How do you insure your gear?

Michael Solomon

Michael Solomon

Well-known member
Hey guys,

So I'm at the point now where I have enough expensive gear that I'm super paranoid anytime I step foot on set. I'm currently un-insured and would like to change that.

I'm curious how you guys are going about your insurance. I have about $15,000-$16,000 worth in gear. I just need a basic policy that covers damage and theft. I've gotten some quotes and they are all hovering around $1,250 a year which seems extremely expensive and it often includes a lot of stuff that I don't need.

So yah, curious what you all are using/doing =)
 
I had the same issue. The big guys won't touch a policy like that with a President David Palmer-sized pole. Would be interested to hear as well.
 
I have about the same amount of equipment insured through State Farm. $30-40 bucks a month, small deductible, and around 2 million in liability insurance as well.
 
Wow.... guess the state farm rep I'm talking to is trying to rip me off then. That $1250 quote was through state farm for 1 million in liability....
 
I have $20, 000.00 in owned gear and $10,000.00 in non-owned gear covered through Hanover Ins. for $750.00 a year. I got it through a local agent here in the Detroit area who insures other independent filmmakers/production companies. Funny thing is that it is written up as a commercial marine policy, which I never understood.
 
I can definitely say that State Farm is a very good insurance company. I shot a doc in Peru last year and my bag got swiped while I wasn't paying attention for a second. Yes I was stupid. There were some very good lenses in there. State Farm covered me no problem. They were very honest and easy to deal with.

The only problem now is, I got replacement gear but they won't re-insure me and of course I understand why. They said it takes 3 years before I can be insured by them again.

My friends studio uses Hartford to insure his production studio and liability. I called Hartford and I think it was around $700 a year for about $15K of year + 1 million in liability. The liability part only add about $70 a year. They had a high deductable though at around $500.

I also called, AAA and they can insure your camera gear. The strange thing is, they do it through Hartford, but the AAA rate was lower than Hartford.

I also heard Marsh Insurance does camera equipment. The person mentioned it was a good price with a low deductible.

Once I get my FS 700, I'm going to start looking for insurance policy. At this point, I have about $15K of insurable stuff, with the FS 700 I'll be around $25K.

With that said, I might just insure my camera and lenses and a few rigs. The lesser stuff like filters, tripods, lights are not easily damaged and less desirable to steal, plus insuring every little thing will drive up the premium quite a bit.

I'm so paranoid now after getting robbed that I bought a large gun safe (I don't own any guns), which I put my camera backpacks in. I keep all my lights and grip gear in a locked closet.
 
I need to look into this as well. Many have mentioned Fractured Atlas as a reliable provider, costs seem to be on a par with some of the other mentioned here.
 
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