AV and production equipment insurance
Production gear is expensive, fragile and constantly on the move. A camera package or a line array can be dropped, rained on or stolen from a load-in dock in minutes.
Who needs it
- Video, film and photo production companies
- AV, sound, lighting and staging companies
- DJs, bands and touring acts
- Event and wedding vendors with expensive gear
Request a quote
There is no separate application for this class, so start with the short inland marine quote request. Someone will follow up with any underwriting questions specific to your risk. Insurance agents can also request an appointment.
What to ask for
- Owned equipment, scheduled or blanket
- Rented equipment, since rental houses require a certificate
- Coverage in vehicles, with the theft conditions spelled out
- Worldwide coverage if you shoot outside the US
- Extra expense to rent replacement gear and keep the shoot on schedule
Owned and rented equipment
Owned gear
Your own cameras, lenses, lights, consoles and speakers can be scheduled item by item or covered under a blanket limit with a per-item cap. Scheduling the most expensive pieces avoids surprises after a loss.
Rented gear
Rental agreements usually make you responsible for the replacement value of the package and for the rental house's lost rental income while it is replaced. Ask whether the policy covers that loss of rental income, sometimes called loss of use.
Gear in vehicles
Theft from vans and cars is one of the most frequent production losses. Many policies require the vehicle to be locked and the gear out of view, and some restrict overnight coverage. Know the conditions before you park.
Common production losses
A camera falls off a slider or a lens is dropped during a lens change. Rain or a spilled drink reaches a mixing console at an outdoor event. A truck is broken into at a hotel parking lot on a tour. A drone goes down over water. Lighting fixtures are damaged when a stand tips in wind. Some of these, like drone losses, may need specific coverage or be excluded, so tell the underwriter what you fly and where.
What underwriters ask
- A list of owned gear with make, model, serial number and value
- How much rented gear you carry at one time, at the highest point
- Where gear is stored between jobs and how it is secured
- Vehicles used to transport gear and overnight parking practices
- Travel outside the US and the countries you work in
- Drones, underwater housings and other higher-risk items
Exclusions to ask about
Mechanical and electrical breakdown, wear and tear, and gradual deterioration are usually excluded. Mysterious disappearance may not be covered without evidence of theft. Unattended vehicle theft has conditions. Drones may be excluded or need their own coverage, and the aviation side of drone liability is separate. Equipment loaned or rented to others may not be covered unless the policy allows it.
How to get a quote
- List owned gear with make, model, serial number and current replacement value.
- Estimate the largest rented package you carry at any one time, including the rental house's terms.
- Describe where gear is stored, the alarm and access controls, and how it is moved.
- Note vehicle theft practices, such as unloading overnight or using locked cases.
- List countries you expect to work in and any drone or underwater use.
- Have the rental house's certificate wording ready so the certificate can be issued quickly.
Common questions
Do rental houses accept my policy?
Most require a certificate showing a rented equipment limit equal to the replacement value of the package, with the rental house named as loss payee.
Does an annual policy work for a one-off shoot?
Short-term production policies exist for single projects. Crews that shoot often, or rent gear several times a year, usually find an annual policy easier because certificates can be issued as needed.
Is my gear covered while it is checked on a flight?
Many forms cover gear in transit, including as checked baggage, but some have conditions or lower limits for unattended transit. Ask how air travel is treated.
Does the policy cover reshoot costs if footage is lost?
Not usually on an equipment form. Lost footage and reshoot costs are more often covered under a production package with faulty stock or negative and media coverage, which is separate.
Related coverage
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For movable business property that doesn't fit any other class, listed item by item.
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Exhibits, displays and loaned works at shows, fairs and traveling exhibitions.
Coverage & quoteEDP & Computers
Servers, laptops, point-of-sale and data processing equipment, plus data restoration.
Coverage & quoteEquipment Rented From Others
Covers machines you rent or lease for a job, so a rental contract loss doesn't come out of pocket.
Coverage & application