Insurance?

[JAcosta]

What do you guys use to insure your gear? Is there a special company that will specialize in strictly photo gear? Is there one that will offer discounts to US military members?

[Anke]

There are companies that do but my household insurance worked out much cheaper.

[JAcosta]

I live in a dorm room that was issued to me. I dont necessarily have the option of home owner insurance lol.

[Jim G]

My household insurance has all my camera gear on it - covers it if it gets lost, stolen or dropped. Gives me peace of mind!

[JimAskew]

What do you guys use to insure your gear? Is there a special company that will specialize in strictly photo gear? Is there one that will offer discounts to US military members?

I have USAA household insurance. I added a separate rider to the basic policy for my cameras and lenses with no deductible. It covers loss, theft, and damage. I had to list each item by serial number and purchase cost. The rider cost is about $150 per year and well worth it for the peace of mind.

I also have a separate but similar rider for my wife's jewelry collection. I buy a new lens...she get a new piece of jewelry:D Tit-for tat:lol: We do have fun with our money:)

[PuR HART]

now does that seperate rider cost if you go somewhere and are mobile let me know since i am in the market to get it thanks

[xpsentity]

State Farm. 0$ Deductible, 8k coverage, 72$/year.

[rklepper]

It would probably be more cost effective to get renters insurance and add the gear to that than it would be to just get insurance for your gear. Also then you could add anything else of value, ie computers, etc...

[*Mike*]

I'm with Doc, renters insurance is probably the way to go - at least for the OP in the dorm. May need a rider if you have a substantial amount of gear...

[Thomas Hopkins]

Has anyone here ever tried to take a claim for photography gear on their homeowner's insurance? (In the U.S.) I've always heard nightmares of rates sky-rocketing and companies dropping insureds after taking small claims. I have always been told you should only take claims on homeowner's for major losses.

[Big WIll]

Does the Army not have an insurance company they are close with?

Maybe search for Army members on here and ask them!

[Jamie Holladay]

I just added it to my home owners as a rider. State Farm I think it was $65 for the year.

[PuR HART]

hey Jamie does that cover it only if the gear is in the house or does that cover theft outside or dropping it or it falling in a lake? let me know man cause my people are wanting me to get a commercial policy and i am like people I sometimes make a little money ahhahahaha i just want it for like when i am out and about. thanks for the help let me know

[SuzyView]

Get the rider if you don't have a lot of property other than your camera. I decided to go another way, small business, and it does cost a lot. But I am covered for 8 employees, loss of work, etc. Only way to enter some of the places I shoot is with a large liability coverage so I did it. But if I wasn't doing that, I'd get the rider.

[cowpix]

State Farm

[liza]

I also use State Farm.

[Mollym/CA]

I live in a dorm room that was issued to me. I dont necessarily have the option of home owner insurance lol.
My son's renters' insurance (with State Farm) insures his camera and video stuff even when he takes it to TRINIDAD! Now, that's coverage. He's been insured with them ever since he was an undergraduate living in a dorm -- more years than he'd want me to tell. Many years of student living in dumpy insecure apartments and some years of renting in only slightly less dumpy insecure places on a schoolteachers' salary.

I think it depends somewhat on the agent. My son has a good relationship with the ladies in the State Farm agent's office ;) (they are the ones that know what's what) and has gotten very good service. (Our agent is so bad I came across this thread looking for inspiration about getting the cameras covered other than as 'scheduled property' with the homeowners'. I have no confidence that she'd get anything right in what she gives the actual insurer if we had a claim.)

[rklepper]

I read an analysis of this once and its conclusion was that only items above $250 were sensible to claim.


Has anyone here ever tried to take a claim for photography gear on their homeowner's insurance? (In the U.S.) I've always heard nightmares of rates sky-rocketing and companies dropping insureds after taking small claims. I have always been told you should only take claims on homeowner's for major losses.