Note: This article is intended for informational purposes only. Always consult with insurance professionals to determine the best coverage for your specific needs.
Whether you’re a touring musician, a serious collector who suffers from guitar acquisition syndrome, or just love playing on the weekends, your guitars are more than just instruments. They’re valuable, meaningful, and often a really big part of your life. That’s why it’s important to protect them from unexpected damage or loss. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about guitar insurance so you can keep your gear safe.
Why Guitar Insurance Matters
Guitars—especially vintage or expensive ones—can be worth a lot of money. But their sentimental value can mean even more. They can be damaged, stolen, or lost during travel, and those risks are always around. Homeowners or renters insurance might help a little, but it usually doesn’t give enough protection, especially if you use your guitars for gigs or take them out of the house.
Homeowners Insurance vs. Guitar-Specific Insurance
Many guitar owners assume their instruments are fully protected under their homeowners or renters insurance. But that’s not always the case. These general policies often have coverage limits or exclusions, especially for high-value items like guitars—especially if they’re used for business or taken outside the home.
Let’s say your guitar gets damaged while traveling to a gig, or it’s stolen from your car. Your standard homeowners insurance might not cover that, or it might only cover part of the cost after a high deductible. On the other hand, guitar-specific insurance is designed to protect your instrument in more situations, including theft, accidental damage, natural disasters, and travel.
Some companies even offer “all-risk” coverage, meaning your guitar is protected almost anywhere you take it. That kind of protection can give you peace of mind that general home insurance just can’t match.
In contrast, specialized guitar insurance offers broader protection tailored to the unique risks associated with musical instruments.
What Does Guitar Insurance Cover?
Guitar insurance can cover a wide range of problems that might happen to your instrument. These usually include:
- Theft: If your guitar gets stolen, insurance can help cover the cost to replace it.
- Accidental Damage: Whether it’s a dropped instrument or a cracked headstock, accidents happen—and insurance can help.
- Fire or Natural Disaster: If your guitar is damaged in a fire, flood, or storm, you may be able to get reimbursed.
- Loss or Damage During Travel: Traveling musicians especially benefit from this. Airlines and baggage handlers aren’t always careful, and damage in transit is common.
- Worldwide Coverage: Many guitar insurance policies cover your guitar wherever you take it, even outside the country.
- Loss of Value: Compensation for any depreciation in value after repairs.
Each provider offers different coverage options, so it’s important to check the details before buying a policy.
Who Needs Guitar Insurance?
If your guitar is expensive, rare, or has sentimental value, it’s worth thinking about insurance. That’s especially true for:
- Touring or gigging musicians
- Collectors of vintage or rare instruments
- Music teachers or studio owners
- Anyone who travels often with their gear
Even if your guitar isn’t super expensive, insurance can still make sense. It only takes one accident to lose something important—and insurance helps make things right.
Guitar Insurance Companies Compared
As of this writing (June 2025), in no particular order below are some of the top companies that offer guitar insurance. Each of them has different features, so it’s a good idea to visit their websites and compare what they offer:
- Heritage Insurance Services – Offers coverage for all types of instruments and is known for working with musicians. Their policies are popular among pros and collectors.
- Clarion Insurance – A longtime provider focused on musical instruments. They compare their coverage against standard homeowners insurance right on their website.
- Anderson Group – Covers many types of musical instruments including both acoustic and electric guitars.
- Private Collection Insurance – Offers protection for all kinds of collectibles, including guitars. A good option if you own other valuable items too.
- Collectibles Insurance Services – Similar to Private Collection, they insure a wide range of collectibles and have policies for musical gear.
- Distinguished – Their Fine Art & Collectibles division includes musical instruments. Best suited for collectors with high-value items.
How Much Does Guitar Insurance Cost?
The cost of guitar insurance depends on the value of your instrument(s) and the type of coverage you choose. On average, most policies cost between $1.25 to $2.00 per $100 of insured value per year. That means if your guitar is worth $3,000, you might pay between $37 and $60 a year to insure it.
Other factors that affect the cost include:
- Whether the instrument is kept at home or taken on tour
- The level of deductible you choose
- Whether it’s a single guitar or a full collection
Some companies offer discounts for bundling multiple instruments, while others may charge more for international coverage. Always ask about rates and compare quotes from different providers.
How to Get Guitar Insurance
Getting insurance for your guitar is usually pretty easy. Here’s what most companies ask for:
- A list of your guitars – Include the brand, model, and serial numbers.
- Appraisals or proof of value – Receipts or professional appraisals help confirm how much your gear is worth.
- Photos of the instrument – These can be helpful if you ever need to make a claim.
- Storage and usage details – Companies may ask how you store your guitar and whether you travel or perform with it.
Once you give them the details, they’ll provide a quote. If it looks good, you can usually buy the policy right away.
Tips for Protecting Your Guitar Collection Before You Insure It
Even before you buy guitar insurance, it’s important to protect your instrument from common risks. Follow best practices for storing guitars including the tips below help you avoid damage—and may even make your insurance provider more confident in offering coverage:
- Store guitars in their cases when not in use. Hard cases especially can provide great protection from bumps, falls, and changes in temperature.
- Control humidity and temperature. Keep guitars in a room that stays around 70°F with 40–50% humidity. Use a room humidifier or case humidifier if needed. Proceed with caution when storing guitars in drawers or tossing them in a closet since your home’s HVAC might not regulate the environment in these isolated spaces.
- Use nitro-safe guitars stands. If your instrument has a nitrocellulose finish, some stands can damage it so be careful when selecting your storage solutions.
- Keep your guitars off the floor in flood-prone areas. Store them several inches above ground level, especially in basements.
- Lock up high-value instruments. A lockable guitar display case adds another level of protection against theft and accidents.
If you’re serious about protecting your guitar—or your whole collection—insurance is just one part of the solution. Safe storage, regular maintenance, and documentation all work together to keep your instruments in top condition.
Note: It’s important to reiterate that this article is for informational purposes only. You should talk to an insurance professional to best determine the type of coverage that fits your specific needs.