This insurance covers accidental loss, damage, and theft of your instruments and equipment, both at home and while travelling. It also provides coverage for repairs or replacements up to the insured amount.
Why should you consider musical equipment insurance for your instruments?
If your instrument or creative gear is your livelihood, it makes sense to protect it. Accidental loss, damage or theft can happen anywhere at home, on the road, or backstage. Marsh Musical instrument and equipment insurance solution is designed for musicians, sound engineers, DJs, photographers, and creatives who rely on their gear to perform or produce work.
With cover arranged by Marsh, this insurance can help reduce the stress if something unexpected happens, so you can get back to creating, performing, or teaching.
Why musical instrument insurance matters
Every instrument or piece of gear tells part of your story. From guitars and keyboards to cameras and lighting rigs, replacing these items can be costly. Even careful musicians and technicians can face risks like a dropped lens, a stolen amplifier, or gear damaged during a flight.
Musical instrument insurance in Australia helps bridge the gap when standard home or contents policies won’t cover professional use. It provides a safety net for the tools that help you earn an income or continue your creative work.
Without this protection, the financial impact of repairs or replacements could leave you unable to perform, record, or teach, something no musician wants to face.
What does musical instrument and equipment insurance arranged by Marsh cover
This insurance provides cover for accidental loss, theft or damage to your insured gear anywhere in the world excluding Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, including while in transit. You can choose your sum insured based on the full replacement value of your equipment.
If something goes wrong, you’ll be covered for the reasonable cost of repair or replacement up to the amount shown in your policy schedule.
Additional benefits included in your equipment insurance
- Hiring costs: Cover for up to 25% of your total sum insured (or up to 30 days’ hire) to replace damaged gear while yours is being repaired.
- Hired or borrowed equipment: Cover up to 10% of your policy sum insured for temporary gear you use.
- Breakdown cover: Up to $5,000 or 10% of the total sum insured, whichever is less, if an insured item breaks down.
- Currency exchange and freight costs: Cover up to $5,000 or 10% of the total sum insured for these expenses following a covered loss.
- New acquisitions: Automatic cover for new items purchased during the policy period, up to 10% of your total sum insured.
These benefits mean your music equipment insurance can support you when you need it the most, helping you keep your business or passion project moving.
What’s not covered under this insurance
While it offers wide-ranging protection, there are limits and exclusions. The policy does not cover:
- Wear and tear or gradual deterioration
- Scratches, depreciation, mould, unexplained malfunction or loss of value
- Faulty materials or workmanship
- Theft by a family member, employee, or anyone who benefits from the insurance
- Cyber incidents or data loss
How to claim or get musical instrument insurance arranged by Marsh
If your insured gear is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact Marsh or the claims team as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide proof of ownership, receipts, photos, or repair quotes.
If theft or vandalism has occurred, notify the police and request a written report. Once your claim is reviewed and approved, the insurer will arrange repair, replacement, or payment as set out in your policy.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Marsh arranges coverage for individual musicians, bands, DJs, and music professionals. Whether you're a hobbyist or a full-time performer, this policy is designed to meet your needs.
Public liability insurance is not included by default, but Marsh can help arrange this coverage separately if you need protection for live performances or events.
Yes, your gear is covered internationally, as long as the loss or damage occurs during the policy period and falls within the specified territorial limits.
Yes, you’re covered for hired or borrowed gear up to 10% of your total sum insured. This ensures you’re protected even if you don’t own the equipment.
The policy covers theft, if it isn’t committed by a family member, employee, or someone who benefits from the insurance. A police report is required for theft claims.
Claims are settled by either repairing, replacing, or reimbursing the repair/replacement cost of your gear, up to the sum insured. Please contact the Marsh team.
No, the policy doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, scratches, or gradual deterioration. It’s designed to cover unexpected damage or loss from unforeseen events.
You’ll need proof of ownership (e.g., receipts or photos) and a police report for theft. Repair estimates or damage reports may also be required.
The excess amount is specified in your policy schedule, and you’ll need to pay it before the insurer covers the remainder of the claim costs.
Yes, any new items purchased during the policy period are automatically covered up to 10% of your total sum insured, ensuring you're always protected.
References
[1] MusicNSW, "Insurance for musicians", https://www.musicnsw.com/workshops/public-liability, accessed 31 March 2026
Marsh Advantage Insurance Pty Ltd (ABN 31 081 358 303, AFSL 238369) (“Marsh”) arranges the general insurance (i.e. not the Discretionary Trust Arrangement) and is not the insurer. This page contains general information and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. For full details of the terms, conditions and limitations of the covers, refer to the specific policy wordings and/or Product Disclosure Statements available from Marsh on request. Marsh makes no representation or warranty concerning the application of policy wordings or the financial condition or solvency of insurers or re-insurers. Marsh makes no assurances regarding the availability, cost, or terms of insurance coverage. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on our experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. The Discretionary Trust Arrangement is issued by the Trustee, JLT Group Services Pty Ltd (ABN 26 004 485 214, AFSL 417964) (“JGS”). Any advice or dealing in relation to the Discretionary Trust Arrangement is provided by JLT Risk Solutions Pty Ltd (ABN 69 009 098 864, AFSL 226 827) (“JLT”). JGS and JLT are businesses of Marsh McLennan. The cover provided by the Discretionary Trust Arrangement is subject to the Trustee’s discretion and/or the relevant policy terms, conditions and exclusions.
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