Auto insurance that covers camera gear??

I was just told that auto insurance will cover gear, I called my insurance company and they said no coverage. Does your auto policy cover your camera equipment? If so who's coverage do you have?

Moe wrote: I was just told that auto insurance will cover gear, I called my insurance company and they said no coverage. Does your auto policy cover your camera equipment? If so who's coverage do you have?

Wouldn't the auto coverage only cover a certain amount if it was stolen from your car? I have insurance for just my photography gear through Professional Photograhers of America, Marsh Affinity Group. of Seabury and Smith. It was fairly cheap and I did have to use it to fix my lens I dropped last year. It was a $100 deductible.

Hmmm... I just left my friend a message to get the full details. I'm near certain he said it covered all his gear.

I have a rider to my homeowners that covers my photo gear no matter where I am. Stolen out of or damaged in my vehicle, or someone else's, its covered.......

I can help with this.....from my personal experience.

Most auto insurances will only cover up to about $2500 on your person or in your car for a very small charge (like $15/yr) for personal items. Some people have that invested in just a body or just one lens, let alone your entire camera bag. I would be sure to ask about amount covered at all times including theft, accidental damage, or what happens when you're traveling out of state/country. These should be standard, but it doesn't hurt to make sure. You can have higher insurance added as well.

The primary factor will be whether or not you use your camera gear as income. The average homeowners or auto policy will not cover your business (at least from what I've gathered).

We have auto and home insurance through Geico. Since I generate income as a primary source (sometimes secondary - I'm also a realtor) through photography (weddings, portraits, etc...) neither my home or auto insurance will cover my gear since they view this as business related. Therefore, I must acquire insurance through another professional media source. PPA as NikonJan suggested is a great source, as well as some others. Google search for sources and be sure to check them out with the BBB.

If photography is your hobby and not a business, then you should have no problem having a rider added into your homeowner's (or renters) policy. Again, check with your auto because ours would only cover up to $2,500 with Geico.

Keep us posted, I'd like to know how you make out.

Sometimes a homeowners policy may offer a rider to cover your equipment but every company will be different. Jan has the right idea about special coverage but read the policy and make sure you understand what is covered. A club member had a boat go down under her and has been trying to figure out if homeowners or other will cove her equipment.
Thanks for the tip Jan. How about posting the web site (you probably have somewhere else) for PPA.

effron wrote: I have a rider to my homeowners that covers my photo gear no matter where I am. Stolen out of or damaged in my vehicle, or someone else's, its covered.......

That is how my contents are covered. Getting a Rider is your best bet, you can set the valuation for the gear you have.

For those of you who have riders, do you use your gear as a business or as a hobby?? Thanks!

As my previous post stated, our insurance would NOT cover my equipment because I operate as a business. So, for those of you who do use your gear as income, please be sure to make sure your insurance company knows about it to see if they will still cover you.

A fellow local PT wedding photographer here in Albany recently had all of her gear stolen. She had just finished shooting a wedding. Her mistake: she left her gear by the hotel lobby doors while she went to get her car, and when she pulled her car up EVERYTHING was gone. The insurance she has been paying for years (H.O. rider) on her gear, says they will not cover it because she never told them she used her photo gear to generate income from shooting weddings. They would only cover personal use. OUCH!!


Here's a link for Property & Casualty Insurance Co, used from PPA. You can contact them with any questions if you are not a member of PPA.
www.seaburyandsmith.com/

I know mine doesn't, home owners insurance should cover it though.