Is your gear covered for insurance?

I guess it depends of the level of content and what you do.

As a hobby, a camera and a couple of lenses, it would be easier to add it to home content.

Taking a couple of 5D with half a dozen lenses, flashes and accessories to a job. You will need separate insurance.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Taking a couple of 5D with half a dozen lenses, flashes and accessories to a job. You will need separate insurance.
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I'd still check home insurance.

That would still be covered by my home insurance (Hiscox) for example. Unlimited cover, including loss or accidental damage in or out of the home, providing no single item is valued at £15,000 or more.

Edit - I note you're a junior member; same policy also includes my kids possessions on the same basis providing they are under 18 or at Uni.
 
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Will, I guess as you're only 16 you may need to get a parent (adult) to get the cover for in the home, but as you're also a pro (albeit part time & a good one at that) you probably need to check carefully what cover you need for your gear & possibly also any liability cover for third parties? @Phil V might be able to help with advice?
 
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OldCarlos said:
Will, I guess as you're only 16 you may need to get a parent (adult) to get the cover for in the home, but as you're also a pro (albeit part time & a good one at that) you probably need to check carefully what cover you need for your gear & possibly also any liability cover for third parties? @Phil V might be able to help with advice?
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Thanks man I'll look into it!
 
I spent twenty years in the insurance industry so maybe some of the following will help:

1. declare all items you want "covered."
2. keep a record of any serial numbers and the kit they refer to.
3. a bit obvious but take a picture of the kit, particularly the expensive stuff such as cameras and flashes.
4. keep purchase receipts - photograph them even.
5. insure for replacement cost and not what you paid.
6. review cover every twelve months in order to take account of new purchases or revised replacement values.
7. report any loss / theft to the Police immediately and request a crime number - the insurance company will want this.
8. report any loss / breakage immediately to your insurer.
9. if you are unsure about any aspect of your policy / cover e.g going abroad, then speak with the insurer.
10. NEVER assume. The insurance company won't and never should you.
11. if the sums involved are substantial I would advise a stand alone policy and not tagging onto a parent policy.
12. check the policy cover and understand what is covered and what is not - if in doubt ASK.

I hope this is not stating the obvious and is of some use
 
For amateurs, the best deal is to add to home contents insurance, even if it means changing companies. It's much cheaper than any specialised insurance (and often offers better cover).

Unfortunately most home contents insurance doesn't cover 'business assets', so if you're marketing at all, you'll need pro cover*.

As above, check Aaduki and Cliik, there'll be others too.

*likewise if you're doing any marketing you need to register with HMRC. it doesn't matter whether you're making a profit, you need to account for the business to agreed standards.
 
As others have already said, adding as part of 'All Risks' on Household Insurance is (as far as I have been able to determine), the most cost effective way of insuring the equipment, but as always with insurance be careful to read the details.
Since you are using the gear for 'business' you are probably going to need separate cover - particularly to include things like public liability.

For others who are just hobbyists, a key thing is individual item limits, and also what is considered as an individual item rather than a collection.

As huxleypiggles mentioned, you will probably need receipts in case of a claim, but some companies are a bit more relaxed - I was able to prove 'ownership' after a break in using a picture of the owners manual (for an old flashgun) - where it might be reasonable that you no longer have the receipt. If you have a lot of second hand gear this is worth checking to find out what they will accept.
 
All my gear is insured separately, with Hiscox.

Best advice I can give has already been given, insure for the replacement value NOT what you paid, mine is also new for old.

This very quickly adds up, for an example, it doesn't matter that the 400MM f2.8 VR cost me less than £5k used, the replacement would be a new FL version which retails at £10,399!

Whilst I do always treat my kit with kid gloves, it does give peace of mind when out shooting that should it get knocked into a lake etc. not only is it covered but I'll also get an upgrade!
 
smr said:
I think home contents insurance is a good idea and can cover photography equipment. Worth it for the peace of mind.
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Please OP do not do this, as you are using the kit for reward, ie you are being paid for some jobs, as I said earlier and Phil V said, you need proper insurance with the correct liability insurance (minimum public liability).

Home contents insurance rarely covers items being used commercially.

I know its a headache to do this, and it costs money, but you need it for proper piece of mind.
 
Just about to get my camera gear added to house insurance. Thou don't know if items will be insured, as bottom them 2nd hand, so no receipt. Anyone been able to insure 2nd hand gear ?
 
I am always unsure of the correct way to insure my gear. Home contents say its covered although I'm aware that there are always clauses involved. To me its alright the insurer telling me its covered but the last thing i want is to find out in the event of a claim is for them to say sorry but its not covered.
 
I insured my kit under home insurance, £18k worth - and they said it's covered but only whilst not using it for business.

So as long as I don't charge any monies :) I think I'm good!
 
dancook said:
I insured my kit under home insurance, £18k worth - and they said it's covered but only whilst not using it for business.

So as long as I don't charge any monies :) I think I'm good!
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The agent I spoke today, said that camera gear, wouldn't be covered if outside the house ,,,
 
amfoto said:
The agent I spoke today, said that camera gear, wouldn't be covered if outside the house ,,,
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mine is covered world wide on my home insurance, I asked them how much of a fight i need to put up if i'm mugged :D
 
amfoto said:
The agent I spoke today, said that camera gear, wouldn't be covered if outside the house ,,,
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But for a few more ££ they usually will cover it.

A couple of months ago I dropped my 1DX & 70-200 into the sea. My home insurance sent me a 1DXii & 70-200 within 4 days of me phoning them. It cost be about £20 a year extra for the full cover. Total value was over £7k by the time you add on memory cards, filters, screen protector etc.
 
Covered on home insurance with out of home cover however do need to watch the individual item limits as mentioned with lens prices in particular going up a lot of policies have lower than useful item limits when outside of home.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I guess it depends of the level of content and what you do.

As a hobby, a camera and a couple of lenses, it would be easier to add it to home content.

Taking a couple of 5D with half a dozen lenses, flashes and accessories to a job. You will need separate insurance.
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Not really. I added up the new for old and got to (gulp) £18-20k. Please dont tell other half. Cheapest insurance adding to home insurance, about 30% of the cost of standalone and i've got the house contents insured there also. Takes ages putting in serial numbers and estimating how much out of house in bag at any time but well worth it.
 
Great advice from Huxleypiggles, many thanks for the input.

I use Aaduki and have no complaints (not claimed so far). The cover I have chosen is excellent and very reasonably priced.

Andy
 
amfoto said:
Just about to get my camera gear added to house insurance. Thou don't know if items will be insured, as bottom them 2nd hand, so no receipt. Anyone been able to insure 2nd hand gear ?
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Much of my gear is secondhand, but it's still insured fine with Photoguard. I'd rather have proper camera insurance, with all replacement costs and serial numbers listed.
 
Mine is with my home insurance; I think I pay about £16 per month for everything. It also covers my MacBook, phone etc.
 
amfoto said:
Just about to get my camera gear added to house insurance. Thou don't know if items will be insured, as bottom them 2nd hand, so no receipt. Anyone been able to insure 2nd hand gear ?
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Provided you can prove ownership, take photographs of both the gear AND serial numbers also of any receipts you may have, even a print out of a PayPal or Ebay transaction should be sufficient then you shouldn't have any problem with it being second hand gear.
 
wookie6262 said:
Some great advice here. I have a Canon 300mm F2.8 is which was purchased from ebay. It is repainted and has had a new lens mount at some time. I can't see a serial number so how do you go about recording one for that lens
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When you say "repainted" has this been done professionally? if so I would have thought they would have been obliged to ensure the serial number was visible.
 
Phoned Photoguard up,,,, they to9ld me take all my gear down to my local Calmut, They will make a list of all my gear, sign it, and that's as good as a receipt. Job done for my 2nd hand gear.
 
All my camera equipment is on the house insurance. I had to list the individual items over £1500 should they need replacing. But the gear is covered away from the home and for accidental damage etc.
But as already said if your doing it not as a hobby then get a separate policy that covers you.
Or ask them you never know.
 
What about if you aren't the home policy holder? at the moment I'm staying with my mum before moving into a new place of my own in 6 months or so time....can I take out a contents policy in my own name if I'm not the house owner? Want to cover my camera gear beyond the level my travel insurance does (about £3k of gear but used underwater...)
 
Bluep said:
What about if you aren't the home policy holder? at the moment I'm staying with my mum before moving into a new place of my own in 6 months or so time....can I take out a contents policy in my own name if I'm not the house owner? Want to cover my camera gear beyond the level my travel insurance does (about £3k of gear but used underwater...)
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You should still be able to add it as you are a relative living at the address. Just give them a ring to check and give them the details.
 
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