Air gun insurance, are you legally required to have it ? No, air gun insurance is Not a legal requirement. However, that being said we think that if you use your airgun on a regular basis then it would be a wise choice to buy some air gun insurance.
Usually the insurance is a very affordable price and brings with it a whole peace of mind knowing you are covered if anythng did go wrong. Also it is the resposable thing to do when owning an airgun.
What Does Air Gun Insurance Cover
Public Liability Cover
What is public liability cover an what does it actually cover? Public liability insurance covers the cost of claims made by members of the public for incidents that occur in connection with your air gun activities. Public liability insurance covers the cost of compensation for, personal injuries Also loss of or damage to property.
So if you are out on a farm contracted to pest control then public liability cover really is an essential need. One stray shot and who knows what damage you could cause to property or even livestock. Its not unkown but most farmers will ask for proof of insurance before they allow you to hunt on their land.
Personal Accident Cover
These insurance policies pay out compensation to people who suffer serious injury as the result of an accident. Some Personal accident cover will protect you and your family from the loss of income that results from you not being able to work. Each policy can be different in what it exactly covers so do take time to read the small print.
If the policy does include loss of earnings then this will also give some psychological relief knowing you don’t have to go ouut and work. You can heal much quicker without unnecessary stress.
Legal Expenses Cover
Legal expenses insurance is meant to cover uncertain risks, not inevitable or existing events. Most ‘before the event’ policies will only cover the cost of legal proceedings when the event or dispute giving rise to the legal action occurred, or came to light, after the policy began. (Source FOS)
Will House Contents Insurance Cover My Air Gun
The answer s probably not, because your airgun and accessories are most at risk when you are out shooting. So you will be away from the home when damage or losses are likley to happen. It is advisable that you have specialist air gun insurance to ensure youu are fullly protected.
Compensation for equipment repairs and replacement
Some polices will cover for theft, loss or damage of equipment. Over time as a hobbist or professional airgunner you will accumulate more gear. Items such as scopes, ammunition (pellets) clothing, chronograph and the actual air rifle itself.
Again read the specfic policy as some policies will not replace like for like if you did not purchase the air gun new. This means if you bought an expensive second hand air rifle it would not be covered on certain insurances. Some policies only cover equipment of a certian age, EG if your gun is more than 3 years old it is no longer covered by the policy.
Insurance Exclusions
Upon researching this article some insurance companies will not insure people who partake in pest control. Also people who make more than 50% of their earnings from air gunning will not be insured. So it is vital that you read and understand any policy before payyment. There may be more exclusions than is apparent in the first instance.
Compare Air Gun Insurance
Do note that BASC (The British Association for Shooting & Conservation) is a full membership and comes with other benefits besides the insurance itself.
Basa
British Airgun Shooters Association- Up to £2 million third party liability insurance, covering FAC Airguns and Airguns
- Shooting permission slips
- Photo ID card and proof of insurance
- Special offers from selected retailers
- Third party liability indemnity – excess £250 property damage only
CCC3
Country Cover Club- £12 Million public liability cover
- £10,000 Personal accident cover
- £100,000 Legal expenses cover
Gun Plan
Specialist Shooting Insurance- £10M Public liability insurance
- £50,000 Personal accident cover
- Equipment cover
BASC
Best Full Coverage- £10M Legal liability cover
- £10M Employer liability cover
- £10M Product liability cover
- £50,000 Personal accident cover
Disclaimer
The information above was correct at the time of publication. The polices can change at any time and may not reflect the information provided on this page. For accurate and update information visit the insurance company pages.