Securing Your Gear: Insurance for Pressure Washing Equipment and Tools

You’ve worked hard to build your pressure washing business—investing in high-powered machines, surface cleaners, trailers, water tanks, hose reels, chemicals, and more. These tools are the backbone of your business and the reason you can deliver high-quality results to your clients. But what happens if your gear is stolen, damaged, or destroyed? Can your business afford to absorb the cost?

In this post, we’re diving into pressure washing equipment insurance in Florida, also known as inland marine insurance. We’ll explore what it covers, why it’s essential for pressure washing contractors, common claims scenarios, and how to choose the right protection for your mobile equipment and tools.

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Why Equipment Coverage Matters for Florida Pressure Washers

Florida is a pressure washer’s paradise—sunshine, humidity, algae buildup, and salt spray mean year-round demand. But it also means your equipment is constantly exposed to risks like:

• Theft from job sites or parked trailers
• Damage from Florida’s extreme heat, humidity, and frequent rain
• Accidents on the road while hauling gear
• Corrosion from coastal salt air
• Fires or vandalism in storage facilities

A single high-end pressure washer rig can cost $5,000 to $25,000—and that doesn’t include the trailer, surface cleaners, ladders, or tanks. Without equipment insurance, replacing stolen or damaged tools comes straight out of your pocket, and downtime can cripple your operations.

That’s where inland marine insurance comes in—it covers mobile equipment and tools used away from your primary business location.

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What Is Inland Marine Insurance?

Despite its name, inland marine insurance has nothing to do with boats. It’s a specialized form of property insurance that protects tools and equipment while in transit, at job sites, or stored off-premises.

For pressure washing companies, this typically covers:

• Pressure washers (cold and hot water units)
• Soft washing rigs
• Water tanks and reels
• Surface cleaners and wands
• Ladders, scaffolding, and hoses
• Generators and electric sprayers
• Trailers used for hauling equipment
• Chemicals and cleaning supplies

Traditional commercial property policies usually only cover items at your business location—not out in the field where pressure washers spend most of their time.

Inland marine insurance bridges that gap and ensures your tools are protected wherever the job takes you.

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What Does Pressure Washing Equipment Insurance Cover?

A well-structured equipment policy can protect against:

Theft

If your gear is stolen from a trailer, truck bed, storage shed, or job site, inland marine coverage can reimburse you for the value—up to your policy limits.

Accidental Damage

If equipment is dropped, mishandled, or hit during transit, you’re covered. For example, if a generator tips over and cracks a water tank, your policy can help cover repairs or replacement.

Fire, Vandalism, and Natural Disasters

Your tools are covered if they’re damaged in a fire, vandalized, or destroyed in a natural disaster like a storm, lightning strike, or hurricane—common hazards in Florida.

Flood or Water Damage (Optional)

In some cases, you can add flood protection or broadened water damage endorsements—especially important in flood-prone areas like coastal Florida.

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What’s Not Covered?

Just like any insurance policy, there are exclusions to understand. Inland marine typically does not cover:

• Wear and tear or gradual deterioration from rust, corrosion, or usage over time
• Improper maintenance or mechanical breakdowns
• Employee theft, unless your policy includes a crime endorsement
• Intentional damage
• Items not specifically scheduled on the policy, unless you have blanket coverage

Tip: Always keep an up-to-date equipment inventory with serial numbers, photos, and estimated values.

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Real-World Claims: What Could Go Wrong?

Here are a few examples from real Florida scenarios:

Trailer Theft in Orlando

You park your truck and trailer in a hotel parking lot overnight while working a two-day commercial job. In the morning, the entire trailer is gone—including your $12,000 hot water rig, hoses, and tools.

Without inland marine insurance, you’d be forced to cover the entire replacement cost yourself—and likely miss days or weeks of work while you re-equip.

Water Damage in Fort Lauderdale

A sudden downpour floods your trailer while you’re parked at a residential job site. Water seeps into your electric soft wash system and ruins the control unit.

Your inland marine coverage reimburses you for the damaged component and helps you recover faster.

Storage Unit Fire in Tampa

Your off-site storage unit catches fire overnight due to faulty wiring. Surface cleaners, spare motors, and inventory are destroyed.

Because the unit is not your business address, standard property insurance won’t help—but inland marine coverage steps in.

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How Much Does Equipment Insurance Cost?

The cost of inland marine insurance depends on:

• Total value of your equipment
• Whether you schedule items individually or use blanket coverage
• Your business’s claims history
• Security measures in place (locks, GPS, storage locations)
• Deductibles and limits selected

As a rule of thumb, equipment coverage costs $300 to $1,500 per year for most Florida pressure washing businesses. For high-value rigs or multi-crew operations, premiums may be higher—but still far less than the cost of replacing gear out of pocket.

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Scheduled vs. Blanket Coverage: Which Is Right for You?

When purchasing inland marine insurance, you’ll typically have two options:

Scheduled Coverage

You list specific tools and equipment with their individual values. Great for high-ticket items like hot water units or skid-mounted soft wash systems.

• Precise
• Lower cost
• Requires updated inventory

Blanket Coverage

You insure a total value of equipment without listing each item. Best for contractors with lots of smaller tools and constantly changing inventories.

• Flexible
• Simpler administration
• Slightly more expensive

Most pressure washing businesses in Florida benefit from a combination—scheduling large rigs while using blanket coverage for tools, hoses, and attachments.

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Safety Tips to Prevent Equipment Loss

Insurance is your safety net—but prevention is your first line of defense. Here are some smart strategies to protect your gear:

Use Lockable Storage

Install lock boxes, trailer doors, and tool cages to deter theft. Florida’s crime rate, especially in urban areas, makes gear left in the open a target.

Install GPS and Tracking Devices

Modern tracking systems can monitor vehicle location and equipment movement—helping with recovery in case of theft.

Elevate Equipment During Storm Season

Avoid ground-level storage in flood-prone areas, especially during Florida’s hurricane season. Even a few inches of water can destroy electronic components.

Keep an Updated Inventory

Use photos, serial numbers, and receipts to speed up claims processing in case of loss or theft.

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Pairing Equipment Coverage with Other Key Policies

To fully protect your Florida pressure washing business, inland marine insurance should be part of a comprehensive package that includes:

• General Liability Insurance: Covers third-party injuries and property damage.
• Commercial Auto Insurance: Protects your work truck or van and attached trailers.
• Workers’ Compensation Insurance: Covers employee injuries on the job.
• Umbrella Insurance: Adds extra protection in case of major claims or lawsuits.

Ask your agent to build a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) that bundles multiple coverages for cost savings and simplicity.

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Final Thoughts: Protect the Tools That Power Your Business

In the pressure washing world, your tools are your livelihood. Without them, the job doesn’t get done—and the revenue doesn’t come in. With the right pressure washing equipment insurance in Florida, you can work with confidence, knowing you’re protected from unexpected loss or damage.

Whether you’re a solo operator with one trailer rig or a growing company with multiple crews, inland marine coverage helps you stay operational, competitive, and stress-free—no matter what the Florida weather or jobsite throws your way.

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Ready to Protect Your Gear?

Let’s build a coverage plan that protects your tools, equipment, and business from the ground up. We specialize in helping Florida pressure washing companies secure affordable, flexible inland marine coverage that keeps them in business.