Commercial Insurance — Michigan
Inland Marine Insurance Michigan
Standard commercial property policies cover equipment at a fixed location. Inland marine insurance covers property that moves — contractor equipment at job sites, tools in service vehicles, and business property in transit across Michigan and beyond.
Who This Coverage Is For
Inland marine insurance is relevant for Michigan businesses whose valuable property doesn't stay in one place. This includes general contractors and specialty trades with equipment and tools at multiple job sites, construction firms with heavy equipment and machinery, businesses that transport inventory or equipment between locations, installation contractors whose materials are in transit before being permanently installed, and any business with mobile property that represents significant value. If your most valuable business assets spend time on job sites, in service vehicles, or in transit rather than in a fixed building, inland marine coverage addresses the gap that standard commercial property policies leave.
Coverage Options to Consider
Contractors' Equipment
Covers owned and leased construction equipment — excavators, skid steers, compressors, generators, and other machinery — against theft, damage, and covered losses at job sites, in transit, and in storage. This is the core inland marine coverage for most construction businesses.
Tools Coverage
Covers hand tools, power tools, and smaller equipment against theft and damage — whether stored in a service vehicle, at a job site, or at a shop. Standard commercial property policies often have sublimits that don't reflect the actual replacement cost of a tradesperson's tool inventory.
Installation Floaters
Covers materials and equipment that a contractor is responsible for from the time they leave the supplier until they are permanently installed at the job site. This fills the gap between the supplier's coverage and the builder's risk policy.
Equipment in Transit
Covers equipment and tools while being transported between locations — job sites, storage yards, and repair facilities. Standard commercial auto policies cover the vehicle but may not cover the equipment being hauled.
Mobile Business Property
Covers specialized business property that moves between locations — such as medical equipment, photography gear, or trade show displays — against theft, damage, and covered losses away from a fixed business location.
Why Inland Marine Coverage Matters
Job Site Theft Is a Real Exposure
Construction equipment and tools are among the most frequently stolen business assets in Michigan. A single theft event at an unattended job site can result in tens of thousands of dollars in losses. Standard commercial property policies typically cover only property at the listed business location — not equipment left at a job site overnight.
Equipment Damage Away From Your Shop
A piece of equipment damaged at a job site, dropped from a truck, or involved in a collision while being transported may not be covered by your commercial property policy. Inland marine coverage addresses these mobile property losses that fall outside the scope of fixed-location property coverage.
The Gap Between Property and Auto Policies
Commercial auto policies cover the vehicle — not the equipment in the bed of the truck or on the trailer. Commercial property policies cover the building — not the tools in the service van. Inland marine coverage fills the gap between these two standard policies for businesses with significant mobile property.
The Harborstone Approach
At Harborstone, we believe inland marine coverage should reflect the actual equipment, tools, and mobile property your business depends on — not a generic floater with sublimits that don't match your real asset values. Our goal is to help Michigan contractors and businesses with mobile property evaluate coverage that addresses their actual job site and transit exposures.
Let's Protect the Business You've Built.
Have valuable equipment, tools, or business property that moves between locations? Let's discuss inland marine coverage that keeps your assets protected wherever the work takes you.