Special events are complex. And if you’ve planned one before, you know just how much resources it takes to execute everything perfectly. Special event insurance is a long-term or short-term insurance policy for events.
This covers any property damage or bodily injury that might occur during the special event. Suppose you must cancel your special plans for the anniversary, graduation party, birthday or wedding. In that case, you can leverage the insurance to recoup some expenses.Â
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As an industry standard, most venues require that you obtain special event liability insurance. Primarily offered as a commercial general liability insurance policy (CGL), this covers the following:
It’s become apparent that you can lose your event spot if you fail to present proof of special event general liability insurance as most rental venues won’t offer their services if an event isn’t covered with it.Â
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 It has inclusions available at an additional cost. Such additional inclusions are:
Advertising injury coverage – Advertising injury coverage will cover attorney fees, administrative costs, settlements, and other legal expenses if a third party sues the special event organizer for slander, libel, and other forms of advertising or reputational harm
Rented premises liability coverage – Rented premises liability coverage will reimburse the property owner if a rented venue is damaged during a special eventÂ
Another type of special event liability coverage is public liability insurance. This one functions the same as general liability insurance. That is, cover personal injury claims and property damage claims. But still, this coverage is a bit different because you can’t add optional policies to it. Thus, its premiums are cheaper due to the limited protection provided.Â
Once you purchase special event insurance, you can opt for liquor liability insurance. The latter is an optional coverage that protects the event organizers when a guest sustains personal injuries/property damage or gets overserved with alcohol. Specific costs covered are:
The special event liquor liability insurance offers protection for Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB) and open-bar events and should cover any violation of statutes and regulations pertaining to the distribution and use of alcohol.Â
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While general liability insurance covers third-party bodily injury and property damage, it doesn’t cover employee injuries or illnesses.Â
 A special event workers’ compensation insurance protects you from these uncovered liabilities. Particularly, workers’ compensation insurance provides coverage for the following:
If a special event is canceled due to a particular incident, or any other possible causes, cancellation insurance will cover non-refundable expenses such as:
You will need to rent equipment for a special event. Special event rental equipment provides replacements if rented equipment becomes damaged or lost due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered risk. Common items covered by special event equipment rental insurance are:
The amount of coverage is $25,000 – $100,000 depending on the type of event and the equipment rented.Â
1 day special event insurance covers the policyholder holder against personal injury and property damage claims through its general liability coverage. It lasts for 3 hours, 6 hours, 12 hours, or 24 hours depending on your needs. The amount of coverage you’ll get is $1 million-$2 million.Â
It is a coverage for those organizing sports events, graduations, camping events, musicals, festivals, and more. Particularly, this is useful for event planners, associations, companies, and other similar entities.Â
The cost vary depending on various factors, including the type of event, its duration, and the number of participants. Typically, the premium will set you back at $150 for a one day coverage. Long-term coverage, on the other hand, costs $75 per month or $900 per year.Â
Best Special Event Insurance Companies Â
CoverWallet is an insurance broker selling a tailored special event insurance offering general liability coverage, rental equipment insurance, and cancellation coverage. CoverWallet allows you to get an instant certificate of insurance, allows you to add additional insureds for free online, and doesn’t mind if you cancel a policy at the spur of the moment.Â
Average cost: $35 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 10/10
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Founded in 1922, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance company’s goal is to help its customers manage the risks they face every day. As a top provider of special events insurance, State Farm handles an average of 39,000 claims a day across the 50 states.Â
Average cost: $41 for one-day coverage
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 USAA offers affordable liability policies tailored specifically to the realities of life in the military. These policies cover all events within the States and its territories and include events on cruise ships. Â
Average cost: $56 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 9/10
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Geico  Â
Geico, special event insurance can be purchased as far back as two weeks before the event and should cover the non-refundable deposits, any cancellation fees inquired, and bodily harm or property damage during the event.Â
Average cost: $130 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 8/10Â
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Average cost: $105 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 8/10
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 AAA InsuranceÂ
 American Automobile Association (AAA) offers a collection of branded products to protect you during special events. While the average premium is considerably higher than the rest within the list, AAA offers various discounts to help customers save money on the initial premium.Â
Average cost: $160 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 8/10
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 Liberty Mutual Insurance
Liberty Mutual ranked at position 78 on the U.S. Fortune list in 2021, given that it was the 6th largest global property and casualty insurer in 2021. Since its inception in 1912, the insurer’s goal has been to provide comprehensive solutions for complex risks.Â
Average cost:Â $78 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 7/10Â
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 Allstate is a nationwide national insurance service provider that offers special events coverage for weddings, business meetings, parties, and corporate events. The insurer offers two broad products-event cancellations and event liability coverage.Â
Average cost: $89 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 6/10
Nationwide InsuranceÂ
 Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, has become one of the ten most revered insurers. Their special event insurance coverage stands out as it includes:a brand-new belongings clause that ensures you are paid enough to restore the damaged property or replace it with a brand new item if you see fit.Â
Average cost: $68 for one-day coverage
Our rating: 6/10
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For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
Best insurance ever
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
Fastest ever online insurance quote and purchase! Also, great rates and professional customer reps that helps with whatever you need, if you need. Nice company!
Embroker sells a product that it doesn't honor. We purchased a combination D&O and EPLI policy. However, when it came to renewal, it told us that we only had D&O coverage even through our ACCORD certificate clearly mentions we have both. Basically they refused to honor the EPLI coverage and will leave you hanging with the bag. At time of renewal, they more than doubled our quote to get similar coverage. Basically BAIT & SWITCH. Unacceptable tactics. Easy to buy and pay but you may not be... Read More
Great platform. Terrible policy. There is no teeth behind it. No coverage. It's a fake policy that they sell. Sold us an EPLI policy that later we came to find out had no EPLI coverage. Amazing that they can get away with outright fraud. Check the positive reviews. They are all 'Anonymous' posted by Emroker staff. Stay away and find a real policy that will actually provide you coverage. We've been bitten by them and hope to find restitution via a lawsuit.
Paul Burns Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
It has been 70 days since I made a claim on the roof of my building. No one from the company will return calls. We are in hurricane season and located in Louisiana. My building is tarped to secure it.
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
They are the worst, my truck was hit in January 23 and the claim adjuster has not been out to this very day! They have every excuse in the book as to why. They have not been to the collision shop. PLEASE AVOID THESE SCAM ARTIST!
Felicia Broadus Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
Avoid these SCAM ARTISTS! They don’t pay claims!!! Save yourself the trouble and money!
Kasey Arey Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
This company gives you a price that was in place for a year and when you have to use it there is fine print were they can go back and charge you more. Would not recommend them to any one. Crooks
John Murphy Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
Worst insurance comapny I have ever dealt with. A commercial vehicle represented by GUARD t boned my wife and daughters family vehicle in the middle of the day. Driver was cited and insurance claim insued. Fast forward 4 months and refusal of full amount of claim is still happening. Driver was found guilty, repairs started on my vehicle and when it comes to the final bill and diminished value we cannot get any help. I am out a family car, have an injured and traumatized wife and children,... Read More
Harshadray Patel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
Extremely bad service, when you call , will make you wait on the phone for ever (over an Hour) and still no one to answer , so you end up hanging up. To cancel the policy, bounce you from one department to the other. They are supposed to refund from the date other insurance started and after sending the proof of other insurance policy, still they did not refund based on that actual date instead they use the date i managed to get hold of them. They charged me $7000.00 for a year's insurance on... Read More
Aaron Wensel Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
Guard Insurance is terrible. They were so bad I cancelled them because them couldn't figure out why I would never get a paper copy of the bill . Verified my address with them and still intermittent billing. I cancelled them in March through my local broker. Today 6/27 I get a letter in the mail from a collections company saying I owe 87.97. This was the first myself or my broker heard of owing this money. Here is some advice for this failure of a company send me a god damn bill and I will pay.... Read More
Michael Swink Insuranker
Policy Type: Business Insurance
Company name: Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies
My employer had to have workers compensation by law. He obtained a policy through this Berkshire Hathaway GUARD and they failed me. I fell from a ladder and fractured my spine in 7 different places, my clavicle in 4 places, and the base of my skull. Going to my Dr visits I was prescribed medication for pain and the insurance company placed a pre-authorization hold on me picking up the medication from Walgreens. The hold lasted 5 days! My weekly benefits have never been on time, right now... Read More
Liberty Mutual is one of the more simple companies to deal with. I had to file a claim for my business owner policy after I caught one of my employees stealing a large amount of products from my business. Liberty mutual paid the claim fast and with no efforts. I wish the legal process was as easy…
For me this company has proven to be the best to do business with and worth my hard earned money. Contractors this is your company look no further.
Decent experience with Hiscox business insurance
Very pleased with Hiscox - their small business insurance rates are very good and they specialize in small business which gives me a peace of mind as a small business owner. So far so good!
Their customer service is absolutely fantastic. Very patient, knowledgable and provided excellent explanation of the purchased policy. I would highly recommend this insurance company to anyone that's looking to protect their business from unexpected expense. Thank you Hiscox for doing a great job for my business!
STAY AWAY! I wouldn't recommend hiscox small business liability insurance to anyone. Better not waste both your money and your time. Hiscox customer service is extremely unpleasant, not organized and not professional. It is the worst company we have dealt with in almost 25 years in business!
Good company. Good and knowledgable customer service. If they don't know something they will pass you on to a more experienced rep that is more knowledgable. So far so good.
Extremely fast and simple. Wasted a lot of time and money until I found these guys! I feel like my business is in good hands now.
Hiscox's the best! My business is insured with them for over 12 years and am not planning to switch!
Excellent experience with Hiscox BOP for my coffee shop. They provided all it needed.
My HI barbershop is well covered with their great BOP product for 5 years already! not planning to switch!
Best insurance ever
Coolest concept, I wish this was applied to other insurance products too.
Great experience
Didn't relate to the concept much, but it makes sense if you need insurance to go
It doesn't really feel sustainable to me and doesn't offer business interruption, product liability and commercial property insurance. They have no local agents and despite their technology first approach you cannot file claims online. Additionally, product manufacturers are not covered by Thimble and they don't provide enterprise solutions.
As a contractor that works 3 times a week for a few hours, Thimble gets really handy for me and saves me money. I have no use for these massive business insurance coverages offered by traditional insurance companies.
Excellent concept which is useful to many small businesses!
Been waiting for this type of solution for a long time!
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