Key points
- Tools and equipment travel between jobs, so property coverage at a fixed location usually isn’t enough.
- Commercial auto generally covers the van, not the tools inside it.
- Theft from vehicles is common — read the theft conditions closely.
A stocked plumbing van can carry tens of thousands of dollars in tools, test equipment, sewer cameras, press tools, and materials. Larger operations add jetters, trenchers, and mini-excavators. That equipment moves every day, which is why it is usually insured under inland marine — often a contractor’s equipment or tool floater — rather than ordinary property coverage tied to a building.
What it generally covers
- Hand and power tools, press tools, and threading machines
- Sewer cameras, locators, and diagnostic equipment
- Jetters and other mobile equipment
- Materials and supplies in transit or at a job site, depending on the policy
- Rented or borrowed equipment, if the policy includes it
Coverage can be scheduled (individual items with stated values) or blanket (a total limit with a per-item maximum). Many companies use both: scheduled for expensive equipment, blanket for the rest.
Theft from vehicles
Theft from work vehicles is one of the most common plumbing equipment claims. Some policies require evidence of forced entry, require vehicles to be locked, or limit coverage for unattended vehicles overnight. If your technicians take vans home, the policy’s conditions matter. Lockable storage, GPS tags on expensive equipment, and an up-to-date equipment list all help.
Valuation
Replacement cost and actual cash value can produce very different settlements on older tools. Know which your policy uses, and update stated values as you buy equipment.
Common questions
Isn’t this covered by my property policy?
Property policies usually focus on your building and its contents at a listed location, often with limited off-premises coverage. Equipment that travels every day is generally better addressed by inland marine.
What about an employee’s personal tools?
Some policies can include employee tools; others don’t. If your technicians supply their own tools, ask how they’re treated.