We have split the FAQ's into 11 sections - please click on the relevant link to see those questions.
About the cover
About proof of ownership
About the policy options
About equipment and instruments
About in vehicle cover
About insured locations
About working and traveling abroad
About the company
About the site
Problems opening or receiving documents
How to complain
About the cover
1) Do I have to have home contents insurance for my equipment, before taking out insurance with you for when I'm transporting it around?- No – you don't need to have home contents in place before taking out Musicguard. All of our Musicguard policies provide cover whilst at the insured location (usually your home or studio), so it's not required.
- 2) Can the band be insured/covered as a whole entity, i.e. can the six members of the band be joint policy holders, with no one person being solely the policy holder?
- We can confirm that if you are insuring the equipment, the policy for administrative purposes would have to be in one band members name and this person would automatically get £1,000,000 public liability cover, however this would only cover any accidents or injuries caused by this band member. The other band members could be added to this policy for an additional £54.00 per person for £1,000,000 cover.
Should you only wish to have public liability and not cover the equipment, this can be provided by our standalone liability policy called Liabilityguard, which is charged on a policy per person basis and starts at £76.00 each for £1,000,000.
- We can confirm that if you are insuring the equipment, the policy for administrative purposes would have to be in one band members name and this person would automatically get £1,000,000 public liability cover, however this would only cover any accidents or injuries caused by this band member. The other band members could be added to this policy for an additional £54.00 per person for £1,000,000 cover.
- 3) I am looking for cover for when I gig. In the band I take around £2500 of bass kit and as a solo, I take £2500 of acoustic and PA. In the quote, should I be asking for £2500 cover or £5000? I only take £2500 of gear out of the house at any time.
- Our cover is on a specified item basis where you need to specify each item to be insured, therefore you may need to get the quote based on £5000 total and choose the option of up to 50% to be covered out and about with you. That way we would cover all items being stored and any items taken out and about with you up to £2500 for example.
Or you could just insure certain items of your choice that go out and about with you, the quote would be based on the total value of these and you would need to specify the items to be insured when proceeding with cover.
- Our cover is on a specified item basis where you need to specify each item to be insured, therefore you may need to get the quote based on £5000 total and choose the option of up to 50% to be covered out and about with you. That way we would cover all items being stored and any items taken out and about with you up to £2500 for example.
- 4) Would I be covered if my item was dropped and doesn't respond as it should anymore?
- Yes – we would repair (or replace) the item to its prior level of functionality.
If the item ceased to work and it hadn't been dropped or damaged, you would need the breakdown option, which would cover the repair or replacement.
- Yes – we would repair (or replace) the item to its prior level of functionality.
- 5) Hi there I am looking to insure my guitar collection but I'm not sure if you do cover for personal damage to my guitars? I have a small child now and wondered if any damage caused by them would be covered?
- We cover accidental damage to items as long as those items have been stored in accordance with the terms of the policy. We of course expect you to take reasonable care of your instruments and equipment, so if you have young children in the house, we'd advise that you take suitable precautions to ensure that guitars for instance are out of reach.
- 6) Other insurance quotes always ask for the type of instrument, i.e. they want to know the value of drums/cymbals/accessories. Why does your online quote only ask for total value?
- Those companies have different rates for different musical items, so in order to give you a quote they need to know all the items and what they are.
Musicguard however have a single rate for everything so we can give you a quote based on the total value which is obviously much quicker and easier. When you take out cover, you will be asked to list the items you want to insure, so that we and you have a record of the items on cover. We amend the quote so that it's based on the actual amount you input so if it's less than your initial value, your premium will be lower. Of course, if you have underestimated how much equipment you have or the replacement values, the premium will be higher.
- Those companies have different rates for different musical items, so in order to give you a quote they need to know all the items and what they are.
- 7) I already have insurance for my instruments and equipment when they are in the home. Are you able to insure these instruments specifically and only for out of the house use?
- Many home contents policies provide inadequate cover for musical instruments and equipment, so we take the view that our Flexicover and Select policies provide top level cover whilst in the home and outside of the home.
- 8) Is it possible to insure the band on one policy?
- We can confirm that if you are insuring the bands equipment, for administrative purposes the policy would have to be in one band members name and this person would automatically get £1 million public liability cover, however this would only cover any accidents or injuries caused by this band member. The other band members can be easily added to this policy for an additional £49.00 per person for £1 million cover and this option is available during the application process.
However, if you only wish to have public liability and not cover the equipment, you can select this cover via our liability only policy called www.liabilityguard.co.uk which is based on a policy per person, and starts at £89.00 each for £1 million.
- We can confirm that if you are insuring the bands equipment, for administrative purposes the policy would have to be in one band members name and this person would automatically get £1 million public liability cover, however this would only cover any accidents or injuries caused by this band member. The other band members can be easily added to this policy for an additional £49.00 per person for £1 million cover and this option is available during the application process.
- 9) Do you supply one off cover for a single event or can I get insurance for just a few days or weeks?
- Cover for a single event can often work out to be as expensive as an annual policy because event companies often charge minimum premiums. Musicguard insurance is provided on an annual basis to give you a more cost effective solution, we do not offer any cover on a short term or temporary basis.
- 10) Do you only cover UK residents?
- Yes. You must be a resident of, and domiciled in, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, Isle of Man or Northern Ireland. Sorry, we cannot cover residents of Eire.
- 11) Do you operate a bonus scheme?
- Yes, we believe in rewarding loyal customers, even if you are unfortunate enough to make a claim we will not reduce your loyalty bonus. This is how our loyalty bonus system works:
• After year one = 5% discount (minimum of £5)
• After year two = 7.5% discount (minimum of £5)
• Between year three and four = 10% discount (minimum of £10)
• Between year five and seven = 15% discount (minimum of £10)
• Between year seven and ten = 20% discount (minimum of £15)
- Yes, we believe in rewarding loyal customers, even if you are unfortunate enough to make a claim we will not reduce your loyalty bonus. This is how our loyalty bonus system works:
- 12) I have previously made a claim, will this affect my cover?
- You need to tell us about any musical instrument or equipment claims you have made within the last three years.
Having made a previous claim won't affect your cover and you won't have to pay a higher premium. You can have up to 2 prior claims and still take out Musicguard insurance.
You need to complete the claims section of the application form, as failure to disclose this information could invalidate your cover. You must also disclose any criminal convictions for theft or dishonesty. If you are in any doubt, you should tell us.
- You need to tell us about any musical instrument or equipment claims you have made within the last three years.
- 13) What information do you need to start cover?
- We need your name, contact details, date of birth, payment details and the make and model of each item you would like to cover. Whilst we don't require the serial number to complete an application, you will need to provide this for items over £750 in the event of a claim.
- 14) I am part of a group/band – how do I arrange cover?
- You can arrange cover for your band or group's equipment, just apply as normal but include all of your band's equipment in the equipment list. You become the organiser for the band – you will be the policyholder but it will cover the whole bands equipment – you can also add in the bands name as the trading name, just so there is some reference to it on your policy details.
You can also extend cover to include public liability and personal accident benefits for up to 30 named band or group members (for an additional premium per person).
- You can arrange cover for your band or group's equipment, just apply as normal but include all of your band's equipment in the equipment list. You become the organiser for the band – you will be the policyholder but it will cover the whole bands equipment – you can also add in the bands name as the trading name, just so there is some reference to it on your policy details.
- 15) Do you insure studios?
- Yes, we insure both recording and rehearsal studios. You can insure instruments and equipment and also benefit from essential liability cover. Please note, Musicguard only covers the instruments and equipment you have – we do not provide business insurance or premises cover.
- 16) Do you insure music teachers?
- Yes, we will insure your instruments and provide you with essential liability cover.
- 17) I am part of an orchestral group - will you cover me?
- If you only have orchestral type instruments to insure, we can provide you with more suitable cover at our Orchestralguard site. If you have a mixture, you can insure it all with Musicguard.
- 18) What is the minimum/maximum age?
- The minimum age we can insure is 16. However, we can provide cover for children under this age, providing the policy is arranged in a parent or guardian's name.
The public liability and personal accident cover is only applicable for policyholders aged between 16-85. Total permanent disablement is not applicable over the age of 65.
- The minimum age we can insure is 16. However, we can provide cover for children under this age, providing the policy is arranged in a parent or guardian's name.
- 19) What value should I insure my equipment for?
- For items that can be readily replaced with a new one (or with a similar model), the value should be the usual, undiscounted cost including VAT from a reputable dealer at the time you apply. End of season offers and bargains from Ebay do NOT count as the usual price.
For vintage and rare instruments & equipment you should obtain a specific valuation. The valuation should be from a reputable source and not more than 12 months before your commencement date. It is advisable to obtain a new valuation at least every three years, to take into account any market changes in value during the period.
It is better to over insure rather than under insure.
- For items that can be readily replaced with a new one (or with a similar model), the value should be the usual, undiscounted cost including VAT from a reputable dealer at the time you apply. End of season offers and bargains from Ebay do NOT count as the usual price.
- 20) What is the maximum value you insure?
- You can insure a total value up to £250,000 through this website as long as no one item is over £10,000 in value. If you have an item over that value, we may be able to cover you, please call on 0844 826 2295 for an individual quote.
- 21) What is public liability cover?
- Public liability is known by a couple of different names – personal liability or third party liability. It provides cover against damage to persons or property caused by your proven negligence. Musicguard includes £1 million cover as standard but you can upgrade to £2 or £5 million.
Please take a look at our public liability page for more information.
- Public liability is known by a couple of different names – personal liability or third party liability. It provides cover against damage to persons or property caused by your proven negligence. Musicguard includes £1 million cover as standard but you can upgrade to £2 or £5 million.
- 22) Is there an excess on this policy?
- That depends on the type of claim:
• For theft, loss and accidental damage claims there is no excess but there is a minimum claim amount of £100
• Our optional breakdown cover has an excess of £50 per item
• Public liability claims are subject to a £500 excess for third party property damage only.
If you want to reduce your premium, you can pay a voluntary excess and save around 12.5%
- That depends on the type of claim:
- 23) Will my cases be covered?
- Cases will only be covered where you have specified that an item has a case and have included the value of the case with the item value. If the case value exceeds £100 you should add this as a separate item.
- 24) Are there any items you cannot cover?
- The maximum cover for any one item is £10,000. We may be able to cover higher value items subject to individual quote – please call on 0844 826 2295.
We cover most items with the exception of:
• consumables such as strings, leads, cables, reeds, drum skins, bulbs and fuses
• accidental damage to cymbals, valves and speaker cones
• wiring failure
Computer disks, software and soundcards are only covered if:
• They are used exclusively for the production of music
• Have been bought from new
• Cannot be reinstated from a back-up disk
• That any code (a record of which must be kept by you) or protection device is no longer available or will operate
The information above is a guide only – full details are available.
- The maximum cover for any one item is £10,000. We may be able to cover higher value items subject to individual quote – please call on 0844 826 2295.
- 25) I have a laptop can you insure it?
- Yes, if you use your laptop for music related purposes you can insure it with Musicguard. However, as they have a limited life expectancy we are only able to insure laptops which are less than 5 years old. Depreciation is applied to any claim for a laptop which means that a deduction is made for wear, tear and depreciation.
Alternatively, if you own a laptop and you do not use it specifically for musical purposes you can insure it with our specialist laptop insurance site - Laptopguard.
- Yes, if you use your laptop for music related purposes you can insure it with Musicguard. However, as they have a limited life expectancy we are only able to insure laptops which are less than 5 years old. Depreciation is applied to any claim for a laptop which means that a deduction is made for wear, tear and depreciation.
- 26) Are there any specific security requirements for my vehicle or where the instrument is kept?
- Yes – the requirements are quite specific in terms of types of locks and security devices. For more details, see our security requirements guide or the policy wording.
- 27) Am I covered if I lend, loan or hire my equipment to another person?
- • If you lend your equipment to a responsible adult, then yes, you're covered (providing the person you are lending the equipment to, doesn't steal it!)
• If you hire your equipment and accompany it whilst it's on hire, you are also covered.
• You are not covered if you hire your equipment and do not accompany it.
• Obviously your public liability and personal accident cover is for you alone – this cover is not transferable.
- • If you lend your equipment to a responsible adult, then yes, you're covered (providing the person you are lending the equipment to, doesn't steal it!)
- 28) Am I covered to take my equipment abroad?
- This depends on the options you choose with Musicguard. The standard cover applies to a single location only, usually your home or studio. If you need to be covered in other locations, you can choose cover:
• Anywhere in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
• Anywhere in the UK, EU with 30 days worldwide in any policy year
• Anywhere in the world at any time in any policy year.
- This depends on the options you choose with Musicguard. The standard cover applies to a single location only, usually your home or studio. If you need to be covered in other locations, you can choose cover:
- 29) Can I add or make changes to the policy at any time?
- Yes, you can change or renew your policy by calling us – you can also make changes to your policy online.
You can add or delete insured items and change some aspects of your policy. Note that additions will incur additional costs. Additional premiums are charged on a pro rata basis from the date of change.
No refunds are payable for cancellation, in part or in whole, for any reason outside of 28 days from the commencement date other than for amendments allowed.
- Yes, you can change or renew your policy by calling us – you can also make changes to your policy online.
- 30) I am just looking for public liability cover only, can you help?
- Yes. If you do not have any equipment to insure, but are a musician, sound or lighting engineer or music based entertainer, we can offer public liability cover on its own. See our Liabilityguard website for details.
- 31) Do you cover computers, laptops or software?
- Computers and laptops are only covered on Musicguard if:
• They are used exclusively for the production of music
Disks, software and soundcards are only covered if:
• They have been bought from new
• They cannot be reinstated from a back-up disk
• That any code (a record of which must be kept by you) or protection device is no longer available or will operate
• Laptops (due to their limited life span) are, in the event of a claim, subject to a deduction being made for wear, tear and depreciation as follows:
o Up to 18 months = No deduction
o Over 18 months and up to 36 months= 25%
o Over 36 months and up to 60 months= 50%
o Over 60 months=100
The information above is a guide only – full details are available.
- Computers and laptops are only covered on Musicguard if:
- 32) Do you cover CD or record collections?
- Yes, CD or record collections are covered for total loss (if they are all stolen or ruined as one collection).
If you can't find an answer to the question you're looking for, submit your question and email address and we'll endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible with the answer. (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm only)
Questions marked with an asterisk (*) are compulsory.
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