Finding the right DJ insurance can be challenging because disk jockeying is a niche industry. The coverage you’ll need depends mainly on how your business is set up. When finding the best DJ insurance companies, you’ll need to consider financial stability, customer satisfaction, convenience, and available policies.
After evaluating some of the most popular options, here are our five best insurance providers for DJs:
- Next Insurance: Best overall provider for DJ insurance
- Simply Business: Best for comparing quotes from top providers
- Insurance Canopy: Best for customized DJ insurance
- Thimble: Best for DJ event insurance
- RVNA: Best for American Disc Jockey Association (ADJA) members
Best DJ Insurance Companies Compared
Quote Process | Policy Purchase Process | Accessibility | Instant Certificate of Insurance (COI) | Financial Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Online | Online | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time | ✓ | A- (Excellent) | |
Online | Online | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time | ✓ | A++ (Superior) | |
Online | Online | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mountain time | ✓ | A+ (Superior) | |
Online | Online or via the app | Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET | ✓ | A- to A (Excellent) | |
Online | Online | Monday to Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific time | ✕ | A+ (Superior) | |
Next Insurance: Best Overall Provider for DJ Insurance
Pros
- Customer complaints below national average
- Tailored coverage
- Fast online quotes
Cons
- Customer service unavailable 24/7
- Coverage availability can vary by state
Standout Features
- In-house claims services with a commitment to turn claims around quickly
- Dedicated app for iOS or Android provides 24/7 access to policy, quotes, and claims
- Professional liability included with general liability
- Tiered coverage gives you flexibility when purchasing insurance
As the only insurance carrier in this guide, Next Insurance is the best overall provider for DJ insurance because it offers a one-stop shop for quoting, purchasing, maintaining, and handling claims. If you prefer to have one centralized location for handling your policy, a carrier like it is the best bet since it not only sells and services the policy but also resolves claims if and when one is filed. Unfortunately, it does not offer 24/7 call center services.
Next Insurance offers general liability and commercial property coverage for your DJ business—and, if you have employees, you can also get workers’ comp from this provider.
We received a quote that costs $190.08 annually for general liability only. Alternatively, you can make the first and last month’s payments and then have 10 monthly payments of $15.84. This policy carried limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
Next Insurance’s online interface is very convenient. You can receive a quote with the option to purchase in just minutes. If you would like to speak with an advisor, one is available on weekdays.
Once you become a customer, you can use the app to manage your policy, file a claim, and get instant COI.
Its customers are happy with their user experience. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints filed with each state’s department of insurance, and Next has received lower-than-average complaints. On Next Insurance’s reviews page[1], policyholders and potential customers can leave feedback. The provider has more than 5,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5.
Simply Business: Best for Comparing Quotes From Top Providers
Pros
- Fast quotes in just minutes
- Same-day coverage
- Intuitive user experience
Cons
- Does not handle any claims directly
- Customer service not available 24/7
- Some coverages may not be available
Standout Features
- Compare quotes for multiple lines of coverage
- Purchase a policy online without speaking to anyone
- Works with top-rated carriers like biBERK, CNA, and Markel
- Allows you to adjust limits on quotes in real time and receive an updated quote
Financial rating: In addition to working with multiple top-rated carriers, Simply Business is owned by Travelers, and AM Best rated Travelers an A++ (Superior).
For solopreneur DJs, online marketplace Simply Business is a great way to find affordable insurance. The broker’s intuitive, easy-to-use quoting system generates quotes from top-rated providers, giving you the freedom to pick the one that’s best for your company and then purchase it online or call to speak with a dedicated agent.
As a broker, Simply Business does not handle its own claims—you must work directly through the carrier if you receive one. If you prefer to just work with a carrier directly, Next Insurance is the only provider on this list with its own in-house claims team.
We received three DJ insurance quotes for general liability from Simply Business. Two were through the same provider, Hiscox, and the other was through RLI.
The quotes from Hiscox were substantially more expensive than the quote from RLI, at $370 annually. The RLI quote was cheaper by $150, at $220 per year. (Alternatively, you could pay two months down and then make 10 payments of $18.33.) All three quotes had limits of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate.
We were also informed that more offers were available if we wanted to call and discuss them with a licensed agent.
Simply Business allows you to purchase policies online or over the phone and is available in all 50 states. Through your account, you have 24/7 access to your policy documents and can request a COI.
Because it is not an insurance provider, there are no reports for Simply Business with the NAIC. However, on the independent rating site Trustpilot[2], Simply Business has received high marks from users. It has a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars from over 1,100 reviews.
Insurance Canopy: Best for Customized DJ Insurance
Pros
- Nationwide availability
- Short-term coverage
- Instant COIs
Cons
- Customer service is unavailable 24/7
- Prefills some answers in the quote process
- Does not directly handle claims
Standout Features
- Fast and affordable policy available within 10 minutes
- Event liability coverage for one to three days, starting at $59
- Superior financial rating
- Account portal to manage your policy
Financial rating: Insurance Canopy is a brokerage, and The Great American Insurance Group (GAIG) underwrites this specific policy. AM Best’s rating of GAIG is A+ (Superior).
Insurance Canopy is our recommendation for the best provider of customized DJ insurance. The broker’s score reflects the convenient quoting and purchase experience. It offers a customized base liability policy with high limits at an affordable rate. From there, you can determine what additional coverage you may need, like equipment coverage.
All of the optional coverage options presented are designed with DJs and their risks in mind. Insurance Canopy also has an easy-to-navigate platform for buying affordable DJ insurance.
Insurance Canopy offers insurance for DJs, karaoke jockeys (KJs), and video jockeys (VJs). The basic policy starts at $16 monthly or $192 annually.
For liability and property insurance, we received a quote for $21 monthly with an additional one-time payment of $24.50—which is the lowest quote provided by any company in this guide for the amount of coverage offered. The liability policy carried a $1 million occurrence and a $2 million aggregate limit. It also carried equipment coverage of $5,000 per occurrence and $10,000 aggregate.
Helpfully, the broker lists the exclusions before purchasing, giving you a good idea of what is and is not covered.
Insurance Canopy is licensed to sell insurance in all 50 states.
The quote process is quick and simple, taking less than 10 minutes. Once you purchase a policy, you have 24/7 access to all of your policy documents. Through your online account, you can manage your policy, create and download a COI, and file a claim.
Thimble Insurance: Best for DJ Event Insurance
Pros
- Short-term liability
- Fast quote process
- Same-day coverage
Cons
- Claims handled by a third party
- No dedicated 24/7 line
- Difficult to reach anyone by phone
Standout Features
- Policies available by the hour, day, week, and month
- Equipment coverage bundled with your general liability
- iOS or Android apps for getting a quote, purchasing a policy, filing a claim, or contacting Thimble
- Use the app to create and share unlimited COIs for event venues
Financial rating: Thimble’s policies are provided through several carriers. The quoted DJ policy below is through National Specialty Insurance Company (NSIC). NSIC’s AM Best rating is A (Excellent).
Thimble is the best provider for DJ event insurance, or for those who DJ as a side hustle, because it offers short-term coverage, including hourly coverage. If you have a DJ gig once or twice a month and do not need 24/7 coverage, then this is your best option. Alternatively, you could use the event coverage for any special events you DJ.
When starting the quote process, Thimble will ask if you are seeking short-term liability or a monthly or annual policy. Coverage for your tools and equipment is only available if you proceed with a monthly or annual policy.
We received a DJ insurance quote for 48 hours for DJ event insurance that began immediately and ended the next day. It cost $52.42 and carried general liability and professional liability, both of which had a separate limit of $1 million.
General liability, professional liability, business equipment protection, and business owner’s policies (BOPs) are available in all 50 states. Thimble’s complaints are lower than the national average, and its user interface is convenient for customers.
RVNA: Best for ADJA Members
Pros
- Fast quotes
- Online account maintenance
- Nationwide availability
Cons
- Weekday-only hours for claims
- No mobile app
Standout Features
- Offers liability coverage plus gear, equipment, and employee crime insurance
- Affordable policies for DJs, KJs, and VJs,
- Online quotes and instant and unlimited COIs
- Years of experience in the specialty insurance market
Financial rating: RVNA is a brokerage, and the policies it offers to DJs are provided by carriers rated A+. The only carrier it lists is Allianz, and AM Best rated Allianz an A+ (Superior).
RVNA is a nationwide brokerage endorsed by the ADJA and the Karaoke Industry Alliance of America (KIAA). If you are a member of either association, then you receive a discount on your insurance, making this the best option for you.
The broker operates similarly to Insurance Canopy. It offers a program with selected coverage to fit the industry and a straightforward way to purchase the policy. However, RVNA is more costly and offers different coverages than Insurance Canopy, so see which one is a better fit for your specific business.
We received a quote online for $361.76 annually. It carried general liability with a limit of $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate, and $6,000 in coverage for gear. It also had $1,000 in coverage for your music library. The first-party coverages had a $500 deductible.
The DJ insurance quote process is simple. Interestingly, RVNA was the first insurance provider to create an online quote system. A guy named Rob (the R in RVNA) wrote the program in the 1990s.
You can manage your policy and create free and unlimited COIs online. However, if you have a claim, you will need to call during its weekday hours.
RVNA has high ratings from users on WalletHub[3], where it has earned nearly 5 stars from over 400 reviews.
How We Evaluated the Best DJ Insurance Companies
To determine which insurance companies would be the best for your needs as a DJ, we utilized a proprietary evaluation system developed in-house. We examined multiple insurers and presented the five with the highest scores.
In evaluating insurance companies, we focus on the customer’s needs. We pay particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
DJs need liability insurance and property insurance. The liability insurance helps protect you from claims of negligence by your operation. The property insurance covers your equipment, including DJ decks.
Yes. Any time a DJ works at a venue or in another business, that business can request a proof of insurance (COI), which is a one-page document that lists your coverage.
DJ insurance can cost anywhere from $150 to $700 or more annually for liability. However, most insurers run on the lower end, which is at around $15 to $25 a month.
If your setup isn’t clearly marked—or even if it is—and a dancer wanders back where they shouldn’t, trips on a wire, and gets hurt, your business could be held liable for any injuries the customer sustains from their fall. In other words, many different things could go wrong, and those could lead to your business filing a claim.
Bottom Line
As a DJ, you know that people just want to dance—so it’s important to have the right insurance so that you can focus on enriching and entertaining others. As such, we’ve researched several insurers to find the best DJ insurance companies to protect your equipment and reputation.
Next Insurance is the best overall insurance provider for DJs. Head over to its website today to get a free quote and buy an affordable policy in just a few minutes.
User rating references:
[1]Next Insurance
[2]Trustpilot | Simply Business
[3]WalletHub | RVNA