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What insurance options are there for a D2X?

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jfriend00

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I've been shooting a D70 for a couple years, but just ordered a D2X and, given the price, I'm thinking about some sort of insurance against theft or other form of catastrophic loss. I try to take good care of my equipment, but I also want to be able to use it everywhere I go (traveling, hiking, etc...), even some locations that could expose it to some risks.

So, I'm wondering what the options are for insurance? What do people out there do for insurance that would cover theft, catastrophic damage (e.g. falling into a lake or dropping it) and other major loss kinds of things?

Do people take out a rider on their home owner's insurance? Buy a separate kind of policy for their equipment? Which options have better coverage? Which options are a better bang for the buck? Thanks in advance for any ideas.
--
John
Gallery: http://jfriend.smugmug.com/portfolio
 
Most homeowner's policy will let you add endorsements for camera equipment, jewelry, etc, with no deductable, that covers loss from any reason, anywhere (accident, theft, drop it in the river when you slipped, etc.). The cost is minimal but based on the total value. You may have to provide receipts. I drive my agent nuts adding/selling equipment all the time.

Don't leave home without it. Ask your agent for details.

Gerald
 
I will also be interested in knowing what the insurance options for amateurs.

--
Speed is significant and interesting but accuracy is downright fascinating
http://www.pbase.com/pradipta
 
When I first approached my homeowner's insurance company (State Farm) about this, they told me they couldn't cover me, because my gear is used part-time in my business. But then they checked into options for me, and came back with the answer that they could, in fact, add an "inland marine" policy to my regular homeowner's policy. This policy provides "all hazards" coverage of the gear. I provided them with copies of sales receipts when I had them, photos of all the gear on my dining room table, and a list of serial numbers and estimated current replacement value for each item (used KEH as source of most of my estimates). I think the cost was around $200/ yr per $10,000 of coverage.

I'm pretty sure that they use another underwriter to provide this special coverage - they're just the middle man. Probably your homeowner's company will know how to do the same if you ask about "inland marine" or "all hazards" coverage.

Ray
 
Just call the insurance agency that sold you your homeowners insurance (or renters insurance), and tell them you have some camera gear that you want to insure. They'll know exactly what you talking about (this coverage, like coverage for jewelry, guns, etc.) is very common.

The agent will ask a few questions, tell you what you have to submit (sometimes a photocopy of the receipt). It wasn't a big hassle.

With insurance like this, there is a great dividing linee. Are you 100% amateur, or do you make some money (even part-time) with your photography?

If you're an amateur (never shoot for pay or sell your work), then you won't believe how cheap the coverage is. All of my gear is covered 100%, no deductible, for less than $25/year. It's covered for theft, accidental breakage, fire, etc.

If you sometimes shoot for money, then your coverage will cost more, a few hundred per year.

INSURANCE IS WORTH IT! Accidents happen.

The important thing is to call your insurance agent (or if you don't really have one, then ask around for a good agent), and tell them simply "I have some camera gear that I want to get coverage for," and the hard part is done. The agent will know exactly what to do next, what to ask, etc.

IMPORTANT Unfortunately, some people don't know that regular homeowners insurance won't cover camera gear (nor jewelry, guns, fine arts, antiques). You have to ask for special coverage for those items.
 
jfriend00 said:
Just call the insurance agency that sold you your homeowners insurance (or renters insurance), and tell them you have some camera gear that you want to insure. They'll know exactly what you talking about...
Click to expand...
What I was saying here is that you can begin by calling the insurance agent you already know and hopefully trust. If you are strictly non-professional (never paid for your photography), then you'll get a form of homeowners coverage that is specific to camera gear -- a good thing, a wise investment.

If you sometimes get paid for shooting, then your agent will sell you business insurance that is specific to camera gear, or direct you to another agent that sells such coverage. A good thing.

Basics: contact an agent that you know or one who comes recommended, and ask for camera gear insurance. The agent should be able to lead you along from there.
 
My home owners policy has two scales, one for amateur on for pro. Since I make my photo money from my regular job, they allowed me to have amateur status at $1.75/$100 of equipment, rediculously inexpensive. Pro coverage is $3.75/$100 which is probably in line with the basic Inland Marine policy.

On this subject, it has been said that if you try to claim on this homeowners policy, your homeowner's insurance may be cancelled. It is difficult enough to get homeowners insurance here, old house is a -, until they think it is historical, wrong dog is a -, adjuster somehow doen't like the house as he drives by, had to check 3 different insurance companies when we moved to Vermont. Well has anyone have had there Homeowners revoked after filing a rider claim?

Tom
 
If you are or become a Nikonians member, they offer insurance on your camera gear.

I don't know how the price or coverage compares to policies from other sources in detail, but from the quick look I did both seemed attractive.
 
jfriend00 said:
I've been shooting a D70 for a couple years, but just ordered a D2X
and, given the price, I'm thinking about some sort of insurance
against theft or other form of catastrophic loss. I try to take
good care of my equipment, but I also want to be able to use it
everywhere I go (traveling, hiking, etc...), even some locations
that could expose it to some risks.

So, I'm wondering what the options are for insurance? What do
people out there do for insurance that would cover theft,
catastrophic damage (e.g. falling into a lake or dropping it) and
other major loss kinds of things?

Do people take out a rider on their home owner's insurance? Buy a
separate kind of policy for their equipment? Which options have
better coverage? Which options are a better bang for the buck?
Thanks in advance for any ideas.
--
John
Gallery: http://jfriend.smugmug.com/portfolio
Click to expand...
I just went through this two weeks ago. A friend of mine, about 1/2 mile from where I live, had an intruder at 10:00 a.m., while he was home. The intruder used an 8" screwdriver to break out a pane in a French door in the back of his house, threatened my friend, tied him up, and made him show where his valuables were, which he took. He left my friend tied up, and he was able to get free and call the police, but too late.

I called my homeowner's insurance and was comforted to learn that they covered me for up to $2,500 for business and/or camera gear while in the home and up to $500 when my camera gear is away from home. I worry about my equipment when I am shooting events and weddings, and when traveling. So, I had to buy a small business rider for $200 per year. Now the coverage is $10,000 at home and $10,000 away from home. (I work from a home office as a marketing consultant.) I think you will find that most homeowners policies have limits on collections and valuables. You will specifically have to ask about dropping the camera or accidentally damaging it.

An alarm company is in my house at this moment getting my alarm going, I have posted "Beware of Dog" and "Warning--Alarm" signs, I am replacing some thumb-turn deadbolts with double keyed deadbolts (have no children at home), am going to put a security screen on my front door, and lastly, I am getting a Glock and going for a CCW permit, which is easy to get in Arizona. I didn't want to have to do all this, and have been resisting these steps for several years, but I don't want the same thing that happened to my friend to happen to me. He was VERY LUCKY he didn't get hurt. We live in tough times.
--
JohnE
Equipment list in profile

 
Hi John,

I am also thinking about getting a Glock as additional insurance. Did you buy yours yet? Which one did you buy and where? I live in California, so I will have to keep it at home. But a Glock or a shotgun will be good additional insurance. I hate the thought of being helpless in the case of intruders.
Cheers
http://www.heisingart.com
Fritz
 
Fritz Wilhelm said:
Hi John,
I am also thinking about getting a Glock as additional insurance.
Did you buy yours yet? Which one did you buy and where? I live in
California, so I will have to keep it at home. But a Glock or a
shotgun will be good additional insurance. I hate the thought of
being helpless in the case of intruders.
Cheers
http://www.heisingart.com
Fritz
Click to expand...
I have two adult sons and a son-in-law who are REALLY into guns. They have recommended several shops in Phoenix. I will email you off the forum.
--
JohnE
Equipment list in profile

 
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