omnila

I know this topic has been discussed before but can anyone give me the name of an insurance company for my gear in the U.S. My neighbor just lost everything,cameras , lens ,ect close to 10,000.00 worth and i am very nervous. I don't own my home so i'm looking for something for my gear and everything i see is oversea's help please

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

If you have the contents of your apartment insured, I would ask that company first. If not I would look in the phone book for some of the companies that are close. I use State Farm.
Erv

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

I don't have any insurance on my equipment yet, but I work for my local farmers agent and he says they do insurance for that. Couldn't hurt to check them out if you have a local agent near you.

Pepper Loc: Planet Earth Country USA

I’d recommend you ask around and get the name of a couple agents with good reputations. My wife is in insurance and the company you choose isn’t always as important as the agent you have. Insurance is only as good as the service you get and a good agent will make sure you’re taken care of in case of a claim. Plus a good agent can help you choose a policy that best suits your specific needs.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

Quite right Pepper. I should have mentioned that. Any agent that is good to you and takes the time to provide you with good quailty service should get your business. I mentioned that I had farmers insurance and that I worked there because my agent is great. (I switched insurances because my agent now was a lot better than my old one. This was also long before he hired me to work there.)

homefreesoon Loc: Houston

Hi, I recently purchased insurance for my equipment from CHUBB, it is called a marine insurance policy so it covers everything from theft to dropping your camera in the water. You can google Chubb and then find an agent in your area who can get you a quote. I paid $386.00 for a year. This insurance also covers your equipment if you travel to another country which alot of companies do not. Hope this helps, it took me hours of time to find someone who insures. If you have renters insurance they may be able to cover you with a rider but make sure that it covers you if your going overseas or if it is just dropped....also see if they cover actual replacement or if they adjust the price according to the age.

Jim Plogger Loc: East Tennessee

My homeowner's policy does cover my photo equipment. My son rents an apartment and has renter's insurance on the contents which also covers his photographic equipment. Just make sure that your policy is enough to cover the total replacement cost of all contents......and document, document, document! Take photos and write out your list and put it in a safe place like your bank box.

But most importantly talk to your agent to make certain you are covered.

Wheezie

While getting insurance on your gear is great, also ask the question from the insurance company if they also provide liability insurance and at what cost?

Reason being, think of you shooting on a boardwalk, you set your camera bag or tripod down. Granny is walking over to see the surf and dosen't see your bag and trips over it. This would be a mess....Lawsuits don't care if you are a pro or just shooting for yourself.

gleneric Loc: Calgary, Alberta

My home insurance also "covers" my photo equipment, just like any other possessions. What you have to watch out for are things like how much of a deductible you have on general possessions. Also, some home (or renter) policies won't necessarily cover your equipment if you are using it for business purposes. Even though I do not use my stuff for business I chose to have them set up a separate coverage for the photo equipment as part of my homeowner policy, with a $50 deductible. I have about $5000 of equipment covered for less than $100/yr. A real benefit is that they maintain a complete list of my equipment on file, including serial numbers and $$ values. I carry copies of this list whenever I travel (obviously separate from the camera gear :) ) in case something gets stolen.

Allen Loc: Plainfield, IN

I have a separate policy for my photo gear and lenses. Had to provide serial numbers and costs to my insurance company, State Farm. It costs about $30 a year to insure about $5,000 worth of equipment. Hope this helps.

Brad Loc: Middletown, Pennsylvania

PP of A has an insurance plan to protect you're equipment.

14kphotog Loc: Marietta, Ohio

Check with your renters insurance. You might be able to get a rider for your eqpt. I have mine through my homeowners ins.

coco1964 Loc: Winsted Mn

I have my insurance with the same company as my car insurance which is AAA Insurance--Auto Club Insurance Assn. With this as with most policies you get a discounted rate if you have your car/home with the same company and my equipment is covered in both my home and car. Just make sure you tell your agent about your equipment to make sure you don't need a rider added on. If you have under $5000 of equipment on my policy there is no rider necessary.....

Jer Loc: Mesa, Arizona

I insured my equipment under homeowners but have to pay extra for the camera equipment.

PJT Loc: Sarasota,Florida

I have a seperate rider on my camera equipment.Check with your insurance company and see if it is offered through them.
Also while your at it you might consider a home alarm system such as ATD.
I'll tell you just having signs up indicating that your house is armed and protected is in itself a big physological deterrent.
I test my system every 3 months to insure all is in working order.
This perhaps is my best peace of mind for at home.
Coupling that with a seperate insurance policy for your camera gear is about as a complete insurance umbrella for your equipment as possible.(make certain to take out enough insurance to cover all your equipment)
OBTW as mentioned earlier in this thread retain a list of serial numbers along with your lenses brand and date of purchase.
Make certain to photocopy all receipts and store them along with all your paperwork in say a safety deposit box at your bank.
This way you will insure that you have safe copies of your receipts as todays paper receipts deterioate over time and within say a six month period if exposed to light begin to show noticable breakdown in the numbers and letters that are printed.
Make certain that your insurance company is provided with a copy of your of paperwork.
This way there will be no questions asked in the case of what you have covered.
Additionally if you plan on taking a vacation have a list of camera equipment(both bodies and lenses) that you have taken with you especially if traveling out side of the USA.
I have a notorized and signed copy with me indicating which equipment and serial numbers that I have taken with me each time I travel.
The first time you come through Customs and anything looks new or rasies an eyebrow with the inspectors on duty you simply show them your dated notorized list and you can usually breeze right through without any further delay. (this is yourproof of purchase before you departed the US)
It is an indicator that you are not trying to bring back something expensive into the country without paying a duty tax, hence not up to anything illegal.
Just food for thought as it works for me!
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