What to Do

Before you get a Violin Insurance?

Violin Insurance is another good way to protect your precious violin, from damages , loss, theft and many others, which are stated in your company's insurance policies.

There are many insurance companies which provide protection and coverages for musical instruments, which include million-dollar instruments made hundreds of years ago.

Violin insurance is indeed beneficial to every violinist. However, before you do really get one, it is wise to understand the complicated terms of the policies and what to look out for before you get one.

Otherwise, you may be paying coverages which just cover a fraction of your violin's value.

The 5 Crucial Points to note...

1) Is you instrument worth Insuring?

Yup. Maybe that's the first question we have to look at. Violins are indeed precious instruments to every violinist, especially those which have been played in concerts and competitions .

However, before insuring the violin, we need to think if it is really necessary. True, it maybe heartbreaking to lose your instrument, but it may be more painful to pay the high premiums charged by insurancecompanies to cover a low-value violin.

Hence, I would recommend coverage for higher-prized violins.

2) Get an Experienced Instrument Insurance Broker.

Getting an instrument insurance broker who has good knowledge of instruments and musicians will be a great advantage for you.

You can get violin insurance premiums at attractive rates and coverages which are best suited for your expensive violins. It can be a breeze for you too when calling for support or filing claims.

After all, you do not want a broker who replied "How to spell it?" when you call about a definite term.

3) Understood the hidden clauses?

Never give a miss to these hidden clauses in violin insurance policies. This includes complicated terms or definitions which are stated in the policies which you may not understand.

Don't be afraid to ask the dealer to clarify the terms again and again. Companies may have different interpretations for technical words used in the line, such as 'all-risk'.

'All-risk' basically means the coverage of major risks including fire, theft, and accidental damage . However, if you are unsure if certain risks are covered, ask them.

These hidden clauses tend to be neglected by insurance buyers, and they only started to panic when they file a claim.

4) Insured under "Agreed Value".

This is another important point to note. It will determine how much you are being paid to replace your violin.

The 'Agreed Value' is the amount that is agreed by You and the company how much the violin and its accessories are worth !In claims, companies will pay amount up to the agreed value.

The agreed value is usually agreed on a recent appraisal of the violin. Best if done by an appraiser known to the agent, and belongs to an established professional association , such as the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.

Being insured under "Agreed Value" has maximum advantages. If you are not insured under it, the company will decide how much they will pay you for the loss or damage of your violin. Amount pay may be too little for you to even replace your instrument.

5) Traveling with & Shipping of the Violin

Traveling with your violin overseas may cause accidental damages to the instrument. Even though the violin is covered for damages, multiple claims from violin insurance companies may result in increasing of premiums, or even cancellation of policy.

When you're selling your violin, you need to notify your insurancecompany immediately. You have to report it with a time period (usually 30 days), so they will provide coverage for the violin while shipping. The company will also reduce, or refund excess premiums to you.

Ultimately, violin insurance is another protection for our violins. A high coverage payout by the company for our violins does not mean that we give minimal attention to take care of the violins.

A violin is prized much more than its monetary value. Take good care of it for the many years to come.