My Gun And Trophy Insurance Reviews
Having a prized possession of significant value and realizing that you are not protected in the event of a catastrophic loss is an uneasy feeling, to say the least. In the world of insurance, it’s often a nightmare to deal with companies that are happy to accept your premium but then look for every way to deny your claim when you have one (cough, Florida homeowner’s insurance). So when I came to the realization that I had amassed enough firearms that gun collection insurance was warranted, I really wanted to find a company that would look out for me before, during, and after the sale. In an often disappointing world of insurance coverage, I am thrilled to share my positive experience with Gun and Trophy Insurance, a company that specializes in gun collection insurance and taxidermy insurance. From the moment I engaged with their services, it became evident that they are a standout choice for firearm enthusiasts seeking comprehensive protection. In this gun and trophy insurance review, I will delve into the reasons behind my enthusiastic endorsement, shedding light on the key aspects that set Gun and Trophy Insurance apart.
Why You Might Need Gun Insurance Like Me
I’m a believer in insurance. It’s a cost of ownership, and without it, I have a hard time keeping my anxiety at bay. I like to put my head down and sleep soundly at night, and for that reason, once any possession gets over a certain threshold (for me about $10,000) I believe in insuring it. So, take a look at your firearms and your trophies on your wall. Do you have more than $10,000 of firearms sitting there? Did it take you more than $10,000 to acquire those trophies? And I’m not talking about the taxidermy bill, I mean did the hunts for those trophies cost more than that? If the answer is yes, you need to consider gun and/or trophy insurance.
Once the total value of your gun or trophy collections reaches a certain threshold, you should really start to consider insuring them.
My Experience With Gun And Trophy Insurance
In a day and age where nameless and faceless corporations seem to rule the world, it’s a breath of fresh air to talk to the owner of a business. Before I insured my gun collection, I sat down with Cole Cushman of Gun and Trophy Insurance on the Huntin’ Land podcast to see what his company was all about. The very first thing that struck me about Cole was that he happily explained what my options were in terms of other companies that offer gun insurance. That exudes confidence to me that he feels his coverage and options are the best in the industry.
Ask your agent the hard questions about every possible situation you could see where a loss would be encountered.
Upon my own investigation, I found this to ring true. I am a lifetime member of the NRA, and they offer gun insurance, but I found it lacking in comparison to Gun and Trophy. For example, on price alone, the NRA program partner, Lockton Affinity, lists a $1.25 per $100 of insured value whereas Gun and Trophy Insurance is $0.31 per $100 of insured value and it gets cheaper from there as your insured value goes up. That’s a huge price difference, and while I love saving money, when I see a rate difference like that, it immediately raises red flags with me. As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned that cheaper at the time of purchase is not typically cheaper over the life of ownership. Buy an old boat if you want to learn this lesson for yourself.
What Does Gun And Trophy Insurance Cover?
So when I saw this huge price difference, my skepticism was on high alert. I asked Cole a lot of questions because I was sure there had to be something I was missing or some way I wasn’t covered. With any insurance policy, the first place to go is to the exclusions, and I was pleasantly surprised to not find any gaps that I could think of. Am I covered if my vehicle is broken into and a gun is stolen? What if my gun collection is spread across multiple physical locations? What about if my gun is lost while being shipped, like when it’s sent to a gunsmith? What about flood damage? What if I break my gun? What about a gun that I acquire after I’ve bound the policy? The answer was yes, I was covered in all of these scenarios. And to make it even better, I didn’t have to itemize my collection, I’m not in love with someone knowing everything that I have.
Not having to itemize your gun collection is preferred.
So how are they accomplishing great coverage at low prices? One way is through a slightly higher deductible. Some of the competition’s lowest deductibles are around $250 whereas Gun and Trophy’s lowest option is $500. The chance of needing to make a claim is always pretty low with insurance, and I always opt for higher deductibles. Typically, if you do the math, the premium savings almost always pays the additional deductible in 1-2 years.
Don’t Just Take My Word For It; Check Out Other Gun And Trophy Insurance Reviews
Of course, you can expect a company to only have good things to say about themselves, so any time you are making a purchase, it pays to do a little digging and see what the world has to say about their experience. With insurance of all types, it’s wise to look into the insurance partner. In the case of Gun and Trophy, their partner is Hanover insurance company. AM Best, a global credit agency specializing in the insurance industry rates Hanover as “Excellent”.
Premium savings almost always pays the additional deductible in 1-2 years.
Another trick I use when looking for word-of-mouth gun and trophy insurance reviews is to do a Google search with the company or product in the search field and add the word “forum” to the search. Disgruntled customers are typically very vocal and you can often learn a lot by reading forums and deciphering what people have to say there. I already knew what service was like before the sale, but I couldn’t find anything but positive reviews from customers who have actually had to make claims.
Insurance Doesn’t Always Have Your Back
There’s little more frustrating than consistently paying premiums for years and then when a scenario unfolds where you need to make a claim, you find out you weren’t covered when you thought you were. If you have a significant gun or trophy collection, you owe it to yourself to look into gun and/or taxidermy insurance. Ask your agent the hard questions about every possible situation you could see where a loss would be encountered and look online for gun and trophy insurance reviews about not only the agent but the partner company that backs them up. If you do your homework in the beginning, you can rest easy knowing your valuables are protected.
