how to get your gear insured by prod comp?

[Patryk_Rebisz]

Normally when i come on board with my gear it's 1-2 day shoots so i don't even bother asking for gear insurance but this time it's one week production and since they do have liability insurance... How do i got about so that my gear gets insured? (I can't believe i've been doing it for 5 years and only now need an answer to this question)

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

The production has production insurance? All you need is two things, as far as i know.

1) Their production insurance policy should cover rented equipment, so simply have them show you the policy and prove that it is legit. Look at the amount covered and make sure the total of your gear falls under that number. Get a copy.

2) Get them to sign a contract/invoice, or etc to prove your equipment was being rented by them. The studio could burn down but if you can't prove they legally rented your equipment outside of your services, the production insurance does not have to pay for your things. Have them sign a contract or invoice that states they are renting an itemized list of equipment from you.

I think that is it. Real production insurance should cover your gear. You don't need to do anything but make sure they have the policy and that your gear is on official record as being a part of the insured production.

 

[Paul Hudson]

Patryk,


For sure make sure they are insured. Have them issue a rider with you as a loss payee. I recently did a shot where a HPX 500 was destroyed and despite verbal assurance from the production company, there was NO insurance. I was left holding the bag for a camera and an HD lens.

Now me and my insurance company will fight them in court.

No one wins.

 

[ggrantly]

Patryk,

Liability insurance from the company you work for isn't going to cover your gear unless they have additional riders for equipment such as rental of your equipment. Rentals nearly always have their own rider and is an additional to a GL policy. The rider is the policy addition and what Paul probably meant to say was have their broker issue a certificate of insurance naming you as loss payee. They usually will do this for free, or a nominal charge.

I recommend you have your own coverage. Depending on a policy you didn't spec out and purchase, is pretty risky business. If you are adding coverage to your own GL policy, you can probably get coverage by the year for slightly more than $10/thousand depending on your market, where you live, etc.

Grant

 

[smelni]

patryk - i do this all the time. You ask them to issue a certificate of insurance listed you (or your company) as both a loss payee AND an additional insured - almost all insurance companies do this for free. When you get that cert MAKE certain that it lists rental insurance on it. In addition you must invoice them with your gear as a line item (even if its included) so that it is in fact a true rental.

I do recommend having your own insurance though - GL is very important and you dont want to learn how important when you have an incident that it would have covered and you dont have it. PM me (or email me) if you want some details and numbers on that.