Inland Marine vs. Equipment Floater: What’s the Difference?

The California Department of Insurance identifies equipment floaters, including contractors’ equipment, as one of several inland-marine forms. Other forms address installation, motor truck cargo, trip transit, accounts receivable, or valuable papers. So the main distinction is scope: “inland marine” is the broad category, while an equipment floater is a particular product type.

Check the floater’s definition and schedule of equipment, including whether it covers equipment owned by others or leased from others. Review transit, off-site territory, theft conditions, breakdown exclusions, and catastrophe limits. If your actual need is inventory, customer goods, or installation materials, ask whether another form is required rather than assuming the equipment floater extends to them.