Which insurance company?

Hi guys, I have just sold all my Canon gear and moved to Nikon. Its been about a year since I was 'serious' with the camera and since I once again have a bunch of expensive gear I want to make sure its insured and protected. I used to have a professional policy with Photoguard, luckily never had to make a claim. I just did a google for photography insurance and now see there appears to be a wider choice of companies willing to insure photographers. So what insurer would people recommend and what are your experiences from dealing with them? Is Photoguard still my best bet or are they difficult? Tom

Are you using the gear professionally? If not, I would just add your gear to your renters or home owners insurance.

Not professionally, but out and about a lot. I can't imagine it would be a quick or easy process claiming a lost/stolen/broken lens when you were out on top of a hill in the middle of nowhere or even in another country and its on house insurance.

Well saying not professionally.... I do product photography and will be attempting some marketing videos for the company I work for, all be it not my role.

I am happy to pay for a specialist photographic policy, just keen to know which ones people think are best.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #18055395
Are you using the gear professionally? If not, I would just add your gear to your renters or home owners insurance.

will most homeowners policies cover accidental damage? I was under the impression that would only cover theft?

Companies can add gear to your current policy provided you do not make any money off your hobby. Technically its called an inland marine policy but it is also knows as a personal articles policy. Mine is through State Farm. Cost is about $17 a year per $1,000 of gear value. Covers everything with no deductible. Though I'd be very hesitant to file a claim unless the value of loss was substantial. Sure, they may put $500 but then your policy gets cancelled or goes up and you wind up paying that $500 back to them fairly easy.

Ok cool, but this isn't really helping my question.

There must be tons of people on here with photographic insurance policies.

I agree with the others look at your company you have for your homeowners/rental insurance you might find a better deal.

I have had insurance through a company that specializes in photo/film insurance policies - I found them stuck in the 80s with a policy package that had a lot of value on portfolios(but and iPad was excluded), fees to get proof of insurance documents when renting a location, etc.. and honesty their costs were much higher

Most insurance companies that deal with business also have plans for video/photo businesses if you need location liability so no real reason to go with the specialty companies. Business insurances have much higher fees because they have liability coverage

My "valuable personal property" policy with the company I already have insurance with is $30 for $2,500 Granted this is for equipment that is not related to my business equipment. My Business insurance is just under $1,000

So I do agree the best option really might be calling up your insurance company (car, home or rental) and seeing if they can give you a deal with an additional plan

p.s. the other question is if you plan on renting lenses I personally would rather pay for the insurance through the rental house so they have no incentive to go after your insurance.

archfotos wrote in post #18058027
I agree with the others look at your company you have for your homeowners/rental insurance you might find a better deal.

I have had insurance through a company that specializes in photo/film insurance policies - I found them stuck in the 80s with a policy package that had a lot of value on portfolios(but and iPad was excluded), fees to get proof of insurance documents when renting a location, etc.. and honesty their costs were much higher

Most insurance companies that deal with business also have plans for video/photo businesses if you need location liability so no real reason to go with the specialty companies. Business insurances have much higher fees because they have liability coverage

My "valuable personal property" policy with the company I already have insurance with is $30 for $2,500 Granted this is for equipment that is not related to my business equipment. My Business insurance is just under $1,000

So I do agree the best option really might be calling up your insurance company (car, home or rental) and seeing if they can give you a deal with an additional plan

p.s. the other question is if you plan on renting lenses I personally would rather pay for the insurance through the rental house so they have no incentive to go after your insurance.

Thanks for the advice. Since the house I live in isn't mine and neither is the policy, I have just opened a policy with photoguard again. It covers all my equipment from accidental damage, loss and theft.

tomstephens89 wrote in post #18058289
Since the house I live in isn't mine and neither is the policy

Would have been nice to have known this from the start. Because what happens when one doesn't give all the info, is that they get recomendations like above.

mikeinctown wrote in post #18059319
Would have been nice to have known this from the start. Because what happens when one doesn't give all the info, is that they get recomendations like above.

Except the above information is still relative to his question... I don't technically own the home I live in either, but I have a personal property policy added to my renters insurance, it's the same thing as adding it to your home owners insurance.

mikeinctown wrote in post #18056801
Companies can add gear to your current policy provided you do not make any money off your hobby. Technically its called an inland marine policy but it is also knows as a personal articles policy. Mine is through State Farm. Cost is about $17 a year per $1,000 of gear value. Covers everything with no deductible. Though I'd be very hesitant to file a claim unless the value of loss was substantial. Sure, they may put $500 but then your policy gets cancelled or goes up and you wind up paying that $500 back to them fairly easy.

This. My insurance company, for which I have both homeowners and auto, has told me explicitly that it's likely my homeowner policy bill will increase if I have to file a claim. They state that it depends on the size of the claim, but they aren't willing to share what the threshold is. I do have some personal property content coverage within my homeowner policy but there are significant limitations as well as the risk of increased annual payout for premiums.

EverydayGetaway wrote in post #18059478
Except the above information is still relative to his question... I don't technically own the home I live in either, but I have a personal property policy added to my renters insurance, it's the same thing as adding it to your home owners insurance.

Well I'm not sure about your company, but mine still calls it a homeowners policy, even though I rent an apartment. Still covers a given amount on the dwelling and the contents inside.

mikeinctown wrote in post #18059628
Well I'm not sure about your company, but mine still calls it a homeowners policy, even though I rent an apartment. Still covers a given amount on the dwelling and the contents inside.

The renters insurance itself does, yes, but the added personal property insurance is specifically for my camera gear and it covers theft, damage and lost property for the amount that I specified for each item.