Guns and home insurance

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Depending on the value of them and whether they are covered under your homeowner's policy - or you could go get a separate policy from another company - but that is for theft. The article seems to say your liability portion will not cover an injury due to one in the home
 
Insurers will generally cover gun owners, with caveats. Whether you have used a weapon in self-defense, with criminal intent or by accident will obviously play a big role in how much liability an insurer will assume. Insurers want to know that guns are properly secured, have safety locks and are kept out of reach of children. Failure to disclose that you have a firearm could lead to an insurer trying to deny your claims in the event of an accident.
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From the article. While I disagree with safety locks, if I was the insurance company, I would want to know whether it was negligence on your part or not that resulted in the accident if one occured, and (unless it's just a blanket "insure $X,000 worth of stuff) it wouldn't be a bad idea to at least have your firearms inventoried in case they get stolen/damaged/lost-in-a-tragic-boating-accident.
 
My insurance agent told me they would only cover $2500.00 worth on my homeowners policy unless I listed them on a rider policy. I bought a fire lined safe and forgot about any inventory. I keep them locked up unless I have them on me. Most people aren't aware that the govt. can get a list of anything you have insured, from your agent , and he/she can't even tell you the govt. asked. This is thanks to the Patriot Act after 9/11. Yes, the ATF has access to anything you have bought lately but any really old guns aren't in their records. Just food for thought. Get a good safe and don't worry about the insurance.
 
My homeowners policy cover "X" amout of firearm costs. I also have another seperate policy that covers a certian value for firearms. Doesn't matter if they are stolen, in a fire, flood , or act of God. I pay quite a bit for the seperate policy but it is peace of mind. Some of my weapons are priceless to me only, and they are only valued at a set amount the adjuster and I came up with before writting the policy. On the higher end stuff (over $5k each) I had to provide serial numbers and photos. Another stipulation is to be covered they either must be in my home or shipped from me to someone(wierd it covers shipping). I also had to provide my specs on my safes (burn rate, weight, & demensions).

I advise ANYONE ,who has enough firearms that it would burdon you to replace them, get the best insurance you can afford. I watch a good friend loose over $45k in firearms from a break in while they were on vacation. They lost 2 fully autos(which took months to get the Gov't off their backs about) and 2 whole safes. The crooks had to know they were not going to be home. The police found heavy duty handtruck roll marks where they just took everything. This was long before home security systems were the standard. It happened in the mid 90's in rural NC.
 
Jfrey is right $2500 is about standard. My seperate policy covers $30k and cost me about $525 a year. That is unconditional too. I simply got the insurance too boot just because I cannot afford to replace all of my firearms. Jfrey you are right about the Patriot Act too, it is a crock. I have serial numbers, photos, and video of all my firearms. I keep all my records in a safety deposit box and a copy stored digitally.
 
My wife clued me in on the Patriot Act. She works in the compliance end of the banking industry and has to know about such things. I wish I had a camera when I told my insurance agent about it. The look on her face was priceless and I think she was hoping I didn't know about such stuff. It cost her a policy and commission I'm sure. My safes are bolted down and it is going to cause a lot of rucuss to get them out of my house. All my neighbors watch each others houses too just for that reason.
 
Folks are talking about two completely different issues here - insurance for theft versus insurance for liability because of injury or death

not the same at all - it seems the OP is about liability coverage, not theft coverage
 
My personal property coverage covers EVERYTHING up to the limit of the personal property coverage. Guns aren't even mentioned.

The only thing the insurance company "suggested" is that on guns of unusually high value (or anything else) I should have the serial number and pictures of the gun put away in a safe place.


In 1995 my gun shop burned down. Seven guns were in the shop. The insurance company replaced EVERYTHING, including a new building and the guns, no questions asked.
 
Guns were the least of my problems getting homeowners insurance, my dogs almost kept me from getting a mortgage.

Every homeowners policy we have had has limited guns to $2500 unless you got rider for additional values at additional cost. Any guns over $2500 needed appraisals and documentation for each gun.
 
Any insurance agent on this board care to comment on this topic? My agent said what I have is considered part of my personal property which is insured up to $100K (guns, furniture, clothes, etc.).
 
Every homeowners policy we have had has limited guns to $2500 unless you got rider for additional values at additional cost
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Was it written in the policy that there is a $2500 limit (on guns)?
If there is such a limit (which I wouldn't accept) it must be spelled out.

My insurance agents have said several times that ALL personal property, including guns, is covered by the personal property coverage unless the policy says otherwise.
Over the years this has been with at least four different companies.

Now if you have a $100,000 personal property limit but lose $150,000 in guns you will have a problem.


My agent said what I have is considered part of my personal property which is insured up to $100K (guns, furniture, clothes, etc.).
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Mine to.
 
Was it written in the policy that there is a $2500 limit (on guns)?
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It was. Guns, and other things, like jewelry, cash, etc.

Every policy Ive ever had was the same way too. Anything above their limit could be protected at additional cost.
 
For all the folks thinking their homeowners policy covers all their guns and jewelry I would sit down and read the policy, ignore what your agent "tells" you is covered. See what the policy actually says in writing.

"Every" homeowners policy I have ever had listed guns, jewelry and cash as only being covered up to $2500. Unless a seperate rider is added.

I use Collectibles Insurance Agency, they cover just about anything and their price was a lot cheaper than my regular insurance company.
 
I use Collectibles Insurance Agency, they cover just about anything and their price was a lot cheaper than my regular insurance company.
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How do they feel about Rottweilers?

My biggest problem right now, is finding an insurance company that will give us homeowners with the dogs. Most wont at all, some if I jump through a lot of hoops, and even then, they wont cover anything that happens with the dogs. So far, State Farm is the only one that really gave us no hassle. They only asked if they were attack trained, and/or had a bite history.

As with all the others, the standard $2500 guns, jewelry, and cash thing was there in the policy. If I want more coverage in regards to the guns, I can buy it at an added cost.


ETA: Never mind. :rolleyes:

I just realized your referring to a specialty insurance above and beyond your homeowners.
 
Dreamliner787 said:
Any insurance agent on this board care to comment on this topic? My agent said what I have is considered part of my personal property which is insured up to $100K (guns, furniture, clothes, etc.).
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Not an agent, but I am an adjuster licensed in quite a number of states. My area of specialty are fire losses, primarily over 75,000 in damage. Those are usually total or near total loss claims.

Most HO policies provide for special limits on personal property that are within your total Personal Property limits. Guns are one, I've seen policies that limit exposure of firearms to theft or fire, same with jewelry, imported rugs, cash (most policies only cover $100 - $500 in cash/securities/notes/gold/silver), etc. etc. Typically, contents coverage is 70% of what your home is insured for (separate structures are 10%). Firearms are normally capped at $2,500 but not more than $1,000 per firearm. Almost identical limits on jewelry.

The best thing to do is read your policy. It will specify a "Special Limits" section. If you don't have a copy, call your agent. It's far too common to see people under insured because they own more now than 20 years ago when the policy was conceived. Separate riders can be purchased to extend limits.

Bear in mind that less risk to the home owner = higher premiums.
 
I use Collectibles Insurance Agency, they cover just about anything and their price was a lot cheaper than my regular insurance company.
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+1 I just got my bill for next year 4k for $43.00

FWIW homeowners gives me 1K and that won't even cover my ammo.
 
I go hunting & shooting with my insurance agent, & he better give me a good deal, or I won`t give any good deals.........
 
Was it written in the policy that there is a $2500 limit (on guns)?
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Every HO policy I have had over the years had it written for guns and jewelry and art

Again, back to the OP, the MSN article was about liability, not theft and that having a gun in the home was a detriment because 40% injuries and on and on which will have some actuarial effect on you getting liability insurance or limiting it
 
My insurance covers up to $5,000. To get more than that, my agent wants an itemized list of serial numbers. As can be imagined, I gave a polite no-thank-you..... :barf:
 
Don't get confused between PROPERTY coverage and LIABILITY coverage. Two different critters. Insuring firearms for PROPERTY loss (that is, the loss of the firearms themselves) is pretty straight-forward. There is usually a cap on how much you can have covered, beyond which you'd need additional or special collector's insurance.

Now LIABILITY is another beast, and that's where you may run into troubles getting coverage depending on circumstances that give rise to the suit. Homeowners' liability insurance is a strange creature in the first place, and somewhat mislabeled because it does potentially cover a wide array of things not directly associated with home ownership. So if they don't get a clear exclusion in there, they could be extending coverage too far to balance the books. Read the policy carefully and ASK QUESTIONS! I'm shocked by how few people bother to do this at the outset and never really know what coverage they have. It's infinitely better all around to have the insured know up front what's covered and what isn't. If you need more in one area you may be able to buy it, or if you need less you can make adjustments. You don't want too much or too little insurance--you want enough to cover your lifestyle and property risks.

My insurance covers up to $5,000. To get more than that, my agent wants an itemized list of serial numbers. As can be imagined, I gave a polite no-thank-you
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Why? You should keep (in a safe deposit box) a list of your arms, photos and other information for making a claim in the event of fire, flood or theft.
 
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Now LIABILITY is another beast, and that's where you may run into troubles getting coverage depending on circumstances that give rise to the suit.
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I would think in states that limit liability risk through castle laws this wouldn't be a issue.
 
"Every" homeowners policy I have ever had listed guns, jewelry and cash as only being covered up to $2500. "Every" homeowners policy I have ever had listed guns, jewelry and cash as only being covered up to $2500. Unless a seperate rider is added.
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As I said, my guns are completely covered within the personal property limits.

Because of this thread I just now got off the phone with All State. They went through my policy and reaffirmed that my firearms are covered up to the limit of the personal property coverage.

Now jewelery does have a limit.


Unless a separate rider is added.
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Just for the heck of it the lady tried to see if I can buy additional "firearms coverage" over my personal property limit.
No dice.
She said since the firearms are already covered to the limit of my personal property coverage I could just raise the personal property coverage if I wanter more firearms coverage.


Maybe some of you need to change insurance companies.
I can't remember the names of the 4-5 companies I've had since the late 1960's but they all covered my guns as personal property.
And as I said I lost guns in 1995 that were fully covered.
 
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