Markel Insurance vs 
THREE by Berkshire Hathaway: How Do They Compare for Inland Marine 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 Inland Marine Insurance page
What Is Inland Marine Insurance?
If your business moves equipment between sites or ships goods, inland marine can cover those property exposures; installation and other forms address different property categories. Match the quote to what you own, rent or hold for others. 7,8
Key Differences in Inland Marine Insurance
Standalone Range and Package Listing
Markel Insurance offers inland marine across several industries and describes coverage for property in transit, jobsite materials, leased equipment, installation and rigging. THREE by Berkshire Hathaway presents inland marine as a component of THREE's combined Business Owners Policy rather than identifying a standalone policy on the reviewed page. That distinction matters if your business needs to combine mobile property with other small-business coverages; Markel buyers can ask about the specific inland-marine product, while THREE buyers should verify the line is part of their particular quote. 3 6
Quote and Issuer
THREE directs small-business prospects to an online quote and licensed Small Business Advisors. Its sample policy identifies Berkshire Hathaway Direct Insurance Company, but the sample does not establish the issuer on every policy. Markel says inland-marine specialists may use site or desktop surveys. Ask THREE to confirm the policy schedule and insurer, and Markel whether it needs an equipment survey before quoting. 4 5 3
What to Confirm in Inland Marine Insurance Quotes
Markel Insurance and THREE by Berkshire Hathaway 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
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
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 reviewsMarkel Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway Inland Marine Compared
Markel Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway: Inland Marine Insurance: documented features by provider
| Criteria | Markel commercial inland marine | THREE Business Owners Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Role in This Line | Markel offers inland marine products across construction, transportation, railroad, technology, medical, renewable energy, golf, education, entertainment and equipment sales/rental. 3Company-reported. Page lists example sectors and does not claim universal appetite. | THREE presents Inland Marine 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 page describes tailored solutions for property in transit, jobsite materials, leased equipment, installation and rigging exposures. 3Company-reported. Examples; specific class eligibility is underwritten. | The reviewed product page does not state separate eligibility rules for Inland Marine; 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 | Confirm in your quote. | THREE's Business Owners Policy page lists Inland Marine among its marketed coverage categories in the combined policy. This describes the product page, not whether the category appears in a particular quote or responds to a loss. 6,5Company-reported. Official THREE package marketing for Inland Marine. The sample policy is state-selectable and does not establish that this item is included in every quote or issued policy. |
| Limits and Retentions | Confirm in your quote. | The reviewed public product page does not state a separate limit or deductible for Inland Marine; 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. |
| Risk Services | Markel says inland-marine specialists may use on-site or desktop surveys and provide risk strategies; these are company-described services, not measured outcomes. 3Company-reported. Company-reported service descriptions. | Confirm in your quote. |
| 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 Inland Marine will be offered for a particular business or whether a customer can bind that line without an issued policy. |
Related Pages for Markel Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway
Inland Marine Pages for Markel Insurance and THREE by Berkshire Hathaway
Other Coverage Lines Compared for Markel Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway
Other Inland Marine Insurance Provider Comparisons
Sources for Markel Insurance vs THREE by Berkshire Hathaway
Sources About 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.
- Commercial Inland Marine Insurance. Markel; What we offer; inland marine classes, cargo, contractors equipment, transportation and coverage structure. Accessed 2026-09-29.
Sources About 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.
Sources for the Inland Marine Insurance Guide
- Commercial Insurance Guide. California Department of Insurance; Property Insurance; Commercial Property; Inland Marine; Boiler and Machinery. Accessed 2026-09-16.
- Inland Marine Policy: Contractors’ Equipment. Markel American Insurance Company / American Association of Insurance Services; hosted by Florida Department of Management Services; PDF p.8 declarations; attached Contractors’ Equipment printed pp.1–13 (PDF pp.18–30); replacement-cost endorsement PDF p.34. Accessed 2026-09-16.
