Hey Guys,

Its about time I got around to getting my gear insured and I am wondering if anyone has any recommendations?

I searched posts on this site but nothing all that usefull came up. I have tried AIS insurance, however they only offer packages to pro's.

So, to the amatuers out there. Where did you get your gear insured?

Cheers
Chris

just list your gear on your house and contents id suggest - will not be covered for business use, but, this may not be a worry for you or most

AIS insures me by the way, and I arent a pro

RACQ I believe have a great policy for people who aren't making money from it (ie, no ABN, no Business, just a weekend fun shooter)

I might suggest ringing them.

Great, thanks matt, I'll give it a whirl.

Darren - I gave them a call and they said theyd only insure "pro's" but I guess their way of determining who is a pro and who isn't is by just how much gear you need insured, you'd be insuring a fair bit more than me

Cheers
Chris

Roughly how much gear have you got to be insured? If it is upwards of 10k then look at http://www.photoinsurance.com.au, that's who I went through. Photography isn't my primary source of income so I wouldn't be classed as "Pro", I do have an ABN though.

Matt I'm only looking to insure $3500.

Hi Chris,

QBE will cover everything under home and contents (for NON business use, obviously).

up to $3,000 PER ITEM (up to your insured sum total) with no limit on how many items.

so, 2 bodies, 5 lenses, 3 flashes, 10 separate items....

(I got a quote to change from RACQ to QBE earlier this week)

no, i am not affiliated at all

cheers

Russ

If insuring under home and contents policy, it's worth noting that it's not covered when it's out of the house.

I have paid a little extra to have my guitar and camera gear covered anywhere, as these items do leave the confines of my home. Now, if I jam my camera or guitar in the car door and damage it, for instance - it's covered.

not true... well not entirely accurate

I got the home and contents quote this week, 2 days ago, and I specifically checked, my iPhone, my cameras, my watch, my glasses, everything, covered out of the house or in the house. I was also told if I get car insurance too they are also covered inside the locked car.

So technically if your gear is in your car and its stolen you arent covered by the home and contents policy, but you are covered by the car policy.

just a point of interest, if i take my aami car policy and my racq home and contents policy, and take them both to QBE, the premiums are less but the cover is more..

the ONLY thing I worry about is the pet cover. RACQ covers my two little dogs for accident and illnes up to $500 per claim (vets bills), QBE state they cover up to $500 vets bbills if your pet gets hit by a car. I need to call them to check

cheers

Russ

true, but I think it covers theft only when not at home. I'm covered for damage also.

Point is, it's worth clarifying.

I have mine listed as personal valuables or some such as an addon to my home and contents. Not sure that's alll together a possibility for you.
Around $7000 worth of individually listed items covered for accidental damage and theft.
$38 a month. Covered australia wide.

Probably not cheap, but I am not sure I'd want to afford replacing it all again.

My suggestion is to get advice from a broker, they know the policies inside out and will generally tell you all the info you need and will got into bat for you should you have a claim. This has been my experience. Insurance companies will often try to find an excuse not to pay.... "you should have read the policy more carefully", a broker will want your business back so will do what they can to help. And be specific and truthful when talking to them as it's an easy out for them if you give them the wrong info, ask specifically how much per claim, as well as per item, could be $1000.00 per item but a max of 2-$3000.00 per claim, a $2000.00 body and a $2000.00 lens may only get you a $3000.00 payout minus excess leaves you only 2500.00

I agree completely with the broker suggestion. I recently insured my camera gear and laptop through protectsure and my broker after doing a fair bit of research. photoinsurance.com.au refused to insure my equipment because I was not a pro - despite giving me a quote. They then refused the cover.
One thing to be very careful with on standard home+contents insurance is whether your gear is insured for accidental damage when not at home. For example when you drop your camera on the rocks at sunrise. My research indicated I would not be covered. Under either my home insurance or my extensive business insurance. The other question concerns how much travel you do and whether you are covered overseas.
Insurance is like most things. You get what you pay for. Find a good policy with someone that will actually pay a claim quickly.
Let me know if you want a broker recommendation. No relationship except it's who I use and I have been very happy with them.

Quite right, I was purely lucky a few years ago after dropping my camera and lens that it was insured on my H&C. It was only covered for accidental and outside home insurance as I had furtuitously covered it by listing the camera and lens as seperate items worth over $1000 on my policy.

A broker's a fine idea, reading your policy's fine print is an even better one

Hey Guys,

Sorry to dig up an old thread - but my situation has changed somewhat.

I have had my camera gear covered by my home and contents insurance - which covers me for non buisness use.

I have been approached and I am getting some paid sports work - which I have gotten an ABN for.

Therefore, my gear is no longer covered by H&C because it is being used for "buisness" use.

Now I need some advice, where to from here?

I tried talking to AIS about insurance, but they wouldn't cover me because I wasnt what they considered a 'pro'

But now that things have changed and I have an ABN - I'm going to assume they will cover me.

So, I think I will give AIS another go - unless you guys have a company that you rekon would be better.

Cheers Guys