Photo equipment insurance: Question. How do you insure your camera gear and computers? As a rider on your homeowners policy or as an entirely separate policy? How do you identify your...

G. Crook Loc: Linden, TX

Question. How do you insure your camera gear and computers? As a rider on your homeowners policy or as an entirely separate policy? How do you identify your individual items. With photographs and serial numbers or.....? Thanks in advance.

johntaylor333

G. Crook wrote:

Question. How do you insure your camera gear and computers? As a rider on your homeowners policy or as an entirely separate policy? How do you identify your individual items. With photographs and serial numbers or.....? Thanks in advance.

I have my homeowners with Erie and all my camera equipment is separately listed and insured for all risks (no deductible) for 1% per year. Covers loss, theft, accidental damage, etc.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I have mine with State Farm. It’s a personal property policy. Covers loss or repair, no deductible, no depreciation. They need the make, model, serial number, and purchase price. EVen cover desktops and printers, no mobile devices. Cheap cost if you’re an amateur. I had an old film SLR and the agent looked up a value on eBay for me.

G. Crook Loc: Linden, TX

johntaylor333 wrote:

I have my homeowners with Erie and all my camera equipment is separately listed and insured for all risks (no deductible) for 1% per year. Covers loss, theft, accidental damage, etc.

Thanks for the quick response and information. Do you have to separately identify each peice of equipment and value?

Have you had any claims and was it a hassle?

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

Years ago I had camera insurance added to my homeowners policy, back in film days, equipment did not go obsolete so fast then, I also had a larger investment percentage wise, shot weddings and portraits,and lived in an apartment, now we are in a relatively secure alarmed house, upgraded after a break-in, all items stolen during the break-in were covered by the insurance company, electronics, camera, some cash, tools etc, all on homeowners, IMHO if I had pro level equipment I'd insure but for gear over 3 years old I'll take the risk, Bob.

sabfish

I have carried this type of insurance as a rider on my Amica Homeowner's Policy. Inexpensive, all risk, no deductible. I add cameras as I buy them. I must state the purchase price, date, model and serial number, usually appending a copy of an invoice. How they handle older equipment may depend on your insurance company. I take cameras I no longer use or of little value off the policy.

Barn Owl

You might consider Marine Insurance as a supplement through your homeowner's policy.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

G. Crook wrote:

Question. How do you insure your camera gear and computers? As a rider on your homeowners policy or as an entirely separate policy? How do you identify your individual items. With photographs and serial numbers or.....? Thanks in advance.

Homeowners insurance is one way - just don't plan on making a claim - they will use any reason to raise your rates or not insure you at renewal time.

I suggest that the least costly approach is to join an organization that offers professional insurance as an option. NANPA (North American Nature Photographers Association) has a great plan through Rand. And it is geared towards the pro or serious enthusiast.

http://www.nanpa.org/membership/insurance/

NANPA membership is $100/yr, and the insurance plan cost is based on what you have and how you want it insured. The Homeowner plan is the last resort. Once a company denies you coverage for whatever reason, it's almost impossible to get insurance from anyone. I speak from experience.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

G. Crook wrote:

Question. How do you insure your camera gear and computers? As a rider on your homeowners policy or as an entirely separate policy? How do you identify your individual items. With photographs and serial numbers or.....? Thanks in advance.

I do not have any insurance!

Stardust Loc: Central Illinois

Relatively cheap to add a rider on your home owners for camera, computer, & electronic equipment if it exceeds your normal policy limit, which is often $1,000. I have a $30k additional.

tiphareth51 Loc: Somewhere near North Pole, Alaska

All my photographic equipment is insured by a Personal Articles Policy from State Farm. What was needed is the item description, serial number and a copy of the purchase receipt. The cost was pennies compared to the actual item cost.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

G. Crook wrote:

Question. How do you insure your camera gear and computers? As a rider on your homeowners policy or as an entirely separate policy? How do you identify your individual items. With photographs and serial numbers or.....? Thanks in advance.

I have a rider from All State Insurance. It covers everything where ever I am. Cost is very reasonable. My insurance company also has a complete list of my equipment with serial numbers. I also have on file all of my receipts for all of my equipment just in case.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

G. Crook wrote:

Question. How do you insure your camera gear and computers? As a rider on your homeowners policy or as an entirely separate policy? How do you identify your individual items. With photographs and serial numbers or.....? Thanks in advance.

All of my extra stuff is insured through my homeowner's policy. You let them know the make model and serial number. They give you a number and it gets added to the total amount. I do have pictures.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't have specific insurance, aside from house and car. I'd have to insure my camera gear, computers, and ukuleles. $$$ going out but not coming in. In the 50+ years I've lived here, I've used only house and car insurance.

mborn Loc: Massachusetts

Gene51 wrote:

Homeowners insurance is one way - just don't plan ... (show quote)

NANPA insurance plan is what I use covers everything. I send them a list with the name, model, and serial number plus the cost.