Coverage line

A strapped precision instrument in an open wheeled equipment case rolls between two spare construction-site silhouettes.

New York inland marine insurance and the 1976 definition exceptions

New York Insurance Law § 1113(a)(20) includes marine and inland marine insurance for goods and other property connected with navigation, transit, or transportation, including preparation, delay, storage, and transshipment incident to that transit. DFS Circular Letter No. 22 (2000) says New York adopted the 1976 nationwide marine definition with exceptions. Builder's risk and installation risks may be written as inland marine only until the earliest of occupancy, delivery or acceptance, completion, or a certificate of occupancy, applied separately to each structure.

What Is Inland Marine Insurance?

If your business moves equipment between sites or ships goods, inland marine can cover those property exposures; installation and other forms address different property categories. Match the quote to what you own, rent or hold for others. Read the national Tools, equipment and inland marine guide.

What Should You Watch for With Inland Marine Insurance in New York?

  • The Inland Marine Builder's Risk Clock Stops Early

    Circular Letter No. 22 says builder's risk and installation risks may be written as inland marine only until the earliest of occupancy by a tenant for the intended purpose, delivery to or acceptance by the owner, completion, or issuance of a certificate of occupancy or completion. Apply that test to each structure. The letter also says rate and form filings are still expected because the class is manually rated. Ask which event will end the inland marine classification on your job. 2

  • Tanks, Difference in Conditions, and Computers Are Narrow

    Domestic bulk liquids may be inland marine only if the tank is part of a larger pipeline system. Freestanding tanks that are not part of a pipeline may not. Difference-in-conditions coverage may be inland marine only if every underlying policy also qualifies; a DIC policy on real property at a fixed site does not. Electronic data processing may be inland marine only if the equipment is relatively transportable and intended to be used that way. A laptop can qualify. A personal computer intended as a terminal for a larger mainframe network does not. 2

  • Bridges and Tunnels Can Be Inland Marine Without a Filing

    The circular letter says bridges and tunnels may be written as inland marine without qualification and without filing. That permission is about classification and filing. It does not set a limit for a bridge project. Ask whether your structure is being written that way and what perils the form actually names. 2

  • Marine Filing Exemptions Are Not Blanket

    The letter discusses Insurance Law § 2302(a)(4), which exempts marine risks from general rate and form filing, and § 2310(b), which exempts inland marine risks only if by general custom they are not written to manual rates, unless the Superintendent directs a filing. The Department treats listed commercial classes, including accounts receivable, equipment dealers, physicians' and surgeons' equipment, signs, and retail jewelers block only up to $250,000 inventory, as filed classes. Pleasure boats 16 feet or less are inland marine; a stand-alone policy is not subject to filing, but a homeowners endorsement is. 2

Which Inland Marine Insurance Providers Have New York License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Tools, equipment and inland marine; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in New York. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • TechInsurance

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Specialty Program Group LLC

    TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map. 15

    TechInsurance arranges inland marine coverage for contractors’ tools and equipment.

Who Regulates Insurance in New York?

New York State Department of Financial Services

New York DFS supervises insurance companies and producers, administers insurance law and accepts consumer complaints about property and casualty policies, including commercial insurance. 3,4,5,6

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in New York

Reported tax rate. 3.6% of gross premium, less returned premium; ELANY stamping fee is 0.15% through 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on/after Jan. 1, 2027 7,8,9,10

When New York is the insured’s home state, excess-line tax is 3.6% of gross premium less returned premium. ELANY’s September 20, 2026 bulletin sets a 0.15% stamping fee through December 31, 2026 and 0.17% for policies incepting on or after January 1, 2027; statutory search requirements and guaranty-fund protection depend on the applicable New York excess-line rules.

Excess Line Association of New York

What Should You Ask Before Buying Inland Marine Insurance in New York?

  1. For each structure, which event comes first: occupancy, acceptance, completion, or a certificate of occupancy?
  2. Is a tank part of a pipeline system, or freestanding?
  3. Is the computer meant to be carried and used that way, or fixed as a network terminal?
  4. Is this class one the Department still expects to be filed, such as equipment dealers or signs?

Inland Marine Insurance in New York: Frequently Asked Questions

Can New York builder's risk stay inland marine after the owner accepts the building?

No. Circular Letter No. 22 stops that inland marine classification at the earliest of occupancy for the intended purpose, delivery or acceptance, completion, or a certificate of occupancy or completion, applied to each structure. 2

Is a desktop used as a mainframe terminal inland marine in New York?

No. The circular letter says electronic data processing is inland marine only if the equipment is relatively transportable and intended to be used that way. A personal computer intended as a terminal for a larger mainframe network does not qualify. 2

Inland Marine Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in New YorkEvery coverage guide for New York, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Sources

16 documents, numbered as cited.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, email The General Average with a supporting source.

Want someone to handle this for you?

Spot, which publishes this research, gets quotes from 50+ providers, picks the options that fit your coverage and budget, and manages renewals after you buy. The first consultation is free. Book a free consultation