Commercial Umbrella Insurance for equipment rental companies

Most rental yards carry $1M–$5M of umbrella, sized to what their largest commercial customers require. Many GCs and project owners require $5M or more in combined liability limits before your equipment is permitted on their projects.

A $1 million umbrella typically costs $1,200–$3,500 per year — one of the most cost-effective layers in the program, given the severity of claims that rental operations can generate (serious auto accidents, severe equipment injuries).

No — the umbrella sits over liability policies (GL, commercial auto, employers' liability), not over the property/inland marine floater. The floater has its own scheduled limit for the equipment itself; the umbrella protects against large third-party liability claims.

Yes. Large GCs and commercial project owners commonly require $5M+ in combined liability limits. Carrying an umbrella that meets or exceeds those requirements makes you bid-eligible for tier-one commercial and government work that smaller competitors can't qualify for.

Cost is driven by your fleet value (the largest factor), annual rental revenue, employee count and payroll, the types of equipment you rent, delivery radius, and loss history. We quote your actual operation in about 15 minutes — never a generic estimate. A small specialty yard may pay under $15,000 a year while a large multi-branch operation with a heavy delivery fleet runs considerably more.

Yes. Contractors Choice Agency is licensed in all 50 states and writes programs for equipment rental companies nationwide — Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Atlanta, Nashville, Tampa, Salt Lake City, and everywhere rental yards operate.

Typically 15 minutes on a call. For larger fleets or high-value programs we may need a day or two to involve the right specialty markets, but we move fast and set expectations up front. Certificates of insurance are issued same-day once the program is bound.

Often yes. We have admitted and excess-and-surplus (E&S) markets for rental companies declined over a high theft loss run, a prior total-loss claim, OSHA citations, or new-operation status. Bring us your situation and we'll find a path.

Usually yes. Bundling inland marine, general liability, commercial auto, equipment breakdown, and umbrella into one coordinated program closes gaps between policies, is almost always cheaper than separate policies from separate carriers, and is far easier to manage at claim time.

A.M. Best ratings reflect a carrier's financial strength and ability to pay claims. We place coverage with A-rated (and A.M. Best A+ where possible) carriers so the coverage is there when a major theft, a serious accident, or an injury claim hits your rental operation.

Fleet list with makes, models, years, serial numbers, and values; number of rental units; annual rental revenue; employee count and payroll by role; delivery radius and whether you deliver or require pickup; equipment categories rented; current carrier and loss history. The more detail, the more accurate the quote.

Yes. Party and event rental operations — tents, tables, bounce houses, staging, lighting — carry similar inland marine and rented-to-others exposures plus distinct product/setup liability. We tailor the program to the equipment category you rent, whether that's heavy construction or event rentals.

We set up a blanket additional insured endorsement so you can issue certificates quickly to customers who require it. For high-value rentals we recommend requiring the customer's COI naming you as additional insured and loss payee before release. Your agent can issue same-day ACORD 25 certificates once the endorsement is in place.

Yes — hand tools, power tools, generators, compressors, and small equipment are scheduled under the inland marine floater alongside the heavy iron. Smaller items are the most frequently stolen category, so we make sure the schedule and limits reflect the full fleet, not just the big-ticket units.

Yes. If you operate from multiple locations, we build one coordinated program covering every branch, yard, and delivery route with no gaps between sites — and with consistent limits and additional-insured terms across the whole operation.

Yes. Delivery trucks, flatbeds, lowboys, and trailers used to transport equipment are covered under commercial auto, while the rental equipment itself rides on the inland marine floater. We coordinate both so there's no gap when equipment is on your truck and no double-payment question at claim time.

Most rental yards carry a deductible between $1,000 and $5,000 on the equipment floater, balancing premium savings against out-of-pocket risk. Higher deductibles lower premium but mean more self-insured loss per claim; we model the break-even so you pick a deductible that fits your cash flow and loss frequency.

Yes. When you supplement your owned fleet with rented-in or leased equipment for peak season or specialty jobs, we add a leased/rented equipment endorsement sized to the maximum value you expect to hold at once, so that temporary capacity is covered too.

High-value units (typically those over $75,000–$100,000) are scheduled individually at agreed value so there's no depreciation dispute at claim time. We document serial numbers, hours, and condition up front so a total-loss claim on a $250,000 excavator pays what the unit is actually worth.