Instruments are tools, assets and sometimes heirlooms
A student keyboard and an eighteenth-century Italian violin do not belong in the same category. Many instruments are simply working tools, while fine stringed instruments, vintage guitars, historic woodwind and high-end pianos can behave like collectable assets whose value tends to rise. The assessment approach has to fit the instrument.
Professional musicians often hold specialist instrument policies, while amateurs rely on home contents cover. The two differ widely on cover away from home, use for paid work, accidental damage and loss of value after repair.
Who examines the instrument
The insurer will usually ask for a repair estimate from a luthier, technician or restorer, and in larger claims may appoint a loss adjuster and an independent specialist. On the policyholder’s side, a loss assessor or public adjuster can manage the claim, while the musician’s own luthier or a recognised dealer can provide an opinion on value and repair.
For rare instruments, the opinion of an expert familiar with the maker, period and market is essential, since a general repairer may not be able to judge attribution or the impact of a repair on value.
What happens after damage or loss
Stop playing a damaged instrument, keep any detached parts, record the damage on photographs and video, and report the incident promptly. For transit damage, report it to the airline, courier or venue in writing straight away, as carriers often impose short deadlines and limited liability. For theft, obtain a police reference and alert dealers and online registers where possible.
The insurer then reviews the circumstances, the repair estimate and the evidence of value. Where the instrument is repairable, the claim usually covers repair and, if the policy allows, any loss of value. Where it is not, the question becomes the replacement or market value at the date of loss.
Evidence specific to instruments
Beyond the usual proof of ownership, instrument claims benefit from technical documentation.
- Certificates of authenticity or attribution for fine instruments
- Serial numbers, maker labels, brand stamps and photographs of them
- Recent valuations by a recognised dealer or specialist
- Service and repair records showing prior condition
- Carrier reports, baggage claim forms and boarding documents for transit losses
- Proof of professional use if the policy distinguishes it
Repair, depreciation and loss of tone
Repairs to the top of a violin, the neck of a vintage guitar or the soundboard of a piano can be skilful yet leave a mark on value. The market often pays less for an instrument with a significant crack repair, even if it plays well. Specialist policies frequently cover this depreciation in addition to repair costs, but the calculation must be supported by a qualified opinion.
Tone is harder to prove. A player may feel an instrument has lost its voice, but insurers respond to objective evidence. Detailed reports comparing pre-loss recordings, condition reports and expert observations make this argument more credible.
Typical disagreements with insurers
Most disputes centre on causes, exclusions and value.
An expert can also help when an instrument belongs to a matched group, such as a quartet or a set of orchestral bells, or when a hire or loan agreement makes you liable to the owner. In those situations the contract with the owner and the policy have to be read together, and a clear technical report on cause and value usually shortens the discussion considerably.
- Climatic damage, cracks from humidity or temperature changes, often excluded
- Wear and tear or gradual deterioration versus sudden accidental damage
- Instruments left unattended in vehicles, often subject to conditions
- Professional use not declared on a home policy
- Disagreement on attribution and therefore on market value
- Refusal to recognise loss of value after a major repair
Signs that you need a policyholder’s expert
If the instrument is valuable, if the insurer disputes the cause of the damage, or if the repair estimate seems to ignore loss of value, independent support is worth considering. A policyholder’s expert can commission a reasoned valuation, challenge an exclusion that does not fit the facts and negotiate a settlement that reflects the instrument’s market.
If agreement is not possible, escalate through the insurer’s complaints procedure and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service in the UK, the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman in Ireland or AFCA in Australia. In the US and Canada, state or provincial channels apply, and an appraisal clause may help settle value disputes.
Protecting instruments before something goes wrong
Use a suitable case and humidity control, keep valuations and photographs up to date, declare professional use and check cover for transit, touring and travel abroad. A specialist policy can be worth considering once an instrument’s value exceeds what home contents cover handles comfortably.
Organisations offering this service
- Chambre Nationale des Experts Spécialisés (CNE): French chamber of experts in art and collectibles that publishes a regular journal devoted to appraisal and the expert-dealer profession.
- Alexis Bordes – Fine Art Expertise Office: Fine art appraisal office offering valuations and expert opinions on old master paintings and drawings for collectors, estates and private owners.
- Union Française des Experts (UFE): French professional union bringing together experts specialised in works of art, antiques and collectibles, available to private owners and professionals.
- Compagnie d'Expertise en Antiquités et Objets d'Art (CEA): French company of experts in antiques and works of art that publishes an annual activity report and gathers specialists across artistic disciplines.
External links provided for information only; check the terms directly with each organisation.
Frequently asked questions
Is damage from humidity or temperature covered?
Often not. Many policies exclude damage caused by climatic conditions or gradual changes. Some specialist policies are broader, so check the exclusions carefully.
Who pays if an airline damages my instrument?
The carrier may be liable within limits set by its conditions and international rules, and your own insurer may also respond. Report to the airline immediately and tell your insurer, who may then pursue the carrier.
Can I use my own luthier for repairs?
Many policies allow it if the insurer approves the estimate first. For fine instruments, insist on a specialist with the right experience.
Instrument claims hinge on technical expertise and a careful reading of exclusions. expertdassure.com recommends an independent opinion whenever value, cause or repairability is disputed.