Umbrella insurance policy - gun friendly

2wheelwander · June 14, 2025, 08:57 AM

Looking at getting an umbrella policy. Any here who have gone this route and your experiences. Currently with State Farm. Covering my firearms would require an additional policy.

I understand I'd have to submit serial numbers (not crazy about that). But who here has gone this route and what company did you end up with and why?

noyes · June 14, 2025, 10:29 AM

Ditto same exactly.
NO sale was/is my answer.

**Aguila Blanca** · June 14, 2025, 04:36 PM

My guns are insured with Collectors Insurance. They didn't require a detailed inventory.

https://collectinsure.com/guns/

I've never had a claim, so I don't know how they would be to deal with in the event of a loss.

2wheelwander · June 14, 2025, 04:57 PM

@Aquila Blanca Thank you. Did a cursory policy quote. I was pleasantly surprised. Will also look at an umbrella policy, but this is promising!

**JohnKSa** · June 14, 2025, 05:09 PM

I have a rider on my homeowners to cover firearms. They didn't require any documentation, just asked what dollar amount I wanted to cover.

It's important to understand that I will get NOTHING in the event of catastrophic loss if I can't document the loss. Just because I have a certain amount of coverage doesn't mean they will automatically shell out if there's a fire, or a theft. At that point I would have to provide some sort of proof of what I had before the insurance company would pay.

2wheelwander · June 14, 2025, 05:37 PM

I agree JohnKSa. State Farm wants serial #'s, etc. I'm not comfortable with that. But, I do have a detailed documented log of my collection. In the event of loss with a policy like this it would be wise to have photo/video evidence of condition as well. We suffered a house fire years ago, fortunately my firearms were in the end of the house where there was only smoke damage and that was easily cleaned off.

Who is your rider with?

**JohnKSa** · June 14, 2025, 11:40 PM

My insurance company is State Farm. They never asked for serial numbers, but they did note that if I ever filed a claim I would need to document that I owned the firearms being claimed as a loss at the time of the claim by providing photographs/serial numbers, etc.

I don't have to list them or provide photos/serial numbers in advance, but I will have to when I file a claim if that ever happens.

deadcoyote · June 16, 2025, 09:41 PM

DO NOT USE State Farm. Obtained an umbrella policy 23 years ago to cover my guns and ammo at the directive and advice of my State Farm guy. 2021, house burglarized - lost $40k in assorted property and all my guns and ammo. My State Farm guy had retired (I hope he has AIDS by now). Current State Farm rep said umbrella policy didn’t cover any guns, ammo, optics etc. My wife and I contested it, they interviewed the retired insurance agent who “couldn’t recall” ever telling us it would cover those high risk items. They were trying to settle for like $4k, in the end after having to retain an attorney got a great big old $18k.

All insurance companies are in business to make money, their interests aren’t your interests. Simultaneously I cannot recommend State Farm. On top of all of this we own seven rentals, so it’s not like we’re a tiny client for them. They did not care or look out for us at all. That local agent that calls you every 90 days to try to pimp you for more policies? Once you actually file a claim they’ll constantly explain why they can’t talk to you and you need to use the call center in Chicago.

**JohnKSa** · June 17, 2025, 12:50 AM

An umbrella policy won't cover firearms. You have to check to make sure you have a firearms rider on the policy and also to see what the amount is. If you look under the Forms, Options and Endorsements section, it will explicitly list firearms and tell you both the individual and aggregate coverage limits.

Sounds like your agent really did a number on you. They should have sent you a printout of the policy in the mail with the coverage information so you could check everything.

**Aguila Blanca** · June 17, 2025, 02:37 PM

I'm not an insurance professional but my understanding has always been that an "umbrella" policy provides extended/additional liability coverage that takes over beyond the limits of your basic homeowner's policy.

As JohnKSa commented, coverage for high value "things" isn't an umbrella policy, it's typically a rider on your basic policy. I did that for a number of years to cover some professional-grade 35mm cameras I had. Those have since been sold, so I dropped the rider.

For firearms, I don't want my homeowner's insurer to know that I have firearms. I could add the guns with a rider, but for the cameras I had to provide a detailed inventory by make, model, and serial number, with individual values. If I tell them I have guns, they may increase the premium for my liability coverage.

So I chose to go with Collectors' Insurance. They don't require a detailed inventory, and they're completely separate from my homeowner's insurance.

tangolima · June 17, 2025, 04:00 PM

Hmm .. I could be wrong, but I thought umbrella policy covers excessive liability exposure, not really your own loss.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Skans · June 17, 2025, 05:27 PM

I don't insure my guns. I have a decent safe that would stop most ordinary burglars. It would be worth upgrading to quarter-inch steel all the way around. In that case, I will probably buy a Sportsman's Steel safe. Safe is bolted to concrete, inside of the house and abutting 2 solid walls.

I have known for a very long time that insurance companies rarely if ever pay what they should. They are every bit the thieves as someone breaking into my house and stealing stuff. When it comes to thieves, I prefer to have a fighting chance against them, and will never willingly hand over my money if I can help it to thieving insurance companies.

**JohnKSa** · June 18, 2025, 03:31 AM

Quote:

For firearms, I don't want my homeowner's insurer to know that I have firearms.

I'm in a suburban/rural county in TX. I'm not giving away that much information.

Quote:

Hmm .. I could be wrong, but I thought umbrella policy covers excessive liability exposure, not really your own loss.

The bottom line is that if you want to be covered for firearm loss, it's generally required to add specific coverage for firearms. And then it will be required to document what was lost at the time of loss in addition to just having the coverage.

tangolima · June 20, 2025, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnKSa

I'm in a suburban/rural county in TX. I'm not giving away that much information.

The bottom line is that if you want to be covered for firearm loss, it's generally required to add specific coverage for firearms. And then it will be required to document what was lost at the time of loss in addition to just having the coverage.

Perhaps. But umbrella policy doesn't cover lost properties. It only kicks in when somebody sues you for liability. Lost properties should be regular home owner policy. Some policies may explicit exclude certain items, say firearms, and some don't.

It makes sense to keep document to prove ownership to your firearms though, especially those that were acquired before the mandate of today's process. Note that insurance only pays replacement value. When the time comes, research and negotiation may ensue. It helps to have evidence, pictures for example, to back up claim of conditions.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

June 14, 2025, 08:57 AM	#1
2wheelwander Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2018 Posts: 626	Umbrella insurance policy - gun friendly Looking at getting an umbrella policy. Any here who have gone this route and your experiences. Currently with State Farm. Covering my firearms would require an additional policy. I understand I'd have to submit serial numbers (not crazy about that). But who here has gone this route and what company did you end up with and why?

June 14, 2025, 04:36 PM	#3
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 19,051	My guns are insured with Collectors Insurance. They didn't require a detailed inventory. https://collectinsure.com/guns/ I've never had a claim, so I don't know how they would be to deal with in the event of a loss. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

June 14, 2025, 05:09 PM	#5
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,567	I have a rider on my homeowners to cover firearms. They didn't require any documentation, just asked what dollar amount I wanted to cover. It's important to understand that I will get NOTHING in the event of catastrophic loss if I can't document the loss. Just because I have a certain amount of coverage doesn't mean they will automatically shell out if there's a fire, or a theft. At that point I would have to provide some sort of proof of what I had before the insurance company would pay. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

June 14, 2025, 11:40 PM	#7
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,567	My insurance company is State Farm. They never asked for serial numbers, but they did note that if I ever filed a claim I would need to document that I owned the firearms being claimed as a loss at the time of the claim by providing photographs/serial numbers, etc. I don't have to list them or provide photos/serial numbers in advance, but I will have to when I file a claim if that ever happens. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

June 17, 2025, 12:50 AM	#9
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,567	An umbrella policy won't cover firearms. You have to check to make sure you have a firearms rider on the policy and also to see what the amount is. If you look under the Forms, Options and Endorsements section, it will explicitly list firearms and tell you both the individual and aggregate coverage limits. Sounds like your agent really did a number on you. They should have sent you a printout of the policy in the mail with the coverage information so you could check everything. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

June 14, 2025, 10:29 AM	#2
noyes Senior Member Join Date: December 27, 2008 Posts: 1,037	Ditto same exactly. NO sale was/is my answer.

June 14, 2025, 04:57 PM	#4
2wheelwander Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2018 Posts: 626	@Aquila Blanca Thank you. Did a cursory policy quote. I was pleasantly surprised. Will also look at an umbrella policy, but this is promising!

June 14, 2025, 05:37 PM	#6
2wheelwander Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2018 Posts: 626	I agree JohnKSa. State Farm wants serial #'s, etc. I'm not comfortable with that. But, I do have a detailed documented log of my collection. In the event of loss with a policy like this it would be wise to have photo/video evidence of condition as well. We suffered a house fire years ago, fortunately my firearms were in the end of the house where there was only smoke damage and that was easily cleaned off. Who is your rider with?

June 16, 2025, 09:41 PM	#8
deadcoyote Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2009 Location: northern CA Posts: 724	DO NOT USE State Farm. Obtained an umbrella policy 23 years ago to cover my guns and ammo at the directive and advice of my State Farm guy. 2021, house burglarized - lost $40k in assorted property and all my guns and ammo. My State Farm guy had retired (I hope he has AIDS by now). Current State Farm rep said umbrella policy didn’t cover any guns, ammo, optics etc. My wife and I contested it, they interviewed the retired insurance agent who “couldn’t recall” ever telling us it would cover those high risk items. They were trying to settle for like $4k, in the end after having to retain an attorney got a great big old $18k. All insurance companies are in business to make money, their interests aren’t your interests. Simultaneously I cannot recommend State Farm. On top of all of this we own seven rentals, so it’s not like we’re a tiny client for them. They did not care or look out for us at all. That local agent that calls you every 90 days to try to pimp you for more policies? Once you actually file a claim they’ll constantly explain why they can’t talk to you and you need to use the call center in Chicago.

June 17, 2025, 02:37 PM	#10
Aguila Blanca Staff Join Date: September 25, 2008 Location: CONUS Posts: 19,051	I'm not an insurance professional but my understanding has always been that an "umbrella" policy provides extended/additional liability coverage that takes over beyond the limits of your basic homeowner's policy. As JohnKSa commented, coverage for high value "things" isn't an umbrella policy, it's typically a rider on your basic policy. I did that for a number of years to cover some professional-grade 35mm cameras I had. Those have since been sold, so I dropped the rider. For firearms, I don't want my homeowner's insurer to know that I have firearms. I could add the guns with a rider, but for the cameras I had to provide a detailed inventory by make, model, and serial number, with individual values. If I tell them I have guns, they may increase the premium for my liability coverage. So I chose to go with Collectors' Insurance. They don't require a detailed inventory, and they're completely separate from my homeowner's insurance. __________________ NRA Life Member / Certified Instructor NRA Chief RSO / CMP RSO 1911 Certified Armorer Jeepaholic

June 17, 2025, 04:00 PM	#11
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 5,178	Hmm .. I could be wrong, but I thought umbrella policy covers excessive liability exposure, not really your own loss. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

June 17, 2025, 05:27 PM	#12
Skans Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2008 Posts: 11,332	I don't insure my guns. I have a decent safe that would stop most ordinary burglars. It would be worth upgrading to quarter-inch steel all the way around. In that case, I will probably buy a Sportsman's Steel safe. Safe is bolted to concrete, inside of the house and abutting 2 solid walls. I have known for a very long time that insurance companies rarely if ever pay what they should. They are every bit the thieves as someone breaking into my house and stealing stuff. When it comes to thieves, I prefer to have a fighting chance against them, and will never willingly hand over my money if I can help it to thieving insurance companies.