i play the banjo and am going to san diego for the summer. i want to insure it while im there. have any of you insured your instruments? who would insure it and what price would i be looking at..i would put a value of €2500 on it.
on a seperate note.is there any good sessions in san diego?
I insured my instruments through my home contents insurance, it will be something like the cover you get for jewellry or antiques. If something happens to it outside the home, it is also covered.
In the UK you can get specialist instrument insurance. For example, my harp is insured for £2000 + case for £400 and soft carrying cover for £150 - total £2550.
The premium is about £50 a year, and that covers gigs and damage anywhere in the world - and theft from a vehicle as long as the instrument wasn't in view at the time.
I insured my daughter's violin separately when she went abroad with the orchestra to Italy and Croatia as the household one didn't cover it adequately. I didn't bother when she toured in the uk as she was reasonably covered. Sorry can't remember what it cost.
Just had a look at the policy, and yes it is insured outside the home, I have 3 flutes now and all of them are covered up to their replacement value, but this has added £63 onto my costs/year.
It is well worth insuring your instruments.
My fiddle is insured separately, as it is worth about £5000 and that would be too much for household insurance. It cost about £60 a year and is certainly worth it for the peace of mind.
Here in the US, you can add coverage for your instruments to your household insurance which covers them in and out of the home as long as they are not being played professionally (i.e. for money). We got $10,000 coverage for our assorted instruments for $12/year on our Allstate policy.
Insurance for instruments played professionally is a whole 'nother issue and I think is provided through various musician's associations. But it's not something I've had to deal with yet, or likely ever.
HI Mike & all, just for interest, the costs I mentoned in my posting are for professional use (ie playing for money) - well worth it. I wasn't sure if Mike was going to be playing for money or not.
My experience with insurers are that they're great if you're honest about what you're doing with the instrument, but if you play for money and claim for loss / damage without it being insured on that basis, they'll refuse your claim. Not that I've had this happen, I just think they have uncanny ways of knowing about these things!!
thanks for the help so far. i am in ireland. would any of ye be able to give me names of companies here that will insure my banjo.since i dont have a house or any belongings policy i would be looking for a policy just for the banjo.
Hi - did you not try the link I included? Allianz Cornhill are more or less THE insurers of instruments. Don't know if they will provide a policy if you live in Ireland, but worth a try. Apologies if you already tried them.
If you are playing anywhere for any sort of money, then it's worth being a member of the MMusicians Union as they obviously have their own best deals; also as a member you automatically have third party cover, which some commercial venues like hotels are very keen on you having.
Most domestic household policies will insure instruments and associated equipment, such as bows, cases, and the miscellaneous bits that you carry in an instrument case, under the "All Risks" section of a policy. I insure my two fiddles, my best bow and my daughter's flute this way. The insurers are usually willing to cover up to a reasonable limit without professional valuation, but for individual instruments above, say, £5,000, they may require a valuation from a reputable dealer before confirming cover.
The "All Risks" section covers for accidental damage or loss within geographic limits, usually, in our case, within the British Isles, and also for trips out of the country for up to 30 days each calender year.
The policy only applies to the "Social, Domestic and Pleasure pursuits of the Insured and family", so would exclude playing for commercial return.
we even get up to 30% No Claims Discount on the premiums!
I had to get an appraisal for my 2 fiddles before my insurance company would cover them. My fiddles are worth $1,400 and $8,000. I had to pay for the appraisals, $45 each. They are now covered under my homeowners insurance, with a $50.00 deductible.
You might try Clarion, their website, http://www.clarionins.com/ says that they insure world wide. I have about $15,000 USD covered and I think I pay about $150 a year. The coverage is comprehnsive. I gave them lots of examples of what I wanted (like what if someone sits on my fiddle in a pub, what if it's stolen from my car, what if it's damaged in shipping, damaged in someone elses care, etc) All covered. It also covers instruments in my care that I don't own. They only need appraisals or sales reciepts on instruments over $5,000
The good think about using an instrument insurance company is that most will pay for repairs and give you the difference of the depreciated value after the repair.
I wonder how many people (like me!) are fairly careless about how they treat their instruments, but actually are also very protective of them. It's a curious mix. But insurance has a magic about it - because it frees you to enjoy what you do without worrying about some expensive thing happening.
I took my pedal harp to play at a wedding and that's just insured under household contents. I was pretty nervous about it (adding to the playing nerves!) and was really glad when it was back at home.
A bit off-topic but a friend of mine had a succession of wild cars and was really into tweaking engines. He bought breakdown cover from a motoring organisation and summed it up as "great value...adds another 1000 RPM to your top speed".
Most, and if I'm not mistaken all, insurance companies will not cover musical instruments outside the home under your standard house insurance.
I know several musicians who were with British Reserve here in the UK but then that company merged or became Allianz cornhill, (I'm not sure). Very good cover anywhere in the world.
If you had a few too many and left your Banjo on stage all night - I think they'll still cover you!!!
insuring your instrument
insuring your instrument
i play the banjo and am going to san diego for the summer. i want to insure it while im there. have any of you insured your instruments? who would insure it and what price would i be looking at..i would put a value of €2500 on it.
on a seperate note.is there any good sessions in san diego?
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by tonnta
Re: insuring your instrument
I insured my instruments through my home contents insurance, it will be something like the cover you get for jewellry or antiques. If something happens to it outside the home, it is also covered.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by blas
Re: insuring your instrument
In the UK you can get specialist instrument insurance. For example, my harp is insured for £2000 + case for £400 and soft carrying cover for £150 - total £2550.
The premium is about £50 a year, and that covers gigs and damage anywhere in the world - and theft from a vehicle as long as the instrument wasn't in view at the time.
This is through http://www.allianzcornhillmusicalinsurance.co.uk/ - you don't say where you live but as you've quoted the value in euro I guess you live in europe somewhere?
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Mark Harmer
Re: insuring your instrument
pS I seriously doubt household insurance would cover an instrument used outside the home!!
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Mark Harmer
Re: insuring your instrument
I insured my daughter's violin separately when she went abroad with the orchestra to Italy and Croatia as the household one didn't cover it adequately. I didn't bother when she toured in the uk as she was reasonably covered. Sorry can't remember what it cost.
J
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by jfother
Re: insuring your instrument
Just had a look at the policy, and yes it is insured outside the home, I have 3 flutes now and all of them are covered up to their replacement value, but this has added £63 onto my costs/year.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by blas
Re: insuring your instrument
It is well worth insuring your instruments.
My fiddle is insured separately, as it is worth about £5000 and that would be too much for household insurance. It cost about £60 a year and is certainly worth it for the peace of mind.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: insuring your instrument
Costs!
Participally challenged.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Geoff Pollitt
Re: insuring your instrument
yip
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by blas
Re: insuring your instrument
Here in the US, you can add coverage for your instruments to your household insurance which covers them in and out of the home as long as they are not being played professionally (i.e. for money). We got $10,000 coverage for our assorted instruments for $12/year on our Allstate policy.
Insurance for instruments played professionally is a whole 'nother issue and I think is provided through various musician's associations. But it's not something I've had to deal with yet, or likely ever.
Happy travelling.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by KateG
Re: insuring your instrument
HI Mike & all, just for interest, the costs I mentoned in my posting are for professional use (ie playing for money) - well worth it. I wasn't sure if Mike was going to be playing for money or not.
My experience with insurers are that they're great if you're honest about what you're doing with the instrument, but if you play for money and claim for loss / damage without it being insured on that basis, they'll refuse your claim. Not that I've had this happen, I just think they have uncanny ways of knowing about these things!!
Anyway, sounds great and have fun!!
Mark
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Mark Harmer
Re: insuring your instrument
thanks for the help so far. i am in ireland. would any of ye be able to give me names of companies here that will insure my banjo.since i dont have a house or any belongings policy i would be looking for a policy just for the banjo.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by tonnta
Re: insuring your instrument
Hi - did you not try the link I included? Allianz Cornhill are more or less THE insurers of instruments. Don't know if they will provide a policy if you live in Ireland, but worth a try. Apologies if you already tried them.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Mark Harmer
Re: insuring your instrument
If you are playing anywhere for any sort of money, then it's worth being a member of the MMusicians Union as they obviously have their own best deals; also as a member you automatically have third party cover, which some commercial venues like hotels are very keen on you having.
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by Guernsey Pete
Re: insuring your instrument
Most domestic household policies will insure instruments and associated equipment, such as bows, cases, and the miscellaneous bits that you carry in an instrument case, under the "All Risks" section of a policy. I insure my two fiddles, my best bow and my daughter's flute this way. The insurers are usually willing to cover up to a reasonable limit without professional valuation, but for individual instruments above, say, £5,000, they may require a valuation from a reputable dealer before confirming cover.
The "All Risks" section covers for accidental damage or loss within geographic limits, usually, in our case, within the British Isles, and also for trips out of the country for up to 30 days each calender year.
The policy only applies to the "Social, Domestic and Pleasure pursuits of the Insured and family", so would exclude playing for commercial return.
we even get up to 30% No Claims Discount on the premiums!
# Posted on May 8th 2006 by riverrunner
Re: insuring your instrument
Allianz are the company that I use.
# Posted on May 9th 2006 by blas
Re: insuring your instrument
I had to get an appraisal for my 2 fiddles before my insurance company would cover them. My fiddles are worth $1,400 and $8,000. I had to pay for the appraisals, $45 each. They are now covered under my homeowners insurance, with a $50.00 deductible.
# Posted on May 9th 2006 by dfbird
Re: insuring your instrument
You might try Clarion, their website, http://www.clarionins.com/ says that they insure world wide. I have about $15,000 USD covered and I think I pay about $150 a year. The coverage is comprehnsive. I gave them lots of examples of what I wanted (like what if someone sits on my fiddle in a pub, what if it's stolen from my car, what if it's damaged in shipping, damaged in someone elses care, etc) All covered. It also covers instruments in my care that I don't own. They only need appraisals or sales reciepts on instruments over $5,000
The good think about using an instrument insurance company is that most will pay for repairs and give you the difference of the depreciated value after the repair.
# Posted on May 9th 2006 by iampeterfonda
Re: insuring your instrument
I wonder how many people (like me!) are fairly careless about how they treat their instruments, but actually are also very protective of them. It's a curious mix. But insurance has a magic about it - because it frees you to enjoy what you do without worrying about some expensive thing happening.
I took my pedal harp to play at a wedding and that's just insured under household contents. I was pretty nervous about it (adding to the playing nerves!) and was really glad when it was back at home.
A bit off-topic but a friend of mine had a succession of wild cars and was really into tweaking engines. He bought breakdown cover from a motoring organisation and summed it up as "great value...adds another 1000 RPM to your top speed".
# Posted on May 9th 2006 by Mark Harmer
Re: insuring your instrument
Most, and if I'm not mistaken all, insurance companies will not cover musical instruments outside the home under your standard house insurance.
I know several musicians who were with British Reserve here in the UK but then that company merged or became Allianz cornhill, (I'm not sure). Very good cover anywhere in the world.
If you had a few too many and left your Banjo on stage all night - I think they'll still cover you!!!
Mark posted this site earlier.
http://www.allianzcornhillmusicalinsurance.co.uk/
# Posted on May 10th 2006 by Shtrum