Recommend a good insurance plan?

June 7, 2009 5:34 PM

Travel insurance to cover camera equipment?

Anyone have a recommendation for a trip insurance plan that covers expensive camera equipment? Im an amateur photographer taking a pretty nice Nikon and some gear to South America for 2 months. Im not too worried about medical/trip cancellation, but if there is a plan out there that will protect my baby if my attempts at protecting her fail, Id like to know about it.
Also, I dont have home/renters insurance so I cant tack on an extra.
Thanks!

posted by osloheart to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

Professionals use something called commercial inland marine insurance, with riders that can cover travel abroad, for about $20 to $80 per $1,000 of equipment value. Your car insurer may offer these policies, and your other coverage with them may qualify you for a price break. The more equipment you cover, the lower the rates.

If you're not taking $10K worth of gear, you may have other options. Some credit cards offer insurance for luggage, cameras and the like if you pay for your entire trip with their card. Look through your card agreement for details, or call the issuing bank.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:46 PM on June 7, 2009

We have a rider on our homeowners that covers my husband's D60 up to and including, and I quote, "Your nephew chucking it in the lake." Even if you are not a homeowner, as renter who should have renters' insurance, or a car owner who should have car insurance, etc., a similar arrangement should be available to you. We are with State Farm and literally had NO problems. Contact your insurance provider, someone should be able to hook you up. It costs us practically nothing.
posted by Medieval Maven at 5:52 PM on June 7, 2009

On reread, just to be plain - I am fairly sure you can get insurance on your equipment regardless of whether you have renter's. It's a business. Insurers want to insure people and their valuable goods such as electronics and jewelry.
posted by Medieval Maven at 5:54 PM on June 7, 2009

This question has been asked before.
posted by halogen at 9:58 PM on June 7, 2009

I have the most amazing insurance from State Farm, called Personal Articles insurance. I was told that it covered loss, theft, and negligence, whether at home or abroad. My agent told me it didn't matter if it was stolen or if I dropped the camera off a railing in Morocco or ran it over with a car here at home, they would cover it 100%.

Starting nearly 10 years ago, it has covered a range of my cameras, at a very modest sum ($44 per year covered my $600 [at the time] D100 and $1700 laptop). Only last year did I have to test the service, when my D200 was stolen at Christmas. I had a check for the purchase price (no depreciation) within a week. They were really wonderful.

I tell all my friends and family about State Farm's Personal Articles insurance, it has been a very cheap way to assure myself peace of mind throughout my travels.
posted by arnicae at 11:51 PM on June 7, 2009