Industrial Equipment & Machinery Distributor Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages an industrial equipment & machinery distributor business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for dealers and distributors of industrial equipment and machinery. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual lines, service work, and rental operations.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General & Products Liability | Covers injuries from equipment you sell, service, or rent — including used units and machines you modified. | Core | |
| Completed Operations | Covers injuries after a repair or installation is finished — often years later. | Core | |
| Inland Marine / Contractor's Equipment | Covers rental fleet, demo units, and equipment in transit or at customer sites. | Core | |
| Commercial Auto | Covers service trucks and haulers moving heavy equipment. | Core | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required by law; field technicians face crush, fall, and electrical injuries. | Core | |
| Umbrella / Excess Liability | Adds limits for serious crush and fall injuries; customer contracts often require it. | Prevalent | |
| Professional Liability (Design / Integration) | Needed if you engineer custom systems or specify equipment for a process. | Prevalent | |
| Commercial Property & Stock | Covers dealership, shop, and new equipment inventory. | Prevalent | |
| Installation / Builder's Risk | Covers equipment being installed until the customer accepts it. | Situational | |
| Boiler & Machinery / Equipment Breakdown | Covers your own shop equipment and pressure systems. | Situational | |
| Crime / Employee Theft | Covers theft of parts, tools, and equipment. | Situational | |
| Employment Practices Liability | Covers claims by technicians, sales, and office staff. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by equipment dealers is the service and rental side of the business. When a technician modifies a machine or a rental unit goes out without a documented inspection, the dealer is no longer just a reseller — it becomes the party that changed or maintained the equipment, and courts have cleared dealers mainly when they could prove the safety features worked at delivery. Confirm that completed operations, rental equipment, and any design or integration work are covered, and keep inspection and service records for every serial number.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your industrial equipment & machinery distributor coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Industrial Equipment & Machinery Distributor Insurance · Industrial Equipment & Machinery Distributor Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does an industrial equipment & machinery distributor business need?
The core coverages for an industrial equipment & machinery distributor business are Commercial General & Products Liability, Completed Operations, Inland Marine / Contractor's Equipment, Commercial Auto, Workers' Compensation. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my industrial equipment & machinery distributor coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.