Can anyone recommend a decent insurance company for instrument insurance - I have a few festivals I am playing at this summer and need to get something sorted
The British M.U. also has insurance services for members. There is a fairly low-ish level of value, however, that they will cover. Might be enough. I used to insure my instruments with British Reserve until they decided to cease covering for instruments left in unattended vehicles (e.g., in a motorway service area, petrol station, pub car park etc..). I'm now with Lark Insurance Services, who will cover for this.
Allianz Cornhill Musical insurance (formerly British Reserve) specialize in instrument insurance. They actually understand and cater to musicians' needs. Their main business always used to be insurance for classical orchestral players, but you can insure guitars etc.with them easily. They will generally accept your own valuations on your instruments if you provide model,serial number ,"hand made by ******"etc kind of information,and the premiums are reasonable. It''s worth checking if their policy has changed - I seem to recall that they will cover instruments left in a locked vehicle for an extra fee but I may be wrong on this. This one point excepted, theirs is a very good policy for instrument insurance.
I'd echo the Allianz Cornhill thing - they will even insure lots of instruments held as stock - and will ensure if you take them out on the road or to sell at festivals. They do understand very well what it's all about!
I'm insured through Allianz Cornhill - I've had a couple of claims which have been dealt with very well. I think you pay extra for instruments left in cars etc, but as I never do anyway, I haven't looked into that.
It may be worth pointing out, again, that Allianz Cornhill (formerly British Reserve) do not cover for unattended vehicles. If you want to drag 4 guitars, a flightcase full of flutes and whistles and sundry other musical items with you into the motorway services while you go for a sandwich and a pee, no problem. I've had my car hit by a goon in a hired van in the car park in the past.
Tobes, you said you were going to various festivals. If you're doing that in a vehicle, you need that cover. Insurance companies are very good at collecting premiums and very bad at paying out if, through some small print, they can wriggle out of it.
Sorry to seem to be a harbinger of doom, but insurance is all about doom and musical instruments are most susceptible to it.
I was using Allianz until this year. I checked round a few insurance companies, after all I do it with my car why not instruments. I still have cover in car but it's less than half the price I have been paying with Allianz. You will have to do your own check for your postcode as what might be cheaper for one person might not for another. More expensive is not necessarily the best.
instrument insurance
instrument insurance
Can anyone recommend a decent insurance company for instrument insurance - I have a few festivals I am playing at this summer and need to get something sorted
thanks
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by tobes
Re: instrument insurance
I've used these people for several years -
http://www.brassbandinsuranceservices.co.uk/
I pay £25.00 (ish) for cover on a £2500.00 flute
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Gromit
Re: instrument insurance
What country are you in?
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by session savage
Re: instrument insurance
In the US you can insure your instrument through the union if you are a member of your local AFM
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Nate Ryan
Re: instrument insurance
The British M.U. also has insurance services for members. There is a fairly low-ish level of value, however, that they will cover. Might be enough. I used to insure my instruments with British Reserve until they decided to cease covering for instruments left in unattended vehicles (e.g., in a motorway service area, petrol station, pub car park etc..). I'm now with Lark Insurance Services, who will cover for this.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Chief Wanganui
Re: instrument insurance
Allianz Cornhill are the UK instrument insurers the MU uses.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by geoffwright
Re: instrument insurance
Allianz Cornhill Musical insurance (formerly British Reserve) specialize in instrument insurance. They actually understand and cater to musicians' needs. Their main business always used to be insurance for classical orchestral players, but you can insure guitars etc.with them easily. They will generally accept your own valuations on your instruments if you provide model,serial number ,"hand made by ******"etc kind of information,and the premiums are reasonable. It''s worth checking if their policy has changed - I seem to recall that they will cover instruments left in a locked vehicle for an extra fee but I may be wrong on this. This one point excepted, theirs is a very good policy for instrument insurance.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Bazfaz
Re: instrument insurance
I use Allianz ... they're not too expensive ... think it's cheaper if you take it up online.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by pavlf
Re: instrument insurance
I'd echo the Allianz Cornhill thing - they will even insure lots of instruments held as stock - and will ensure if you take them out on the road or to sell at festivals. They do understand very well what it's all about!
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: instrument insurance
i am in the uk - and the cover for instruments left in vehicles is important
i shall google allianz cornhill straight away
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by tobes
Re: instrument insurance
I'm insured through Allianz Cornhill - I've had a couple of claims which have been dealt with very well. I think you pay extra for instruments left in cars etc, but as I never do anyway, I haven't looked into that.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by c.g.
Re: instrument insurance
It may be worth pointing out, again, that Allianz Cornhill (formerly British Reserve) do not cover for unattended vehicles. If you want to drag 4 guitars, a flightcase full of flutes and whistles and sundry other musical items with you into the motorway services while you go for a sandwich and a pee, no problem. I've had my car hit by a goon in a hired van in the car park in the past.
Tobes, you said you were going to various festivals. If you're doing that in a vehicle, you need that cover. Insurance companies are very good at collecting premiums and very bad at paying out if, through some small print, they can wriggle out of it.
Sorry to seem to be a harbinger of doom, but insurance is all about doom and musical instruments are most susceptible to it.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Chief Wanganui
Re: instrument insurance
I'm not sure if you have Marsh in your country.The Musician's Union in Australia reccomend them.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Tony O'Rourke
Re: instrument insurance
This lot cover instruments left in vehicles
http://www.brassbandinsuranceservices.co.uk/
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Gromit
Re: instrument insurance
Thanks everyone
Allianz Cornhill do have a box to tick for unattended cover but i am going to phone them just to check that it does give the full cover i need.
The first festival I am playing at is Glastonbury next week - for which i want the best cover i can get ;)
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by tobes
Re: instrument insurance
I was using Allianz until this year. I checked round a few insurance companies, after all I do it with my car why not instruments. I still have cover in car but it's less than half the price I have been paying with Allianz. You will have to do your own check for your postcode as what might be cheaper for one person might not for another. More expensive is not necessarily the best.
# Posted on June 22nd 2008 by Torgwen
Re: instrument insurance
If you are NOT a professional musician, I think chances are that your normal travel insurance will cover up til a certain limit. Mine does.
# Posted on June 25th 2009 by houlberg