Renters Insurance and your carry gun

[Fallguy]

I have recently moved...again.... but anyway. As I was calling my car insurance to change my address etc... the lady mentioned their renters insurance and asked if I would like a quote. I figured sure, I haven't got any yet. She asked the standard questions about a fire hydrant, trees and so on. But she also asked if there were any firearms in the house, how many, if they were kept loaded or unloaded and if they were locked up or not. Now the only firearm I have is my carry gun and it is loaded and not locked up. She said it would have to at least be kept locked up if not unloaded and locked up before they could issue a policy. I fail to see how the status of a firearm would affect a claim because of fire or the like. I checked with my mother, she said the place she uses didn't ask anything about firearms.

I have never rented so therefore never had renters insurance before, is this a standard question and/or requirement?

Every couple of years I check car insurance quotes from other companies, the place I have now is usually always the lowest or they are only a few dollars more, not worth going through the change. But now I am considering changing companies when this policy expires in addition to not getting their renters insurance.

[SkWaShDeM]

When I took out my renters insurance policy with Allstate they only asked if I would be having firearms on the premises and how much they were worth because the standard policy only covered up to $3,000 in firearms. I just had to get a separate rider for additional firearms coverage... wasn't that big of a deal. And nothing was ever asked about loaded/unloaded or locked up.

[KahrMan]

Calling Musicman....

[musicman]

Calling Musicman....

hahaha! Hey, I'm even wearing a blue shirt today! Maybe I should paint a big S I on it for "SuperInsurer"!

But seriously, that's a pile of poop. I keep hearing stories like this, but I have yet to find the name of a company that discriminates like that. I usually ask about guns, along with jewelry, antiques, electronics, and collectibles for the reason mentioned above; there are pretty low limits built into every policy for special items. Of course, additional insurance can be purchased at additional cost!

I'm really curious as to which company this is, and have a guess of my own. I don't want to bash them online, but if you wouldn't mind, could you PM me the name of this company? I want to find out if it is the actual company requiring this info.

My guess is that these things come more from an agent's office more than a mandate from the insurance company. We as agents are the first line of underwriting, and it is in our best interest for profitablility, our companies best interest for loss ratio and overall profitability, and our clients' best interest overall as it keeps our rates lower to try and avoid obvious hazards. To me, that means a dilapidated building or one with obvious and extreme tendencies to loss should not be insured by a preferred company. This is a judgment call on my part before I even submit this to the insurance company. Unfortunately, this is the gray area. Some agents may have a personal vendetta against guns, or view them as a special threat. These questions may be stemming from that alone, and their carrier may not even know these questions are being asked, nor receive this information. I could be totally wrong, but it's one theory I have.

If you want, I will look for an agent in your area that I know won't get stupid like that. Some of my clients are now my shooting buddies, and some of my shooting buddies are now my clients! It was really cool the first time a client brought me some ammo as a gift. That really meant a lot to me. (Thanks, if you're reading this! It's still my carry ammo!)

[Fallguy]

PM sent

[strickj]

Don-da-da-don-da-don! Super M

[creeky]

Who was that Caped Armed Insurer?

[musicman]

I just want everyone to know I've cut my hair since that pic was taken!

[BrasilNuts]

Don-da-da-don-da-don! Super M