Markel Insurance vs 
THREE by Berkshire Hathaway: How Do They Compare for Equipment Breakdown Insurance?
Markel Insurance: Specialty Business and Products
Markel Insurance is Markel Group's specialty and small-business insurance business, with offerings across packages, workers' compensation, cyber, professional and management liability, property, marine, and surety. Products use different insurers and distribution routes, so compare the issuer and terms shown on the specific quote. 1,2
THREE small business insurance: coverage, issuer and buying routes
THREE markets a packaged commercial insurance product through a direct quote route and partner agents. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company is named as issuer on THREE’s sample policy. 4,5
Read the THREE by Berkshire Hathaway profile
Read the THREE by Berkshire Hathaway Equipment Breakdown Insurance page
What Is Equipment Breakdown Insurance?
Equipment-breakdown coverage can help repair covered machinery or building equipment after a mechanical or electrical failure. It fits businesses that depend on equipment to operate; check whether lost income, spoilage and utility failures are included. 7,8,9,10
Key Differences in Equipment Breakdown Insurance
Package Structure and Sample Exclusion
THREE lists Equipment Breakdown as part of its combined Business Owners Policy, but its sample policy also excludes some machinery, equipment or listed vehicles that stop without an accident. The public materials do not explain how the marketed equipment-breakdown item changes that exclusion. Markel says its commercial-property coverage can include equipment-breakdown protection but does not provide a matching trigger or exclusion description in the reviewed claim. A buyer should read the endorsement and base form together before treating a listed coverage category as a grant. 6 5 3
Quote Route and Insurer Identification
THREE directs small-business prospects to an online quote with advisor support, and its sample declarations identify Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company. Markel’s page describes the option within commercial property and asks interested businesses or brokers to make contact, without a similarly stated digital route in the reviewed claim. The difference is a documented online package intake versus a contact-led inquiry; the issued declarations, not the sample alone, should identify the insurer for either proposal. 4 5 3
What to Confirm in Equipment Breakdown Insurance Quotes
- How does THREE’s equipment-breakdown endorsement modify the sample exclusion for machinery that stops without an accident? 5
- What triggers, limits, waiting periods and downtime costs apply under each option? 6 3
- Which insurer, property package and equipment schedule appear on the issued declarations? 5 3
Review Scores
These averages can combine ratings for different products, locations, and customer groups, including approximate BBB grade conversions. Read each review for the sources, scope, and calculation.
Markel Insurance
Review Score
2 rated sources
There is little public customer feedback on Markel. Trustpilot shows 2.5 out of 5 from just 5 reviews, and BBB lists 12 complaints closed in the last three years.[4][3]
Read Markel Insurance reviewsTHREE by Berkshire Hathaway
Review Score
2 rated sources
The inspected sources report separate measures: NerdWallet’s 4.0/5 editorial rating is excluded from the source-rating average; Trustpilot displayed 2.5/5 from five user posts and BBB displayed 4.8/5 from 265 reviews. Trustpilot and BBB include different purchase, service and agent/intermediary interactions, not a verified common policyholder cohort. BBB separately lists complaints. Any source-rating average weights eligible platforms equally and is not a pooled, representative customer-experience estimate or a claims-quality measure.[4][3][1][2]
Read THREE by Berkshire Hathaway reviewsOffering Details
Markel Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway: Equipment Breakdown Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Markel equipment breakdown option | THREE Business Owners Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Markel says commercial property coverage can include equipment-breakdown protection. 3Company-reported. Optional property coverage description; no separate standalone policy established. | THREE presents Equipment Breakdown as a component of its combined Business Owners Policy rather than identifying it as a separate standalone policy on the reviewed product page. 6Company-reported. Company-described U.S. package structure. The page does not establish underwriting terms or that every listed category will be included for every applicant. |
| Issuing Insurer | Confirm in your quote. | The linked sample policy's declarations identify Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company as issuer. 5Company-reported. This is the issuer named on the public sample only; the sample does not establish the issuing entity for every state-specific quote or buyer's issued policy. |
| Who It’s For | The reviewed page places the option in its commercial-property offering for a broad range of business risks. 3Company-reported. Specific risk class and availability require underwriting. | The reviewed product page does not state separate eligibility rules for Equipment Breakdown; the general quote and advisor route is not proof that a particular business qualifies for it. 6,4Not publicly disclosed. Eligibility and state availability remain unestablished for an individual risk until THREE returns its quote and applicable forms. |
| Coverage Features | The source names equipment breakdown but does not state a limit, waiting period, trigger or exclusions. 3Company-reported. No policy terms inferred. | THREE's Business Owners Policy page lists Equipment Breakdown, while its sample policy also excludes some machinery, equipment, or listed vehicles that stop without an accident. The public materials do not establish how an offered equipment-breakdown item changes that sample exclusion. 6,5Company-reported. Company marketing and the displayed sample policy only; the selected quote, state-specific forms, and endorsements determine whether a specific equipment breakdown loss is covered. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The reviewed public product page does not state a separate limit or deductible for Equipment Breakdown; THREE says the quote-specific insurance summary lists limits and deductibles. 6,5Not publicly disclosed. No number is inferred from the sample policy. The quote and issued declarations control the buyer-specific limit and deductible. |
| How to Apply | Confirm in your quote. | THREE directs small-business prospects to an online quote and says licensed Small Business Advisors can help with the process. 4Company-reported. This is the route for the overall THREE product. It does not show whether Equipment Breakdown will be offered for a particular business or whether a customer can bind that line without an issued policy. |
Full Comparison
More Markel Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway Comparisons
Other Equipment Breakdown Insurance Comparisons
Sources
Markel Insurance
- About us. Markel; Markel at a glance; description of Markel Insurance within Markel Group Inc. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Markel Group Inc. 2025 Form 10-K. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; filed by Markel Group Inc.; Cover page; Part I, Item 1 Business—Markel Insurance, U.S. Wholesale and Specialty, Programs and Solutions; Part II, Item 7/8 for group and segment risks. Accessed 2026-09-28.
- Small Business Casualty and Property Insurance. Markel; What we offer; product/liability, property, general casualty, inland marine, excess umbrella, liquor liability, hired/non-owned auto, employee benefits liability, E&O and equipment breakdown references. Accessed 2026-09-29.
THREE by Berkshire Hathaway
- Jargon-free small business insurance - THREE by Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Lines 23, 39, 70–81 and 406–410: business location quote entry, single-policy description, issuer, business focus, online quote and licensed Small Business Advisor route. Quote entry inspected without submitting a form. Accessed 2026-09-30.
- The Policy: 3 Jargon-free pages - THREE by Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; State-selectable sample policy: Summary (Declarations) identifies Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company as issuer and says the insurance summary lists limits and deductibles; sample policy text and state selection do not establish terms for a particular quote or issued policy. Accessed 2026-09-30.
- Business Owners Policy - THREE by Berkshire Hathaway. Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE; Product page: “No need for multiple policies” and one comprehensive policy; Business Liability, Property and Business Auto categories and the listed line names. Product page footer identifies Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, dba THREE. Accessed 2026-09-30.
Equipment Breakdown Insurance Guide
- Understanding Commercial Package Policies. Insurance Information Institute; Available CPP additions: Equipment breakdown. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Boiler and Machinery; Commercial Property: Covered Causes of Loss; Commercial Property: Time Element; Inland Marine; Coverage Forms and/or Specialty Coverages. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Equipment Breakdown. Travelers; Definition and equipment list. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- HSB TechAdvantage Equipment Breakdown Coverage Form. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company; G.1 Accident, PDF p.17; A.2.a–c p.1; C.2 pp.8–9; C pp.8–9; D pp.9–10; E.10 Valuation, PDF pp.13–14; G.10–11 pp.18–19; A.2.n p.5 (Off Premises Equipment Breakdown); A.2.p pp.5–6; A.2.r p.6; G.18 p.20 (Interruption of Service). Accessed 2026-09-16.
