Art Insurance: Coverage, Claim & Exclusions

Updated: 11-05-2022 09:30:14 AM

For an individual art collector, a museum and an art exhibition, it is important to get insurance to compensate the damage or loss. Burglary, physical losses due to fire, scratches are some of the most common risks to the artworks. This is when an art insurance provides a comprehensive coverage to the art collection.

What is Art Insurance?

An art Insurance policy provides comprehensive protection to valuables like paintings, sculptures and other collectibles from uncertainties, physical damage due to theft, accident, etc. It provides compensation to the policyholder in case of physical loss or damage to these valuable art items.

 

What Art Insurance Covers?

Drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, stamps, coins, watches, and books are some of the assets or forms of art that can be insured under art insurance policy in India. This policy provides coverage:

• Against unforeseen and physical loss or damage
• For all insured property during transit

Eligibility Criteria

Anyone who owns antique furniture, fine art, musical instruments, statues and sculptures can take this insurance cover to protect the important collectibles against unforeseen damage and loss.

Claim Process for Art Insurance

Every insurance company follows a certain procedure to settle claims arising out of the loss or damage to any artwork. Below are the steps for processing the claims:

• In the event of any damage or loss to the article, immediately notify the insurance company either through writing or by calling up on their customer care number
• The insurance company appoints a surveyor to inspect the case. The insured must cooperate with the surveyor and submit all relevant documents
• Some private insurance companies in India boast to acknowledge the loss reported on the same day when the incident is reported by the insured to the insurance company
• Based on the mutually agreed resolution in line with the policy, the insurance company provides compensation in terms of monetary losses, repairs, or any other similar processes to restore the artwork

Documents Required for Claim Process

Following documents needs to be submitted to file claims under Art Insurance:

• Claim Form
• Policy copy
• Evaluation of artwork
• FIR (in case of theft)

Exclusions under Art Insurance

Insurance company is not liable to pay if the claim arises because of the following events:

• Damage during repairing, restoring, retouching and any similar processes
• Loss or damage due to natural wear and tear, rust or oxidation
• Consequential loss
• Loss or damage resulting from nuclear reaction, radiation or radioactive contamination
• Loss from unattended vehicles
• Mysterious disappearance or unexplained loss
• Humidity, exposure to light or extremes of temperature

Companies offering Art Insurance in India

Listed below are the insurance companies which provide art insurance in India:

• HDFC Ergo
• Future Generali
• TATA AIG
• IFFCO Tokio

Advantages of Art Insurance

• The coverage under Art Insurance includes any unexpected and physical damage or loss to the insured asset
• Some insurance companies in India also cover transportation of the art piece from one place to another in India
• Provides wall-to-wall coverage for paintings, designs, and other forms of artwork that can be displayed on a wall
• Certain policies also include the storage of the artwork within the specified geographical or territorial limits for business or professional reasons
• Damage or losses due to natural calamities like flood, earthquake, cyclone, and other extreme weather conditions are also covered

FAQs

Q1. Who should take this policy?

Museums, antique dealers, art exhibitors, curators, individual collectors and art dealers are some of the beneficiaries of this insurance.

Q2. How to buy this policy?

The client or policyholder needs to get his collection valued through an independent valuer. After that, underwriters customise the coverage on the basis of the net worth of the art. Then, they calculate the sum insured.

Q3. How this policy will help policyholders during transit of the insured art?

Some insurance companies in India appoint specialized Transit Experts or Logistics Partners to provide wall-to-wall transit solutions or moving an art piece to a seasonal residence under complete ownership and supervision.