Inland marine insurance is an insurance instrument which is designed to protect property while in transit, along with high-value mobile items like silverware and tools. Despite the rather peculiar name, inland marine insurance is actually a very useful type of insurance, and it is commonly recommended to business owners, especially people who need to travel for work or people who work with high-value items. Many insurance companies offer this type of policy, and can discuss options with their clients. This type of insurance is typically purchased as a supplement to an existing insurance policy.

The origins of this type of insurance allegedly started with Lloyd's of London, a venerable provider of insurance which dates back to the 17th century. Lloyd's initially insured the cargo of ships, holding policyholders responsible for whatever happened to their goods on land. Eventually, coverage expanded to include cargo after it had been offloaded, with inland marine insurance covering cargo in transit, storage, or holding, providing more complete coverage to policyholders. Today, inland marine insurance is often used by people who are nowhere near the ocean and have no intention of carrying anything by ship.

Commercial insurance usually covers a specific premises. Inland marine insurance applies to the goods and property associated with someone's job, wherever they might be. When a contractor's tools are stolen out of a truck or off a work site, they would be covered by inland marine insurance. Likewise, goods damaged in transit across dry land could be covered by this type of insurance. People can also cover individual buildings and other types of property with this type of insurance.

Insurance agents may recommend inland marine insurance to fill gaps in coverage, ensuring that someone is totally covered in the event of a problem. For example, many things covered by this type of insurance are specifically excluded in conventional insurance policies, like jewels, for example. Having inland marine insurance as a “floater” policy can protect people from losses. This type of insurance is also not restricted to commercial customers.

When shopping for any kind of insurance policy, people should take note of the deductible and any restrictions on the policy. They can choose between named peril policies, in which everything covered by the policy is specifically cited by name, or all-risks insurance, in which anything excluded from the policy is specifically stated. For example, an all-risks policy might indicate that it would not cover losses caused by negligence, suggesting that it will cover everything else, from hurricanes to fires.