Hienfeld · compared independently · advice from Finass
Musical instrument insurance through Hienfeld
Instrument insurance covers the instrument itself, on the road and on stage, and that is something other than the business contents or home contents cover it would otherwise fall under.
The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert.nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out your own premium with the calculator.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
We compare the offerings of several insurers
An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Instrument insurance is all-risks property cover on a specifically named object: the instrument, its case and often the accessories directly attached to it. Unlike business contents insurance, the cover is not tied to an address, because an instrument travels to rehearsals, recordings and performances. That is exactly where the risk lies.
The insurance is intended for professional musicians, orchestras, music schools, churches and hire companies. For older and hand-built instruments the value is established by valuation, because a purchase invoice rarely reflects the current value.
We set the conditions and the premium from Hienfeld alongside those of other providers in this segment and look above all at three points: the area of cover, what applies if the instrument is left in a vehicle, and whether any reduction in value after repair is paid. See also our pages on business art insurance and public and employers' liability.
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
Basic cover
The basic cover insures the core of your instrument insurance; we show what Hienfeld and other insurers offer within it.
Fire & lightning strike
Burglary & theft at home
Explosion & smoke
Water damage at home
Extended cover
As well as the basic cover, also protection against loss, damage and theft away from home, including from external causes.
Theft outside the home
Loss
Damage from dropping or knocking
Valuation & appraisal
Comprehensive worldwide
The most complete cover. We compare Hienfeld's extended version with the market.
New-for-old settlement
All risks: any sudden damage
Worldwide cover
Disappearance without a cause
What we do
What we do
At Finass
Direct with Hienfeld
Comparison across several insurers
Yes
No
Advice based on your own situation
Yes
Sometimes
One point of contact for claims
Yes
Sometimes
Cancellation with your current insurer arranged
Yes
No
We determine whether Hienfeld is the best choice
Yes
No
Advice fees for you as a customer
No
No
This overview concerns our service, not the cover. What is actually covered is set out in the policy conditions and on the insurer's insurance card (verzekeringskaart); you receive both before you take out cover.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that make the difference between a policy that pays out and one that does not.
A valuation instead of a purchase invoice
For stringed instruments, old wind instruments and hand-built pieces the purchase price says little about the current value. A prior valuation records that value and binds the insurer to it; Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code allows this as long as you gain no advantage from it. The report has a limited period of validity. Once it expires, market value applies again and you lose the benefit of the fixed figure.
Where and when the instrument is covered
Check the area of cover: the Netherlands, Europe or worldwide, and whether tours outside that area have to be reported in advance. More important still is leaving the instrument in a vehicle. Many sets of conditions exclude theft from an unattended vehicle altogether, or cover it only during the day, out of sight and in a locked boot. An instrument left in the van overnight almost always leads to argument.
What is not included
Parts that wear out through use are excluded: strings, bow hair, reeds, skins, pads and mutes. Gradual damage also falls outside, such as warping or cracking through dryness, damp or changes in temperature, and ageing of the varnish. Inherent defect and damage from unskilled repair carried out by you are likewise excluded. Transport without a sound case is regarded by many insurers as insufficient care.
Lending, hiring out and playing by others
If a stand-in or a pupil plays the instrument, or you lend it to an ensemble, check whether the cover continues to apply and who counts as insured in that case. Commercial hire is normally a separate basis with its own conditions. Record for each loan who has the instrument and in what condition it was handed over; without that record, damage cannot be attributed afterwards.
Theft & loss
New for old
What does your premium depend on?
Valued or declared amount — The main basis of calculation; for a collection it is the total of the objects declared.
Type of instrument — A wooden stringed instrument is more vulnerable to climate and breakage than a metal wind instrument.
Area of cover — The Netherlands, Europe or worldwide; tours outside the area need to be discussed in advance.
Use — Practice at home, professional performance or hire to third parties produce different risk profiles.
Storage and transport — Where the instrument is kept when not in use and how it is transported weighs in the acceptance.
Excess and claims history — A higher excess reduces the premium; earlier claims work through into the rate.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
How we arrange it
You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, your risk and your wishes.
We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
Is my instrument covered during a performance abroad?
That depends on the area of cover agreed. If the policy says Europe and you play outside it, there is no cover without an extension. If you occasionally travel further, report it in advance and have the extension confirmed in writing. Note too that air transport sometimes imposes additional requirements on the case and on the way it is checked in.
What if the instrument has been stolen from the car?
Theft from an unattended vehicle is excluded or strongly limited in many sets of conditions. Where there is cover, it usually applies only during the day, with the instrument out of sight in a locked boot and with signs of forced entry. An instrument left in the car overnight nearly always leads to refusal for want of care.
Is a reduction in value after a repair paid?
Not automatically. A repaired instrument can be worth less than before the damage, even when it plays well again. Some policies have separate cover for reduction in value, others pay only the repair costs. Ask about this expressly and have repairs carried out by a maker or restorer the insurer accepts, otherwise that claim falls away as well.
Are strings, reeds and bow hair insured as well?
No. Parts that wear out or break through normal use fall outside the cover, as do skins, pads and mutes. The insurance is intended for damage from a sudden event, such as a fall, fire or theft. Gradual damage from dryness, damp or changes in temperature is also excluded, however expensive the repair.
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
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