We were on tour in Chicago, parked backed up against a wall at a Red Roof Inn. We woke up, and the trailer was gone. Not broken into—gone. They cut the lock and hitched it to their truck. $40,000 of amps, drums, and merchandise vanished. I called my auto insurance. “We cover the trailer,” they said. “We don’t cover the contents.” I called my renters insurance. “You use this gear for business? Claim denied.”
Key Takeaways
- Auto Insurance Covers the Vehicle Only: Your GEICO/Progressive policy covers the steel box (the trailer). It pays $0 for the Gibson inside it.
- The “Business Pursuit” Exclusion: Standard Homeowners/Renters policies strictly exclude items used for “trade, profession, or occupation.” If you earn money playing, your personal policy is void.
- Inland Marine Policy: You need a “Commercial Inland Marine” floater. This is the only policy that covers movable business property (gear) while away from your premises.
- “Unattended Vehicle” Clauses: Some commercial policies require the vehicle to be locked and have visible signs of forced entry. If you left the trailer unlocked, they might deny.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Commercial Use vs. Personal Policy.”
Bands often assume that because they own the gear personally, their personal insurance covers it. But the moment that gear goes into a van for a tour (a commercial activity), the risk profile changes. Personal policies are not priced for the high theft risk of touring.
Additionally, the “trailer theft” is often excluded if the trailer wasn’t properly secured with a tongue lock or wheel boot, depending on the carrier’s specific theft warranties.
The Investigation (My Analysis of 3 Carriers)
I looked at how to insure a touring band’s rig.
MusicPro
- The Verdict: The industry standard for a reason.
- The Coverage: Covers gear in the trailer, in the venue, and in the hotel.
- The Cost: Roughly $1.75 per $100 of value (e.g., $175/year for $10k coverage).
- The Catch: You must provide an itemized list with serial numbers before the theft.
Front Row Insurance
- The Verdict: Good for Canadian/North American tours.
- The Feature: They offer short-term certificates. If you only tour for 4 weeks, you can sometimes buy coverage just for that period (though annual is usually better value).
Standard Auto (State Farm/Allstate)
- The Verdict: Useless for gear.
- The Only Hope: If you have a specific “Personal Articles Policy” (PAP) attached, it might cover the gear, but you must disclose the professional usage explicitly to the agent.
[IMAGE: Photo of a cut trailer tongue lock lying on asphalt in an empty parking space]
Comparison Table
| Feature | Personal Auto Policy | Renters Insurance | Commercial Music Policy |
| Trailer Theft | Yes (Trailer only) | No | No (Trailer usually separate) |
| Gear Theft | No | No (Business exclusion) | Yes |
| Merch Theft | No | No | Yes (if declared) |
| Coverage Area | US/Canada | Residence | Worldwide |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Spreadsheet Everything: Make a Google Sheet. Make/Model/Serial Number/Replacement Cost. Take photos of everything. Without serials, police can’t recover it, and insurance investigates longer.
- Buy a GPS Tracker: Put an Apple AirTag (speakers removed) or a hardwired GPS tracker in the trailer and inside a speaker cabinet.
- Use a Wheel Boot: Tongue locks are easily defeated. A “claw” style wheel boot is a visual deterrent.
- Get MusicPro or Clarion: Stop relying on hope. Buy the policy today. It covers theft even if the thief was “skilled” and bypassed the lock.
FAQ
Does the hotel insurance cover it?
No. Their liability is for their building and negligence. They are not responsible for cars in the parking lot (read the signs).
What if we borrowed gear?
If you borrowed a bass amp, you need “Non-Owned Equipment” coverage. Standard policies only cover what you own.
Is cash/merch money covered?
Usually no. Cash is almost never covered. Merchandise (t-shirts) is covered only if you listed it as inventory on the policy.