Camera Insurance

[jonnypb]

Anyone used photoguard to insure your kit,

http://www.photoguard.co.uk/home.asp

I know a lot of people stick it on their house insurance but it's not for me really as I have something like a £150 excess

Going to get the 400D and jessops offer 3 year cover (with domestic & general) inc accidental damage for £60 or photoguard offer similar cover inc accidental, vehicle cover etc for £2.25 a month which covers the camera and also the 50mm f1.8 lens I'll get with it - I know over the 3 years it works out slightly more than jessops but it includes the lens as well.

Plus I wouldn't have to fork out £60 in one go which would be easier on the wallet!!

[mrtn]

Ive used Towergate insurance (www.towergate.co.uk), bit more expensive, but excellent service. Their cover includes all risks and outside the country (up to 45 days per year).

Mrtn

[Peakoverload]

Yep I've used Photoguard and thought they were very good but then I never had to make a claim. I found though that their small print wasn't their way of ensuring they didnt have to pay out for anything like many other insurance companies and so it always seemed to me that I was well insured for the vast majority of eventualities without having to pay rediculous prices for it either.

[Chunder]

Mine is covered on my contents insurance (0 excess) and doesn't need to be specified as an individual item - even though everything in my camera bag comes to something frightening like £4k :o I double- and triple- checked, explaining the value of the items, and how they're carried around together...

Also covered for accidental damage within and away from home.

A bit of a bargain, I thought... of course, the proof is in the pudding... or, rather, in the event of a claim - which fingers crossed I won't need to do!

(For what it's worth, it's an M&S "Premier" cover home insurance policy, with an individual item limit of £4k, and cost about £115 for the year.)

[PaulBoy]

I have my kit insured with Photoguard (my home contents looked full of holes cover wise) - I think mine is around £60 pa which covers everything (just under 3K & climbing )
Paul

[Astaroth]

when I looked at camera insurance is was coming up to nearly £100 pa for what I needed.

My home insurance in total is £120 a year and it covers all my camera kit (plus other stuff) in or away from the home up to £8,000. Whilst it does have a £50 excess if I removed the higher cover I added because of the camera it only reduces my premium by £10 so paying £210 a year to avoid a £50 excess doesnt make sense to me.

All insurance has terms and conditions, I personally would be looking to move my home insurance if I didnt think the terms were favourable rather than looking to buy supplementary insurance on things like cameras, jewelry, PC, mobile etc

[BananaTiger]

OK, I know this has been posted quite a few times but it's all a bit confusing for me I think I need to think about insurance properly having upgraded by kit.

I guess there are two trains of thought - increase your household insurance to cover personal possessions away from the home, or buy insurance from a specialist camera insurer.

My current home insurance is with Halifax which unfortunately doesn't have my address in their online system, so I can't check online quotes. I'll give them a call later to find out. But generally, what am I looking for? Is it personal possessions insurance with accidental damage and replacement on a like for like basis?

I know through searches on avforums that some people use a company called Photoguard. From other forums I've found mention E&L, Glover and Howe and Aaduki. I've heard from friends that E&L and Photoguard are pretty tricky to claim from. Anybody got any experiences with the four companies I mentioned?

Also, the specialist companies offer public indemnity. Not that I plan to make a living from my work, but people say I should get this even if I was shooting a wedding as a favour. At least, with a specialist company I could go for a regular package and upgrade with public indemnity if I ever needed it. Does that sound sensible or is it over the top for my needs?

And lastly, how does all the above work for bringing my kit on holiday? Going to Morocco next week for a photo holiday so alot of my kit will come with me.

[salubrious_k]

Originally Posted by BananaTiger

I think I need to think about insurance properly having upgraded by kit.

My thoughts exactly! I'll be interested to see the answers to this...

[iGiDK]

Originally Posted by BananaTiger

Also, the specialist companies offer public indemnity. Not that I plan to make a living from my work, but people say I should get this even if I was shooting a wedding as a favour. At least, with a specialist company I could go for a regular package and upgrade with public indemnity if I ever needed it. Does that sound sensible or is it over the top for my needs?

Definitely sensible in my opinion, even if you are a hobbyist photographer

Say for example you're shooting a friends wedding or you are taking photos in the street and someone trips over your tripod resulting in injury - they could attempt to sue you unfortunately.

[weejimmy]

Funnily enough, I just bought photography insurance yesterday to cover me when I go on holiday tomorrow.

I went with AUA - http://www.aua-insurance.com/Photogr...Insurance.shtm

Cost me £35 to cover nearly £1500 worth of equipment for a year.

[harry66]

I had E&L insurance for a while - never claimed - but when my home insurance renewal came up this year I cancelled the E&L and made sure the Personal Possesions cover was adequate to cover my gear.

I also have free travel insurance cover with my bank account - made a claim recently for my wife Ixus which got damaged on holiday and they paid up without any hassle.

[sim667]

My insurance costs £200 / year

Covers me for public liability(£1 mil), professional indemnity(£1 mil), theft of equipment from a car and from my person and accidental damage worldwide

it does cost a lot, but while my camera is making me enough money to cover it then ill keep paying it.

[Curious Yellow]

I'd be interested in finding out who you guys go to for travel insurance. Is there a travel insurance policy that covers photo equipment? So far the single article limits I have seen are around £300. Does this mean you lot are getting two sets of insurance? Would be interested in finding out if anyone does travel insurance with a high single article limit.

[salubrious_k]

Well I've just decided to change my home insurance to being with Legal & General and have specified all my camera equipment in personal possesions. My home contents policy cost about £150 and the personal possesions added about £50 to that. Apparently I'm covered for accidental damage and something like 30 days worldwide travel. I've no liability or indeminity and I don't think my equipment is covered if stored in a car.

[BananaTiger]

Just spoke to a very friendly lady with my home contents insurance. My personal belongings seems to already cover £2500 worth of personal items (I'll probably increase it to cover stuff like mobiles and credit cards) away from the home, for loss, theft or damage. It's on a repair or replace basis. Excess of £100 with unattended vehicle cover for £1000 total (not great but I don't intend to leave it in the car that much) and 60 days of travel cover outside the UK. Sounds pretty good!

Is that all the bases covered you think?