Camera Equipment Insurance Questions (UK)

I have a couple of questions for any of you who have your camera equipment insured under your household insurance policy:

When listing the value of your equipment, do you go by the amount that it cost you to buy or the amount that it would cost to replace (current new values)?

Due to things like cashback offers that may not be available at the time of needing to replace stolen equipment, or of course the situation whereby a piece of equipment may have been bought for a bargain price, in the event of theft someone could end up seriously out of pocket if they suddenly have to replace their stolen equipment.

Also, are there any points I would have to consider when adding my equipment to the household insurance? I would want cover for theft, loss or damage whilst I have my equipment at home; with me whilst I'm out doing photography and also if it is in my car (or luggage hold if I ever need to use public transport).

Thanks

Mike

Interested in this as well, so tagging along

Shelton.

Welcome aboard!

Previously I was looking at Photoguard insurance, but it was over £130 per year to insure my equipment (worth £3300) which seemed a bit excessive.

Mike

Well, that was a resounding success wasn't it?

Mike

Yeah, I was wondering after buying my 40d, Jessops wanted £75 to extend the warranty to 3 yrs.....

Since I'm buying lenses as well that isn't an option... I'm going to ring my home insurance company Monday so see what they quote me?

I think there is atleast one specialist photography insurer in the UK, but be buggered if I can find it

Shelton.

Photoguard is one specialist that gets mentioned quite often: http://www.photoguard.​co.uk/.

I'm going to phone my home insurance company soon as well. I'll post back here if I learn anything worth mentioning!

Mike

Mike-DT6 wrote in post #6737335
Well, that was a resounding success wasn't it?

Mike

Must have missed this first time around.

When I called my insurance company to add my new 300 f2.8 (which I'd got for £2500 from Kerso) I asked what value I should give them. The guy on the phone told me to give the replacement value - so it's on the policy at £3000. That added about £30 p.a. to the cost. Well worth it in my opinion.

Phoning your insurance Co. is the best thing to do. Don't forget to tell them if you'll be wanting to take it on holidays. It's worth getting them to cover that as well. Mine was much better cover and much cheaper than trying to do it on travel insurance.

They'll ask about what sort of excess you'd be willing to pay. That can knock the price down quite a bit.

Once you get the policy sent to you make sure you read it through to ensure that it does cover you for what you want.

Photoguard is one specialist that gets mentioned quite often: http://www.photoguard.​co.uk/.

I'm going to phone my home insurance company soon as well. I'll post back here if I learn anything worth mentioning!

Mike

Hmmmmmm, yes they want nearly £85 per year for me!

http://www.aaduki.com/ are lower at £52 but I know nothing about them?

Shelton.

hollis_f wrote in post #6737739
Must have missed this first time around.

When I called my insurance company to add my new 300 f2.8 (which I'd got for £2500 from Kerso) I asked what value I should give them. The guy on the phone told me to give the replacement value - so it's on the policy at £3000. That added about £30 p.a. to the cost. Well worth it in my opinion.

Phoning your insurance Co. is the best thing to do. Don't forget to tell them if you'll be wanting to take it on holidays. It's worth getting them to cover that as well. Mine was much better cover and much cheaper than trying to do it on travel insurance.

They'll ask about what sort of excess you'd be willing to pay. That can knock the price down quite a bit.

Once you get the policy sent to you make sure you read it through to ensure that it does cover you for what you want.

Is that via your home contents or a private policy?

Shelton.

Shultz wrote in post #6737760

Is that via your home contents or a private policy?

Shelton.

It was home contents with Tesco!

Thanks for your reply Frank. That sounds a bit more sensible at 1% of the replacement value.

Mike

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

You want to specify the items on your home contents policy. By specifying them you get the widest cover available, accidental damage, worldwide etc etc. I have all my gear under my home contents cover and it is far far cheaper than a specialist policy.

Make sure you insure it for the replacement cost.

Never had the need to make a claim.

Regards

Simon

Thanks Frank and Simon.

I'll feel a lot better once I get my stuff insured. It's quite distracting having to worry about the consequences of losing or breaking something!

Mike

UA935 wrote in post #6748593
You want to specify the items on your home contents policy. By specifying them you get the widest cover available, accidental damage, worldwide etc etc.

On my policy I only need specify items over £1100 in value. There is no difference in cover between specified and unspecified items.