Camera Insurance

[Tracylee11]

Hi Guys,
I'm looking into insuring my Camera equipment and was wondering if you have any recommendations on who I should insure with, and any other things I need to look out for?
I live in Australia.

Many thanks for your help.
Tracy

[candleman]

insure it under your household contents policy, and if you have a good policy it will be covered for accidental damage too (like being dropped)

BUT if its over a certain nvalue you will probably need to list it as a special item and possibly pay a little more for that.

but that all swings on business Vs. Private use.

[sk66]

For me, to get loss/theft/accidental coverage (away from home) I had to add it as a "rider policy" to my household. Costs about $75/yr (but I have about 15k of stuff on the rider)

[ZannieGirl49]

I'm similar to sk66. I've got renter's insurance but I had to add a rider for the additional coverage outside of home.

If you plan to start a photography business be sure to understand the need of business coverage. I don't know how it is in Australia, but in the U.S. as soon as you sell a picture your insurance company can deny any claim on your personal policy.

[jdepould]

As above, homeowner's/renter's if it's just a hobby. If you're doing business with the gear you'll need a separate commercial policy.

Mine is covered under home-owners policy, but there's a $1000 deductible.

I ended up adding it to my business insurance, which is about $250 for liability (in case I injure someone) and another $50 or so to cover $5000 worth of equipment. However, my equipment is ONLY covered when it's outside the home...when it's at home, it's covered by my home-owners.

I'd only worry about liability insurance if you're doing a lot of paid jobs. I realized I needed it at my first wedding, as I'm leaning over the balcony taking shots of the flower girl, and realizing that if I dropped my camera I could seriously hurt someone.

[CaptainNH]

Depends on whether you're insuring as a hobbyist or pro. You can add it to home contents insurance, but you might find it cheaper to insure separately with a spe******t broker.

I use these guys Photo Insurance - Professional Photographers Insurance & Liability Cover - Home, who are Sydney based. Costs me about $600 for $20K in gear, which I think is well worth the expense.

This gives you worldwide coverage too, which home contents extensions usually won't. Their inclusions are good too, eg. they include gear hire too if your kit is stolen.

Fortunately, I have no idea what they are like with handling claims.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by CaptainNH

This gives you worldwide coverage too, which home contents extensions usually won't.

My rider policy covers my stuff anywhere for anything, worldwide. (I specifically checked for a trip to China).

[Tracylee11]

Thanks for all your replies guys - this has helped me alot. Cheers T .