate coverage. Equipment you're renting or leasing might need additional protection beyond your standard policy.
Read your policy carefully and ask your agent specific questions about these scenarios. The time to discover a coverage gap is before you file a claim, not after.
How to Get the Right Coverage
Start by taking a complete inventory of your mobile equipment. Walk through your trucks and document everything: brand, model, serial number, purchase date, and current replacement cost. Don't forget about the small stuff—those $200 inspection cameras and $150 sprayer wands add up fast. Take photos of serial numbers and store them digitally. If you ever need to file a claim, this documentation will make the process much smoother.
Next, talk to an insurance agent who specializes in pest control or contractor coverage. They'll understand your specific risks and can often bundle inland marine coverage with your other business insurance policies—general liability, commercial auto, and workers' compensation—often in a Business Owner's Policy (BOP) that costs around $48 per month for bundled coverage. This integrated approach usually saves money compared to buying everything separately.
Review your coverage annually. As your business grows and you add equipment, make sure your limits keep pace. That blanket limit that was fine when you had one truck might be woefully inadequate now that you're running a fleet of five service vehicles. Better to pay slightly higher premiums for adequate coverage than to discover you're underinsured when you need to file a claim.
Your equipment is what allows you to serve customers and generate revenue. Protecting it with inland marine insurance isn't an optional expense—it's a fundamental part of running a sustainable pest control business. The relatively small monthly premium is nothing compared to the financial hit of replacing thousands of dollars in stolen or damaged equipment out of pocket. Get the coverage in place before you need it, because once your gear is gone, it's too late.
