House content insurance cover for guitars: what isn't covered...
Although many home contents insurance will include some basic cover for guitars and other musical instruments, as with all insurance it's worth reading the small print in the policy.
Below is some typical wording relating to contents cover under the heading "What is NOT insured".
It can easily be seen that many potential scenarios that might be of concern to guitarists are not covered. Examples are...
- Your dog or cat scratches or chews your guitar
- Your guitar falls off its stand and gets dented or scratched
- Your guitar warps or splits due to dry, hot weather
- Your guitar gets stolen off the back seat of your car
- Your accidentally damage your guitar while cleaning, repairing or adjusting it!
If you just own one or two budget or medium priced guitars then you might well think these risks are worth taking, but if you own expensive or rare guitars then it is worth taking these risks seriously and considering specialist musical instrument insurance for your prized guitars.
Home Contents Policy example
What is NOT insured
(a) Mechanical, electrical, electronic or computer failure
or breakdown.
(b) Loss or damage caused by
(i) depreciation, wear and tear, atmospheric, climatic or weather
conditions, or any gradually operating cause
(ii) chewing, scratching, tearing or fouling by any pet
(iii) vermin, insects or fungus
(iv) any process of adjusting, altering, cleaning, dyeing, renovating,
repairing or restoring
(v) delay, confiscation or detention by Customs or other officials.
(c) Depreciation (including diminution in value as a consequence
of repair).
(d) Loss of or damage to films, slides, audio or video records, discs,
cassettes, tapes or styli.
(e) Breakage of strings, reeds or drum skins or denting, scratching or
bruising of musical instruments.
(f) Loss or damage as a result of theft from an unattended motor vehicle
unless the property was concealed in a boot, luggage compartment or
glove box and all doors and the boot or hatchback were locked and all
windows closed.
(g) Loss of or damage to mobile phones caused by liquid.
(h) Loss or damage occurring in the Home while it is Unoccupied.
