Where to get my camera gear insured?

[Rockfreak300]

Hey everyone, I've been looking into getting my gear insured but have zero clue where to go about doing it.

I've checked my homeowner's insurance but they only wanted to comply to $1,000 (I have $12,000+ in gear and inevitably, that wont' cut it, period.)

I don't want to risk any potential damage to my gear and think it's horrifically stupid of me to not have insurance.

It's not that I am too lazy to not get it. I just don't know where to go to get it.

I've briefly skimmed the "Are you insured" sticky here but was hoping for some more specific help in this thread.

Any help would be appreciated. I know there are many of other professionals on this board who must have insurance somewhere, somehow.

Please enlighten me? I would appreciate it more than you know.

Thanks in advance,

- Chris

[Lunajen]

you need to contact your insurance company and have them write upa a special rider for your equipment. Have all of your reciepts for all your gear as well. I have mine through State Farm.

it only cost me about $30.00 a year.

[Peacefield]

This doesn't sound right to me. I also have State Farm and have $10k in coverage as well as liability, medical, errors and omissions, etc., and all at a pretty modest cost.

[Rockfreak300]

Interesting, I will look into it further.

I just have too much money in gear that isn't insured.

Any advice on the best way to go about it with the insurance? Just simply ask for coverage specifically for camera gear since it is used for my business?

Sorry for the ignorance. I really appreciate the help thus far.

[EveryMilesAMemory]

We use State Farm and just had them run a seperate Policy as a ryder off our original.

I was pretty surprised at how inexpensive it was at right around $100 per year with a $500 deductable.

We've had to use it once already when doing a shoot on the ocean and I tipped over in my Kayak dropping about $5000 worth of gear in the salt water:oops:

Best $500 I ever spent as they replaced everything for what it was insured for, and we all know that almost all our gear is outdated every six months.

One thing we did that made it easier and everyone who takes photography seriously should do was to record every piece of equipment, what we paid for it and include the serial numbers with the receipts.

This showed our agent we werent fooling around and were on the up and up and also sped the process up when we had to make that call that we needed to make a claim. All he had to do was have a letter from Canon saying they had checked out the equipment to say it wasnt repairable and I had a check within a few days.

It's not that hard and well worth the added cost of the policy.

[Rockfreak300]

We use State Farm and just had them run a seperate Policy as a ryder off our original.

I was pretty surprised at how inexpensive it was at right around $100 per year with a $500 deductable.

We've had to use it once already when doing a shoot on the ocean and I tipped over in my Kayak dropping about $5000 worth of gear in the salt water:oops:

Best $500 I ever spent as they replaced everything for what it was insured for, and we all know that almost all our gear is outdated every six months.

One thing we did that made it easier and everyone who takes photography seriously should do was to record every piece of equipment, what we paid for it and include the serial numbers with the receipts.

This showed our agent we werent fooling around and were on the up and up and also sped the process up when we had to make that call that we needed to make a claim. All he had to do was have a letter from Canon saying they had checked out the equipment to say it wasnt repairable and I had a check within a few days.

It's not that hard and well worth the added cost of the policy.

That is fantastic. I really appreciate the response.

It sounds ridiculous a bit embarrassing for me to say that I don't have insurance due to the specificity of my work. (I shoot 95% college sports) and can't tell you how many times I've nearly been run over by 300lb linemen on the sidelines or dunked on at a basketball game.

I'm like a bad time bomb with gear. I appreciate the help. :)

Any one else feel free to chime in as well with your own experience on who you recommend looking into or anything.

Thanks again.

[Jim M]

I have a rider on my gear and can only confirm what everyone else is saying. Mine has no deductible, but it is still fairly cheap. The only claim that comes to mind is a lens that was urinated on my dog and it was covered. I got the insurance because about 30 some years ago I had virtually all my gear stolen and it wasn't much fun. Mine is State Farm as well.

[cory1848]

Does anyone know if you have to have another policy with State Farm in order for them to insure you? Or can it be a stand alone policy?

[Dan-o]

I have a separate "personal articles" policy with them. They couldn't match my other insurance co. on my home owners or auto so I just use State Farm for my camera gear.

[Sean]

I have a rider with Allstate. 5K for $60 a year, all perils no deductible.

[Rockfreak300]

Does anyone know if you have to have another policy with State Farm in order for them to insure you? Or can it be a stand alone policy?

Good question, I'm interested as well.

[Dan-o]

I already answered that two post up :). No you do not. Just ask them for a personal articles policy.

[Rockfreak300]

I already answered that two post up :). No you do not. Just ask them for a personal articles policy.

I apologize, thank you good sir! :)

Time to get my gear insured!

[Dan-o]

It is really nice feeling not having to worry about it. I carry all my stuff in one bag ( minus my 300 2.8 ) so it is very easy to grab $10,000+ worth of stuff in one fell swoop.

[g-money]

For those of you with State Farm and All State....Are you using your gear professioanlly? As in if you are doing a paid shoot and you fall off the dock trying to get that perfect angle are you still covered? If your gear was to get stolen while shooting a wedding are you covered? I have heard there is a differnece in having just a I own a camera that cost a lot and need a ryder for it and a I make money with this gear and need it covered policy.

Greg

[jongobongo]

we are using Hill & Usher http://packagechoice.com/

[RedHotLama]

we are using Hill & Usher http://packagechoice.com/

Ditto

[cory1848]

Hill and Usher quoted me about $700 a year, too much IMO for under $5k in gear and 1 mil liability with a $500 deductible...

[SoaringUSAEagle]

I have my gear on its own property policy with USAA and I cannot complain. $0 deductible, and covered anywhere in the world.

[Pyromaniac]

I have my gear on its own property policy with USAA and I cannot complain. $0 deductible, and covered anywhere in the world.

I have my car and renters insurance through USAA. If I may ask what does the policy for you gear cover and what it the cost of the policy?

[Lunajen]

Good question, I'm interested as well.


I think you can get a stand alone but I would call the local branch and find out.

[Lunajen]

For those of you with State Farm and All State....Are you using your gear professioanlly? As in if you are doing a paid shoot and you fall off the dock trying to get that perfect angle are you still covered? If your gear was to get stolen while shooting a wedding are you covered? I have heard there is a differnece in having just a I own a camera that cost a lot and need a ryder for it and a I make money with this gear and need it covered policy.

Greg

Yes.Yes.

[cory1848]

Yes.Yes.

Do you have E&O insurance with that as well? I read the statefarm doesnt offer that.

[EveryMilesAMemory]

For those of you with State Farm and All State....Are you using your gear professioanlly? As in if you are doing a paid shoot and you fall off the dock trying to get that perfect angle are you still covered? If your gear was to get stolen while shooting a wedding are you covered? I have heard there is a differnece in having just a I own a camera that cost a lot and need a ryder for it and a I make money with this gear and need it covered policy.

Greg

To answer this question, my agent knows my wife and I use our equipment to make a living off of, but I never asked whether it was a business policy or not. I guess sometimes it's better to not ask and just act dumb.:oops:

I know it got covered when it was damaged, but I'm gonna check out a few of these other companies others have mentioned as they are less expensive then our policy is.

Good thread. If it saves me money, it means more I can spend on camera gear:D

[Dan-o]

I guess sometimes it's better to not ask and just act dumb.

Generally that is not true with insurance.

[PhotosGuy]

Insurance companies - Links and experiences (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=463437)

Insurance for PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=463437)

[golfecho]

The only claim that comes to mind is a lens that was urinated on my dog and it was covered.

Did your company require you to replace your dog?