Musical insurance

[nash]

Who do you use to cover your gear?

[yanto]

Newmoon for me. Found them to be very flexible and reasonably priced, although not had to claim yet

[CamdenRob]

Mine's all covered under the contents insurance through Aviva... Have to have my basses as listed items to be covered outside the house and for professional use.

... of course I will only know how good the cover really is in the event that I have to make a claim

[toneknob]

New Moon for "big stuff" - instruments, amps, synths. Household contents covers pedals, cables, other bits and bobs.

[4stringslow]

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1471087969' post='3110432']
... of course I will only know how good the cover really is in the event that I have to make a claim
[/quote]

I think this is a more important point that just asking who we all use for insurance cover. I've asked before if anyone has any actual claim experiences but there was no reply, so probably won't be this time either. From what has been discussed in the past, it's really important to read the small print in any musical insurance policy, especially the exclusions!

Personally I don't bother with insurance, except for the fairly standard cover that comes with my home policy, because when I'm out rehearsing or gigging my gear is pretty much always in sight and when not being used my bass stays in its hardcase, so I judge the risk of theft or damage to be so small that it's not worth paying for insurance. Plus, this approach has worked for so long now that even if someone did steal my gear, I've saved so much in premiums over the years that I reckon I'll still be quids in after replacing them.

[stingrayPete1977]

My premiums went up as the cover went down and my gear got older and less valuable, put the premiums in a pot and buy some new gear every now and again is my advice.

Edited August 13, 2016 by stingrayPete1977

[smaz]

Another New Moon customer here, though again not had to make a claim. Closest is I phoned them up to ask what I need to do to make a claim, and they said get a repair quote, send it to them & they'll decide on repairing or replacing.

If you're going to use house insurance, do ask them specifically about the instruments, especially if you gig. As soon as I mentioned that to our provider, they wouldn't touch them - even for just inside the house.

Edited August 13, 2016 by smaz

[MacDaddy]

Covered by MU sub's.

[ezbass]

Allianz.

[bassbiscuits]

I've always used Musicguard or whatever they're currently called.

I've never had to use them mind you.

[Lee-Man]

New Moon are great. Not had a claim, but by far the easiest to deal with.

[spacey]

They are all brilliant to deal with, until you want to claim, then it gets serious.
Have you got all master keys for the van / car
A hatchback is not a locked boot as it is accessible from the back seats.
The van insurance states it is normally parked over night on a driveway with locked gates, not outside a hotel in Manchester.

These days, my cash stays in my pocket and I buy a new bass with it.
Insurance and bookmakers are one of the same with different suits.
They work on odds and gamble so statically, you will lose money over the long run.

[PaulWarning]

I use my home insurance too, my P bass is listed on the policy, I did use Allianz for one year, but the only time it would get nicked really is if it's in the car and it's got to be locked in the boot or the glove box?????? to be covered not much use if you've got an estate car, I know some people will say never leave it in the car but sometimes it's unavoidable, you look a bit of a dick carrying it into the gents at motorway services for instance

[spacey]

The definition of a locked boot is where they get you on that.
Only old jags and some saloons still have a locked boot, if the seats can be lowered from inside the car or it can be accessed by breaking the glass and removing a luggage cover or parcel shelf its not a locked boot.

Been there, been through the FSA bondsman and they just said, read the small print next time.

[sharkboy]

Thus topic has come up a number of times of late; once, about 13 months ago, raised by me after out guitarist's PRS custom came off second best to gravity. My research revealed a number of horror stories of people that had relied on home contents insurance to cover damage at a gig or in transit only to be rejected on the grounds that their gear was not covered as it was used to generate income and therefore professional equipment that doesn't fit on a domestic policy. The research sent me straight to Allianz's specialist music equipment insurance. £13 a month for £10k worth of peace of mind is a bit of a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

Insurance is only a waste of money until you need it. If your gear isn't that expensive to replace then, sure, you might want to forego premiums and just pay out from your own pocket to replace/repair damaged or lost items. If, however, you might be glad that someone else will give you the couple of grand to get a new custom bass to replace the one that was stolen, then I'd suggest that specialist insurance is the way forward.

[PaulWarning]

[quote name='sharkboy' timestamp='1471777846' post='3115744']
Thus topic has come up a number of times of late; once, about 13 months ago, raised by me after out guitarist's PRS custom came off second best to gravity. My research revealed a number of horror stories of people that had relied on home contents insurance to cover damage at a gig or in transit only to be rejected on the grounds that their gear was not covered as it was used to generate income and therefore professional equipment that doesn't fit on a domestic policy. The research sent me straight to Allianz's specialist music equipment insurance. £13 a month for £10k worth of peace of mind is a bit of a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

Insurance is only a waste of money until you need it. If your gear isn't that expensive to replace then, sure, you might want to forego premiums and just pay out from your own pocket to replace/repair damaged or lost items. If, however, you might be glad that someone else will give you the couple of grand to get a new custom bass to replace the one that was stolen, then I'd suggest that specialist insurance is the way forward.
[/quote]as with all insurance it's your attitude to risk, some people like to have every angle covered, others, like me, think "well I could afford to replace it out of my own pocket so I'll risk it" the chances are you'll get away with it otherwise insurance companies would go bust

[sharkboy]

Indeed it is Paul, and when it comes to my gear I'm very risk averse as I couldn't afford to replace my 2 main gigging basses or backline from my own pocket. So I'm happy for Allianz to take the cost of less than a pint a week to give me that peace of mind.

With regard to the issue of gear stolen from cars, if just pays to ask your insurer. My cover requires the equipment to be in a locked vehicle and out of sight to be covered for theft. The vehicle doesn't have to be a saloon-type car (let's face it, how practical a requirement is that for a bassist?), it doesn't even have to be attended to be covered for theft.

[Lozz196]

Insure4music for me. Pretty good value, allow items left in vehicles, overseas cover etc. Hopefully I`ll never have to find out if they`re any good in a claim situation.

[spacey]

All good, great to deal with, until you make a claim.

[Graham]

[quote name='sharkboy' timestamp='1471777846' post='3115744']
The research sent me straight to Allianz's specialist music equipment insurance. £13 a month for £10k worth of peace of mind is a bit of a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.

[/quote]

Do you get public liability cover with the Allianz?

[crez5150]

Another +1 for Allianz here.

[keving]

I use music guard, I had to make a claim after my little boy knocked over my double bass and snapped the neck off. They asked for a damage report from a luthier and then paid up. Even better, they did not jack up my premiums the following year which I was a bit worried about. It also comes with PLI so that comes in handy for those venues that insist that you have cover and want to see a certificate.

[neilp]

MU subs includes £2k of equipment cover, as well as PL. All the stuff that isn't covered by that - the Wal, my DB and my bow - is insured with Allianz. Pretty good value, and includes leaving gear in an unattended car. Don't try to save money on insurance. If you ever REALLY need it, you'll be glad you paid the little bit extra

[AndyTravis]

[quote name='ezbass' timestamp='1471112074' post='3110647']
Allianz.
[/quote]

Yup same £14 a month, worldwide, unattended/damaged/lost etc

[xgsjx]

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1471777425' post='3115738']
The definition of a locked boot is where they get you on that.
Only old jags and some saloons still have a locked boot, if the seats can be lowered from inside the car or it can be accessed by breaking the glass and removing a luggage cover or parcel shelf its not a locked boot.

Been there, been through the FSA bondsman and they just said, read the small print next time.
[/quote]
Policies underwritten by Aviva have a better wording to favour the customer "The item must be placed out of view in a boot, luggage or glove compartment of a securely locked vehicle".
However, do check what the theft value limit is. E.G. Barclays' is £1500, but then things can be specified too.