DSLR and Lens Insurance - Australia

[David]

Hi All, this is probably in the wrong topic area but I hope I can get some info. I will be travelling around OZ in a caravan for the next several years. Camera equip (mostly Pentax) coming with me totals about AUD$8000 and I am having trouble insuring it while I am on the road. Anyone out there able to point me in the right direction.

Take Care,

David

[G M Fude]

Hmm, that could be tricky, David. I'd normally suggest somethng like GIO's Platinum policy, but I think that relies on you having a fixed address for at least part of the year. It offers great coverage while travelling, but I suspect you'll need something more specialised. Perhaps give them a call anyway?

Good luck!

[blwnhr]

I just spoke to my girlfriend who works for CGU and she said you would be best to speak to a broker. She recommends OAMPS, ANCA or Insurance Solutions.

You will need Valuables insurance. My gear is insured under our home policy for unspecified valuables, which allows me to claim up to $2500 per item lost, damaged or stolen. This is fine for me, but only covers items away from the home for less than 90 days, which won't help you.

I do hope this helps. If you have any more questions then please post them here and I will reply as soon as I can.

[Lowell Goudge]

While canada may be different from OZ, you might want to discuss with your insurer of your caravan and auto. For my camera gear, I have an insurance rider that covers specifically my gear for the value I set (i need to review this a little now because I intiially put purchase value not replacement value, and lenses have gone up while bodies have gone down)

This costs me 2% of the insured value per year. Mine is attached to my house policy, but I am sure your carivan insurance has some provisions for contents, consider not only loss from theft, but you have other risks as well.

What they may insist upon is some form of "lock box" for valuables, that cannot easily be detached (perhaps welded to the frame)

[David]

Thanks for the responses, particularly blwnhr (what ever that stands for????). I'll pursue the Broker source. I've done trips before without camera gear insurance and it makes me nervous. Had the vehicle broken into in a Caravan Park but thankfully my gear including MF Mamiya kit was in the caravan at the time.

Take Care,

David

[blwnhr]

Originally Posted by David

Thanks for the responses, particularly blwnhr (what ever that stands for????). I'll pursue the Broker source.

Haha, my actual name is Adam, for the reasoning behind my name click here.

Glad I could help.

[philmorley]

Hi David,

Are you in a caravan club? we are in the cmca (although we are 'between' travels to let my eldest do year 11-12, still lets us get cash and hopefully a new bus in the 2 year break) anyway the cmca whilst not caravans recommend ken tame insurance brokers in melbourne, they may do insurance for caravanners as well. They are cheap, extremely good to deal with, and fast to pay. they had approved repairs on our car wihtin hours (other driver admitted fault) and their insurance also covers accidental breakage (like what happens when a cupboard isn't shut properly and laptop and camera bag fall out - i dead tokina lens, get 1 quote, shop said no australian agent, need to send to japan, insurance agents comment was 'to much effort' and it will take too long, go buy a new lens and we'll reimburse). they also do insurance for when your items are not in your rig etc.

anyway I could rave about them for a long time (and I know many others who do but they may be worth a look

RV, Motorhome and Campervan Insurance

Phil

(or try caravan club if they have recommendations)

[JrPentax]

ok its like all things... you just need to know what to ask for... :-)

ring ANY insurance company or agent or broker and tell them you want "specified personal property insurance" to the value of 8k for your electronic photography equipment... i have my laptop and a few other bits on it to the value of 5k - i take my laptop with me everwhere - its NOT CHEEP

it might also be worth speeking to your agent about the 'value bracketing' for the policy... what this means is reference to the price you pay for insurance in certain values so for instance with cars you maybe are paying 300$ for insurance on a car up to 5k in value, then from 5 to 7 k it might be 500$ and then from 7-9 k its another amount.... so if your going to go for specified personal property insurance basically you are electing an amount of risk you want to assume anyway... so you can go for up to whatever value...

you will need receipts etc for you gear BEFORE you get your policy.....

ok - i hope this helps

if not send me a PM on the site and ill hook you up with my dude :-)

[lithos]

Keep in mind, if it hasn't been already mentioned, that the policy may only cover stuff while it's in the caravan, like typical home-and-contents insurance.

As interesting as the interior might be, I'm sure there's better things around us to shoot.

It might be worthwhile to look into dedicated photographer's insurance - there's a subsidiary of Chubb that does it (I looked into this ages ago) - that should cover your camera when you've got it out and about, including accidental breakages and getting it ripped outta your hands or having the strap cut from around your neck (old camera thief's trick; the old photographer's trick to prevent this is threading a D or G string from a bass through the strap.)

Call a camera shop - an independent one catering to pros, not a chain like Ted's or Camerahouse - and ask. I got the flyer for the Chubb insurance from Photo Continental, you might try calling them on 07 3849422.

[blwnhr]

Originally Posted by JrPentax

you will need receipts etc for you gear BEFORE you get your policy.....

Not necessary, at least not with CGU. As long as you have proof you owned the gear. In my case it was a photo of all my gear layed out on my dining table. My table, my dining room, that is reasonable proof.