Best musical instrument insurance

Musical instrument insurance is specialist cover that protects your instrument against accidental damage, loss or theft. Policies often cover a range of instruments, from guitars and violins to pianos and electronic equipment, and can include cover while the instrument is at home, in transit or being used at a performance or gig. Some policies for professional musicians also include public liability cover and cover for equipment hire if your instrument is out of action.

Musical instrument insurance typically covers: accidental damage (dropping, knocking or crushing your instrument), theft (both from your home and while out), loss in transit, and sometimes damage during performances or rehearsals. Some policies include public liability cover for professional musicians, cover for hired or borrowed instruments, and expenses if you need to hire a replacement instrument while yours is being repaired. The exact cover varies by policy.

Musical instrument insurance is worth considering if your instrument is valuable, you use it professionally or semi-professionally, or you travel with it regularly. A high-quality guitar can cost £1,000-5,000 to replace, and a professional violin can be worth tens of thousands. Even for hobbyists, an annual premium of £30-£100 is often much less than the cost of repairs or replacement. Some music schools and venues also require performers to have instrument insurance as a condition of use.

You can insure a musical instrument in a few ways. Standard home contents insurance sometimes covers instruments, but often has low single-item limits (typically £1,000-2,000) and may not cover them outside the home or during professional use. Specialist musical instrument insurance provides more comprehensive cover - including transit, performance and professional use - often at a similar or lower price. Compare specialist policies from dedicated music insurers alongside our customer review rankings to find the best fit.

Yes, musical instrument insurance can be particularly worthwhile for students. School and university instruments are often taken back and forth between home, school and gigs, increasing the risk of damage or theft. Some home insurance policies don’t cover instruments at all outside the home, or exclude them during professional use. Specialist student instrument insurance policies are available and can be surprisingly affordable, often from around £20–30 per year for a standard guitar or violin.