Exhibition Insurance

[Chameleon]

We will be running a small(ish) exhibition in the not too distant future and are in need of exhibition insurance, probably in the region of £200k plus the usual public liability etc. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience in this and are able to point me in the right direction of a suitable company?

[Mike Bellamy]

I think you will find that most Clubs use the Magnet Insurance scheme. You can get a quote on-line and membership of CMRA will often result in a discount that is more than the annual subscription. A copy of the policy is also there to see the details.

 

http://www.modelrailwayinsurance.co.uk/ http://www.cmra.org.uk/

 

Been using them for years for clubrooms and two exhibitions each year (except one year when we forgot to set it up ) However I don't recall ever having to claim. The exhibition insurance covers layouts in transit (other vans are available) and so your exhibitors are covered home to home.

 

Mike

[Andy Y]

I endorse Mike's recommendation. We use Magnet for RMweb events, Tony Bound (Magnet's MD) thoroughly understands the exhibition organiser's needs.

[RJS1977]

I use them too - very helpful and efficient!

[great central]

Nottingham Show has used Magnet for years, from the days when it was set up by John Dennison.

 

Edit: a few years ago we were offered the chance to take Deepcar to the NRM as part of a 'cab-it' event. The NRM didn't carry exhibition insurance at the time so we asked Magnet about it and they gave us an extension on our clubroom policy, at no charge!

[ELTEL]

Yes we also use them at Stafford exhibitions and clubroom insurance and have done for years

 

We have had to claim on one occasion recently for a exhibition claim and it was dealt with most efficiently

 

Highly recommend Magnet

 

Terry

[Geoff Endacott]

I have just sent Magnet a cheque for over £500 in respect of Trainwest. They have the big advantage of understanding the requirements of model railway exhibitions. They also pay up when they have to - only twice in 20 years but nevertheless a good sign.

 

Geoff Endacott

[298]

The subject of exhibition insurance has been raised in one of next month's magazines, the comment (from a well known exhibition manager) makes the point that although insurance is still required for the purposes for public liability, layouts and associated items (eg stock, controllers, etc) are probably covered on the owners home policy under the away from home criteria, and do not need to be duplicated.

 

Although there is an obvious cost saving in an era of what businesses would refer to as "difficult trading conditions" when already tightened budgets have to be constrained even further, previous comments on this thread are testament to the advantage of having specialists to contact when things go wrong, instead of relying on an uneducated loss adjuster who may think that rare or unique items can be replaced on a like-for-like basis with a trip to the local model shop. There is also the question of items not being covered on a household policy, such as a layout owned by a club (although when we took a layout to a well known museum who were organising a mini show but were unable to provide cover, our insurers waived the fee for extending the policy).

[DaveF]

Many household policies have very restricted cover for items taken away from home, various conditions have to be observed concerning security.  I don't think an exhibition would always be covered - it certainly was not when I checked with the house contents policy I had when I used to exhibit.

 

David

 

Edited to insert a missing word.

D

[Andy Y]

in one of next month's magazines, the comment (from a well known exhibition manager) makes the point that although insurance is still required for the purposes for public liability, layouts and associated items (eg stock, controllers, etc) are probably covered on the owners home policy under the away from home criteria, and do not need to be duplicated.

 

I find that quite worrying; assuming that exhibitors are clearly advised I can imagine the concern over whether their own cover is sufficient or the cost of providing their own cover could be a deterrent to individuals taking layouts out on the road.

[Dagworth]

I find that quite worrying; assuming that exhibitors are clearly advised I can imagine the concern over whether their own cover is sufficient or the cost of providing their own cover could be a deterrent to individuals taking layouts out on the road.

Yep, if the exhibition isn't sorting insurance that covers the layout and stock from the moment it passes my front door until it gets back into the house then it stays in the house.

 

Andi

[Penrhos1920]

I have Magnet's private layout insurance and there is a big over lap with exhibition cover.  But like Dagworth I will not take anything of mine to an exhibition unless the exhibition has full door to door cover.

[Claude_Dreyfus]

Do check with your insurers. I have declared my collection to my broker - who then revealed he was an LGB fiend! - and as the individual items were within the single article limit (normally around £1,500) there was no issue.

 

HOWEVER

 

Be aware that some insurers may classify it as a 'collection' and may therefore charge additional premium. If you can, get the items insured as separate items; £1,500 is a lot for an individual model...but not for a full collection. Be realistic with your valuations as being under-insured could leave you out of pocket.

 

Also note that if you have a loss, your household insurers may contact the exhibition's insurance for a contribution (or vice versa). If you make a claim you will be asked to declare any other insurers that may have an interest.

[Geoff Endacott]

I look at it this way. By taking out a policy with Magnet I am insuring myself in my role as Exhibition Manager. If an exhibit belonging to someone I have invited suffers loss or damage, I have the peace of mind to know that I can pay for its repair or replacement by making a claim on the policy.

 

If you organise an exhibition and have not taken out proper insurance, an exhibitor who suffers a loss might hold you personally liable.

 

Geoff Endacott

[Mallard60022]

Geoff, did your policy do the ( mentioned ) above cover from 'door to door' (so to speak)?

Phil

[Xerces Fobe2]

Geoff, did your policy do the ( mentioned ) above cover from 'door to door' (so to speak)?

Phil

I gave used Magnet many times and the answer to your question is yes it does.

 

Nigel

[jamie92208]

As far as I know Magnet have an exclusive deal with thier insurance copmany and no other policy gives the full range of cover that their exhibition policy covers.  Some years ago our club secretary tried to stitch a similar policy together via his broker, in an attempt to save money.  It proved impossible. Magnet perform a good service and I would endorse the comments above about not trusting household policies.  I've just re done my household policy to cover my O gauge stuff when I take bits of Green Ayre out for testig in church halls.  Tony Bound was very helpful and I saved some money compared with my previous insurer.

 

Jamie

[great central]

The subject of exhibition insurance has been raised in one of next month's magazines, the comment (from a well known exhibition manager) makes the point that although insurance is still required for the purposes for public liability, layouts and associated items (eg stock, controllers, etc) are probably covered on the owners home policy under the away from home criteria, and do not need to be duplicated.

 

Although there is an obvious cost saving in an era of what businesses would refer to as "difficult trading conditions" when already tightened budgets have to be constrained even further, previous comments on this thread are testament to the advantage of having specialists to contact when things go wrong, instead of relying on an uneducated loss adjuster who may think that rare or unique items can be replaced on a like-for-like basis with a trip to the local model shop. There is also the question of items not being covered on a household policy, such as a layout owned by a club (although when we took a layout to a well known museum who were organising a mini show but were unable to provide cover, our insurers waived the fee for extending the policy).

 

Hmm, interesting!

 

Not so long ago we took our layout to a show 'organised' by a magazine. It was only when looking over the scant information supplied for something else after the event did I reallse the layout, stock, etc was only covered whilst in the exhibition hall! 

 

If a vehicle had been involved in a crash and damage caused to anything it probably wouldn't have been covered. Scary thought! The layout belongs to  the club, the stock to individual members. The stock either being in the van or individual cars, not necessarily the  owner of the stock.

 

 in future!!!!

[Dukedog]

The Cradley Heath Club have just joined the CMRA and have just staged their first ever exhibition.

 

We used Magnet insurance for the simple reasons that we got our CMRA discount, the cover was more than enough for our needs and was dealt with promptly and efficiently on line by Magent.

 

I have no hesitation in recommending  Magnet to any exhibition manager.

 

Cheers!

Frank

[nickwood]

The Cradley Heath Club have just joined the CMRA and have just staged their first ever exhibition.

 

We used Magnet insurance for the simple reasons that we got our CMRA discount, the cover was more than enough for our needs and was dealt with promptly and efficiently on line by Magent.

 

I have no hesitation in recommending  Magnet to any exhibition manager.

 

Cheers!

Frank

 

Frank, I think I'm right in saying that individual members of any club associated with the CMRA will also get the discount if they wish to insure their own layouts with Magnet.