Equipment Insurance

[AlexCFrey]

I've been shopping around for an insurance policy covering my HDSLR kit, with a total value of about 25k. I'm looking for coverage while it is being used by me (and only me), in storage, and in transit.

If anyone can recommend an insurance firm, I would greatly appreciate it:laugh:

I live in the Los Angeles area.

 

[keylight]

https://www.filmemporium.com/equipment-insurance-for-camera-equipment-entertainment

I believe up to $25K will cost you about $350 for the Owned Equipment coverage. Oh, it also gives you some coverage on rentals, which most rental companies will require. I've purchased insurance from them in the past and haven't had any issues.

And search these forums. I know there are other threads on this topic that I and others have posted in previously.

 

[David W. Jones]

Have you considered calling your insurance agent you have your home and auto insurance with?

 

[RyanT]

Try Cory Canale at Insurance West. I'd recommend going with him over who you get your home and auto insurance with as everyone at insurance west understands insurance for film and video production. It makes it much easier when you start to get into the coverage you'll need to rent gear.

http://insurancewest.com/

 

[keylight]

Um... you're home insurance agent is probably the last person who can help you get what you need (or who you should probably buy this stuff from). It's a decent sounding suggestion, but in practice it's not a good idea. First, they don't/won't know what you need. Second, if they do somehow figure it out, they'll probably over-quote you (and perhaps over-inflate their fee).

Now I was in TX, not in LA, so perhaps it's a bit different. But when I first looked at insurance I called my agent who handled my home policy. After a lot of back and forth, they finally figured out what they thought was right... for $1500. Seemed high, so I called some other agents in town. But nobody else seemed to know what I needed, and when I told them (based on what my agent told me), they either ball-parked a number (always very high) or told me they didn't (or wouldn't) sell it.

Long story short, I finally asked some other shooters, and learned that my agent was basically selling me riders to my home policy to cover specific pieces of equipment, that wouldn't actually cover the equipment (since I was using it in business).

So...... Just like you wouldn't go to Home Depot or a car dealership to buy your next camera, you probably shouldn't get insurance for your camera/gear from a home or auto agent. Go to an agent/firm that routinely sells the kind of product you're looking to buy.

 

[David W. Jones]

My experience is completely different than yours.