Insurance companies - Links and experiences

Camera and photographic equipment Insurance companies for PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY

There comes a time where ordinary household Insurance just won't cover those 'L' lenses and gear because you might just sell a snap or two, or three, or even just intend to, and hey presto, in the insurer's eyes YOU'RE A PRO!

So...Please post your favourite photographic equipment insurers for 'professional ' use only:
- i.e. not 'amateur use only' add ons to Household insurance,
- i.e. not small unclear extensions to personal possessions cover ( where they say you 'should' be covered' (!!!?) but leave you wondering whether you actaually are or not
- i.e. Insurers that clearly and definitely provide cover if you do any professional work, whether full time or not.

Please post links and experiences (good or bad, value, for money, level of cover & especially of how well you felt claims were dealt with etc.)

(I did a search and couldn't find a comprehensive list of links/experiences for professional use, no matter whether full, part time , or occasional)

I'll start and I will add to this list as it progresses

LINKS
UK:
Morgan Richardson
Glover & Howe
WindsoverHowden
Photoguard
Aaduki
Burnetts
Hiscox(one poster said they do)

USA (inc Canada...?)
NANPA
PPA - Membership begets Insurance apparently
PackageChoice (impressive website)
TCP

Canada
State Farm

any more for any more......?

Some is available through professional organizations: PPA vs WPPI vs WPJA

Also includes a UK link:
Travel Insurance for SLR gear Australia travelling to USA

I am insured with Photoguard. Not had to claim yet but happy with the cover they provide (so far!)

I've been using my membership with NANPA to get there group rate via Rand/Chub insurance.
It's full Professional photographers insurance, not just gear insurance.

http://www.nanpa.org/
http://www.nanpa.org/i​nsurance.html
Rand Insurance NANPA Program

I believe it's US only ( though by definition it should include Canada )

I've been with them for 4 years now. Never had a claim, and it isn't exactly cheap.

What are people in Canada using? I contacted Alstate here in ontario as suggested by one and they made it very clear in there reply that they do not cover "Freelance or Editorial Photograpghers" that they do adjustments to personal accounts to cover personal use gear.

and the NANPA seems out of the equasion for me to

"* Only available to US-based members. All applications will be checked against NANPA's membership list to ensure the members-only benefit."

I'm about to go with PhotoShield - supplied by Winsover Howden.

Full professional cover - includes Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, Unattended vehicle cover, laptop & desktop + printers, plus 45 days world-wide...

and.... they seem nice people to deal with


Here's their link http://www.winsoverhow​den.com/

TJ

PS. Don't be put off by the equipment limits shown on their home page - just ask for a quote.

My auto & household insurance is with TD Meloche Monnex - they do have some micro business policies but not for photographers so count them out.

I'm currently with Economical - it's a full policy and I'm paying for WAY more coverage than I need. I don't need stock coverage, boiler or premise coverage. I'm going to cancel my Economical policy and go with State Farm for 1/3 the cost. It will cover liability, gear (at home & on-location), personal indemnity, bodily injury etc. http://www.statefarm.c​om/

Michael_Lambert wrote in post #5045818
What are people in Canada using?

Look into http://www.statefarm.c​om/

I use state farm as my business insurance. It covers my studio and all my gear and equipment

I have been comunicating with statefarm and they refuse to insure me. lol, I advised them the type of photography i do and well.. no coverage

This is the reply i got from there agent.

"Hi Michael;

We can, depending on the type of photography business you do, extend
the coverage you desire from a business liability policy; however, the
only acceptable businesses we can write for photographers are those who
primarily do photographs in an owned specific location (ie studio) and
perhaps the odd wedding. Photographers who travel extensively,
including freelance, newspaper, wildlife, underwater, and aerial
photographers are ineligible for State Farm coverage.

As for the other photographers you mention, I'd assume they are more
"studio-type" than you are. With a desire for international and
underwater coverage, you fall into the ineligible category for State
Farm.

Again, if your home insurance company can't help, I can give you the
name of a local broker who has a very large commercial business that I'm
sure could help you out."

Michael, I can see that underwater photography would carry extra risk from an insurer's perspective. Try giving my current broker a call and see if they have any suggestions (www.uttermorris.com) for coverage. I expect you are heading down the route of a full commercial policy with all peril coverage on your gear will a considerable price tag.

I don't have a studio location and the State Farm broker I'm dealing with knows it, but my risk factor is far less than yours

anyone have aussie insurance recommendations? i have added my equipment to my home insurance and its due for renewal for an exceptionally large price. i would appreciate some australian input.

I use Hill & Usher (Package Choice) - http://packagechoice.c​om/

Just to add my experience with photoguard,

I have around £3000 worth of equipment insured with them, all went well was very easy to start/setup/modify, it was great.
Untill i wanted to make a claim. I have my pda covered under the policy and the screen was broken after an accident. Rang them up, they said ok fill out the paperwork and send it off with photos of the damage, 2 months later and I've had no response, all the email addresses they give are dead and to top it off, this morning I received a letter telling me my insurance policy was up for renewal. I'm currently failing to see the point in renewing a policy that doesn't do anything other than cost me £150 a year.
I shall be ringing them later to yell


So in summery, I wouldn't reccomend photoguard

Sam442 wrote in post #5871539
Just to add my experience with photoguard,

I have around £3000 worth of equipment insured with them, all went well was very easy to start/setup/modify, it was great.
Untill i wanted to make a claim. I have my pda covered under the policy and the screen was broken after an accident. Rang them up, they said ok fill out the paperwork and send it off with photos of the damage, 2 months later and I've had no response, all the email addresses they give are dead and to top it off, this morning I received a letter telling me my insurance policy was up for renewal. I'm currently failing to see the point in renewing a policy that doesn't do anything other than cost me £150 a year.
I shall be ringing them later to yell


So in summery, I wouldn't reccomend photoguard

thanks for that feedback!