String Instrument Insurance 
​

General Advice on String Instrument Insurance

​Purchasing a musical instrument is a considerable investment, both financially and emotionally and making sure you get the right violin or guitar is not an easy activity as each instrument has its own ‘feel’ and sound.
But now you have chosen the right fit for you, how do you protect that investment?  How do you choose the right insurance cover and just as importantly who do you trust to work with you when something goes wrong?
This is where we hope you will find our experience on this subject useful:

​Could I use our household insurance provider?
​

​Possibly, but consider….

• Will they allow your instrument to be taken out of your home without imposing special terms or making additional charges?
• Will they understand an instrument is not an item of furniture and can’t be replaced as simply as choosing another out of a catalogue and that repair needs to be done by specialists or the manufacturer?
• If they allow you to transport your instrument, will they provide unattended vehicle cover for those situations when you need to leave it unattended in a car?  For instance, at a petrol station or when you need to check in at venue before you can unload?
• Will your instrument be covered if you need to leave it unattended overnight at a venue or between rehearsal and performance?
• If you are taking your violin or guitar to a School or University and need to leave it there, will you still be covered?
• Will you be able to speak to someone who understands your needs, or will you be calling an impersonal call centre and ‘be taken through the process’?

When making a claim will they:

• Pay for your instrument to be transported to/from the repairer?
• fund a loan replacement whilst your guitar or violin can not be played?
• insist your instrument is repaired using their network of approved repairers or will you be free to choose who repairs it?

​

Why Choose Specialist Instrument Insurance with Jack Hayward?
​

We were established nearly 40 years ago (1983) by two professional musicians simply because musical instrument insurers did not understand the needs of musicians.  Where cover was available policies were inflexible and expensive with little regard to factors like a musical Instrument is how a musician may earn a living and leaving them without an instrument for months on end is simple not appropriate.
In contrast our Policies were designed by Musicians for Musicians and our policies have kept pace with the changing needs over the years.  For example whist we cover all musical instruments, we recognise that electronic accessories are now frequently used alongside, so that iPad/Android device/Laptop that you use to display sheet music, or play a backing track can be insured alongside your musical instrument.

Our Policies Include:
​

• ​​Cover for your guitar or violin just in your home, or optionally across the UK & Ireland, all Europe and Worldwide.  We even have options if you loan your instrument(s) commercially or are part of a school/college or university.
• Cover for you and your immediate family members to use your guitar or violin within the cover limits, with no penalty.
• Cover if your guitar or violin is stolen.
• Cover if you guitar or violin is accidentally damaged.
• Cover if you need to leave your guitar or violin temporarily in an unattended vehicle*.
• Cover if you wish to loan your guitar or violin to a friend or colleague provided it is not for commercial gain.
• Cover if you need to leave your guitar or violin unattended at a venue between rehearsal and performance.
• £1m Public Liability cover free of charge, with an option for larger values if needed.
• We allow one small change to your policy each year FREE.  This could be to add up to £2,000 worth of instruments, or if you wanted to take your Harp out of the country for a short period and you only have UK & Ireland cover**.​

When Making a Claim:
​

• We reimburse the costs to transport your instrument to/from a repairer
• We fund a replacement loan instrument whilst yours is being repaired
• We pay for the repair or replacement of your instrument less our £15 policy excess**
• If your instrument is written off, our policies provide New for Old cover**
• We work with and support you though the whole claims process. 
• We do not use a network of repairers, allowing you to choose who you trust to repair your guitar or violin (this includes the manufacturer). All we ask is that two quotes are submitted to ensure competitive behaviour from the repairers (but you chose the two repairers)
• We are happy to pay the repairer directly thereby avoiding the need for you to pay and then reclaim from us.
• When you call in to advise us of a claim, we even complete the claim form for you based on what you tell us.

 
What is more, you can insure all your instruments (from an Accordion to a Zurna), on a single policy and enjoy the same benefits. We can be contacted on 0118 384 2025 Monday to Friday 10am - 6:30pm
To help compare our policies against other providers, we have followed the FCA guidance on producing an Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) anyone you consider using to insure your instrument should be able to provide their version of this document.

[*] Where cover provided outside your home

[**] Terms and conditions apply