Telescope Insurance

[Sidney]

Hi all,

I've been searching for some insurance for my kit and have come across a company called Glover & Howe. They offer cover for astronomy and photographic equipment. I got an online quote of £96 for up to £6000 worth of kit which seemed pretty good to me.

I did look at going through the house contents cover but that only covers single items up to £1000.

Has anyone else heard for this company or could anyone recommend a good company.

Thanks

Sid.

[astro84]

Hello Sid,

Not knowing your own personal circumstances, would it not be simpler (and cheaper, perhaps?) to switch to another Home & Contents insurance provider that DOES include provisions appropriate to your needs here?

My Home & Contents insurance policy does just this, requiring only that I itemized each item individually worth over the given valuation threshold - which includes quite a lot, for most folks' possessions I'd think - whether astronomy-related or not.

Regards,

astro84

[Ben Ritchie]

I got an online quote of £96 for up to £6000 worth of kit which seemed pretty good to me

My home AND contents cover is £194 per year and covers all my kit - even my AP refractor is within the cover, i've checked - so £96 for just Astronomy kit seems quite expensive to me.

In general, my understanding is that the 'specialist insurers' are, in general, not cheap, and quite often don't provide anything you can't get from your home contents insurance. Always check the small-print, of course!

[Rusty Strings]

I suspect that specialist insurance is more expensive because it is usually intended for professionals with any perceived increase of risk that that entails.

As I earn my living playing music, my house contents insurance doesn't cover my instruments, it would if it was only a "hobby". By definition we are amateur astronomers so house insurance shouldn't be a problem providing specify items that are above a value threshold

John

[TheThing]

Specialist Astronomy insurance is just another way of getting you to part with your hard earned cash for something you already have!

Your current insurers will cover your astronomy equipment. They will probably require you to specify any item on the policy that is worth more than £1,000. It's not that they wont insure items over £1,000, it's just that they need the specifics and documentation to include them.

Even if you do specify items, you'll not spend anywhere near an extra £96 per annum!

First port of call - ALWAYS, ALWAYS ask your current insurer before a so called 'specailist'!

Business equipment is a different matter, as John points out. However, these 'specailist' often advertise in amatuer magazines (indeed S@N made the huge mistake of suggesting one in their Q&A section a few months back - very poor from the expert concerned!), so they are hoping to grab the larger and more lucrative amatuer market. Truth is, you don't need seperate insurance. They're trying to make a fast buck off people lack of knowlege!

Any more queries, give me a shout. I've got 21 years experieince in insurance claims, last 12 in household loss adjusting.

[steve_bham]

You need to read the small print if you add the items on your home insurance and intend to take them away from home. Mine covers all my gear away from home (approx £3000) but limits it to £1000 whilst in the car!

[TheThing]

You need to read the small print if you add the items on your home insurance and intend to take them away from home. Mine covers all my gear away from home (approx £3000) but limits it to £1000 whilst in the car!

That'll be £3,000 of total cover per claim with a single article limit of £1,000

[steve_bham]

That'll be £3,000 of total cover per claim with a single article limit of £1,000

Nope its cover of £3525.00 with a single item of £1500 away from home but limited to £1000 for any gear in locked boot of car.

[TheThing]

Ah, generous insurer, stick with them.

Don't foget also, that there will be a limit on items outside the buildings, but within the boundaries of the home (i.e. in the garden!) Check that out as well and increase as necessary.

[steve_bham]

its away from home becuase i dont have a garden!!!! so im covered when all set up its just when its left un attended in car!! stuck with them for the next few months so if you know any good ones im all ears. Mine is More Than

[iapa]

Resurrecting old thread.

I just checked with Direct Line, who do home and contents for me, and all I had to do was add anything over £2,000.

Covers theft from outdoors, and away from the house. My cameras and OTAs are all under £2K so did not need to be explicitly included.

Policy covers each item separately, so, a full rig is covered.

In increase of £33pm, but this is with the policy renewal due imminently.