FS7: UK Kit insurance options...

jasonbrooks

jasonbrooks

Well-known member
Hey folks,

Just what is says on the tin really. I've been insuring (most of) my kit with E&L for about a decade, they have a max £20K policy that allows me to cover most of my juiciest items, and swap things around if/when necessary. I have an "up to 30-days worldwide travel" coverage, and it comes in at around £975 a year. It doesn't give me any liability cover at all, which I generally am not required to have.

I've recently begun to wonder if a) I should have any sort of public liability cover, and b) if I could get a better deal for my kit cover elsewhere.

Anyone looked into this recently, or particularly happy with their (UK) policy?

Cheers,

jason
 
Jason,

Public liability cover - yes! You'd be a fool not to have that IMHO. I have £5Million cover and it cost under £73/year with Direct Line (you can do it all online in minutes). Some corporates/multinationals I regularly film for insist on this kind of cover (and occasionally I've needed to produce proof I have it before being allowed onto site).

Cameras and all my various Mac computers (and the plethora of production gear I seem to now own) are all insured with Towergate Camera Insurance. They have a good reputation of paying up quickly if and when things go wrong (from what I've read on various forums over the years). Thankfully, so far (touch wood!) I've never needed to test that personally (at least not yet). I only bother to insure for UK though, as these days (even well before COVID) I'm reluctant to go globe trotting with expensive camera gear. Too much hassle. FYI, I have £45K worth of gear insured for a premium of about £525/year - just renewed it again in October. That premium would rise if it was also to include world hops. Security rating of your car also has an influence on the cost. There is a maximum value insured when gear is in a car too. But it does seem like potentially more affordable than what you've been paying. Probably worth you getting a quote from them and seeing if their policy detail meets your needs.

Hope this helps!

Sam, just seen your reply when I finished typing this. Can you elaborate why you're not over happy with Towergate?
 
Because Ive been giving them £185 a month for 25 years - probably could have bought a ferrari.

I reckon cheaper is out there but I never have time to look as such things bore me senseless.

--
Edit to elaborate more.. when I started they were very small and felt personal - trustable - and they just dont feel like that now. I have a big exchange with Camerasure.. that I give them a lot of money.. so when Im hit with the big one.. I really hope they keep thier part of the deal in giving me a lot of money. TO be fair I lost kit (nicked) a couple of times in the 90s and they paid too - I think Ive had three payouts over 20 years all have been free of problems (payments around £1500)
 
Last edited:
Matt_Bigwood said:
I had a bad experience with Aaduki a few years ago (loads of niggles and took weeks to settle the claim) so I'd avoid them.
Click to expand...

Interesting, I've used Aaduki for longer than I care to remember. Never had an issue, but then I've never made a claim.

I also use Direct Line for Public Liability and Lloyds via Coverdrone for my drones. The service from Coverdrone is fantastic. I'm always adding countries and other stuff to the list that aren't on the original cover and they are super quick at updating my policy.
 
Yes, sadly that's the only time you learn how good or bad a company is! Our house was flooded and a lot of kit was damaged. Short version of the story was that they were unwilling to send replacement kit until it was all in stock and for some reason it all had to come from WEX. The final nail in the coffin was that I had to send all the damaged kit back to them at my own expense (cost around £40 as it had to be insured at their request).
 
Thanks everyone for all your input. I am now happily insured with TowerGate saving around £850 a year over my previous policy with E&L, for an insured kit total of ~£25K.

:-D

jason
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top