Virginia Inland Marine Insurance and the Highway-Vehicle Boundary

Virginia defines marine insurance to include vehicles of every kind, excluding vehicles operating under their own power or while in storage not incidental to transportation, together with goods and cargoes connected with transit. The State Corporation Commission says listed commercial inland marine classes are not within the filing exemption. Those classes include accounts receivable, cameras, equipment dealers, and signs, among others. A truck moving under its own power is not in the vehicle clause that the marine definition does cover.

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. Read the national Tools, equipment and inland marine guide.

What Should You Watch for With Inland Marine Insurance in Virginia?

  • A Truck Under Its Own Power Is Outside the Vehicle Clause

    Section 38.2-126(A)(1) includes vehicles of every kind, excluding vehicles operating under their own power or while in storage not incidental to transportation. Schedule a highway truck on an auto form. Use inland marine for cargo and for equipment that is not operating under its own power. The storage exclusion in that parenthesis is about those vehicles, not about every other kind of property. 1

  • Listed Commercial Classes Are Not Filing-Exempt

    The SCC exemptions page says that, except for listed commercial inland marine classes, certain inland marine is exempt from filing. The listed classes that are not exempt include accounts receivable; cameras; camera and musical instrument dealers; equipment dealers; film; floor plan; installment sales; and related dealer and block classes named on that page. An equipment-dealers floater is one of the classes that still has a filing path. Ask whether yours is on the list. 2

  • Goods in Transit Stay in the Marine Kind

    The same subsection covers goods, cargoes, and other property in connection with transit risks, including incidental delay and storage. Ask when that storage stops being incidental. Do not assume the vehicle exclusion cancels cargo cover for freight sitting on a trailer during a delivery. 1

Which Inland Marine Insurance Providers Have Virginia License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Tools, equipment and inland marine; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Virginia. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • TechInsurance

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Specialty Program Group LLC

    TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. 13

    TechInsurance arranges inland marine coverage for contractors’ tools and equipment.

Who Regulates Insurance in Virginia?

Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance

The Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance administers Virginia insurance laws, oversees insurers and insurance producers within its authority, and provides regulatory and consumer resources. You can use the department's complaint process to raise an insurance issue and its licensing resources to check insurance professionals. 3,4,5

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Virginia

Reported tax rate. 2.25% of premium plus up to 0.1% Bureau Special Fund assessment 6,7

The NAIC's state chart lists a 2.25% of premium plus up to 0.1% Bureau Special Fund assessment charge for surplus-lines coverage for Virginia (the chart's state entries were reviewed in October 2025). Your broker may collect the applicable amount with the premium. Surplus-lines insurers are not licensed in the state and generally are outside state guaranty-association protection; ask your broker to explain the insurer's financial protections and any diligent-search requirement that applies to your placement.

What Should You Ask Before Buying Inland Marine Insurance in Virginia?

  1. Which units operate under their own power, and which are cargo or non-highway equipment?
  2. Is this an equipment-dealers or other listed class that the SCC does not treat as filing-exempt?
  3. How long may goods sit before storage is no longer incidental to transportation?

Inland Marine Insurance in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions

Does Virginia marine insurance include a truck while it is being driven?

No. Section 38.2-126 excludes vehicles operating under their own power, and vehicles in storage not incidental to transportation, from the vehicles included in marine insurance. 1

Are equipment-dealers policies filing-exempt in Virginia?

No. The State Corporation Commission exemptions page lists equipment dealers among commercial inland marine classes that are outside the filing exemption. 2

Inland Marine Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in VirginiaEvery coverage guide for Virginia, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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