How much does combine harvester insurance cost?

Combine harvesters are commonly used for commercial farming, but they can be helpful for smaller dwellings too. While it’s an expensive vehicle, a combine harvester can be a worthwhile investment, as it reduces labour and makes gathering crops easier come harvest time.

As with all your farm machinery, it’s a good idea to insure your combine harvester in case something goes wrong. There is enough responsibility on farmers’ shoulders as it is, and paying for a £250,000 combine harvester replacement when the season is in full swing could be difficult.

In recent years, the UK has seen fire risks on the rise in the countryside, with unusually hot weather contributing to more combine harvesters catching on fire. Although the hot weather does not typically cause machinery to catch on fire every year, this is a risk worth noting as a combine harvester owner. Other things can go wrong too, such as accidents that damage harvesters beyond repair.

When buying combine harvester insurance, it’s good practice to consider your risks and assess what you can afford to pay out should something go wrong. You can then tailor your policy accordingly. Increased risk can mean more expense, though, so it’s understandable to be concerned about the cost of your combine harvester insurance. However, you might be interested to know that some combine harvester insurance policies are more affordable than you’d expect.

How much does combine harvester insurance cost?

Because each farm and estate, comes with it’s own unique risks, and each combine harvester is different there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to price. As these are high-value machines with unique jobs, it’s best to speak to an experienced insurance broker who can give you a better idea of cost and find you a policy that will fit your budget.

If you’re looking to save money on your combine harvester insurance you can save yourself a significant amount over a five-year replacement cycle if you insure your combine harvester on a comprehensive policy.

Combine harvesters can be insured on an agricultural fleet insurance policy, however, separate comprehensive cover tends to be a better option. This is because, unlike your other agricultural vehicles, you will not be using your combine harvester for nine months of the year.

How much does combine harvester comprehensive cover cost?

If you choose separate comprehensive cover, the cost of your combine harvester insurance will come close to half of what you would pay for it under a fleet insurance policy.

By opting for a separate comprehensive policy, you can still get the same level of cover, but your insurer will take into account the lower risk over the nine months you are not using your machine.

Is a combine harvester a commercial vehicle?

A commercial vehicle is any motor vehicle that functions for business purposes. This means that combine harvesters are considered commercial vehicles if they’re used on farms to help procure products for sale.

What types of cover can you get for your combine harvester?

You can opt for either blanket cover or individual cover for your combine harvester insurance. Choosing individual cover for this type of farm machinery can result in better premiums, however, blanket cover might be a better option depending on your farm’s specific needs. The difference between these two types of cover is as follows:

Blanket cover is also called unscheduled cover. It covers your whole farm, including livestock, machinery and equipment, as well as structures. Your combine harvester is part of your farm machinery, so it will be included in blanket insurance cover.

Individual cover is also known as scheduled cover. It is a popular choice for those who want to insure specific equipment on their farm and assign each piece of equipment a different amount of cover. You can opt to insure your combine harvester separately and get a better premium, as it will be locked away for nine months of the year.

What levels of cover can you get for your combine harvester?

The level of cover you get for your combine harvester insurance is up to you. There are three levels you can choose from:

Third-party onlyThird-party, fire and theftComprehensive cover

Third-party only

Third-party only insurance covers you if someone makes a claim against you. They could claim for any injury or property damage your combine harvester has caused them.

If you get this level of insurance, your combine harvester and the person operating it are not covered. So, in case of an accident, you would be liable to pay any repairs and hospital bills.

Third-party, fire and theft

Third-party, fire and theft insurance includes everything third-party cover does. It also covers the cost of repairs or replacements for your vehicle if it’s damaged through arson or stolen.

Comprehensive cover

Comprehensive cover includes everything the previous levels of cover do. It also offers financial compensation if your vehicle is damaged or lost, either through accidents or vandalism. The driver is also included in this level, so if they get injured, any medical expenses are covered.

What features are included on a combine harvester insurance policy?

Some of the features you can include on your combine harvester insurance are:

Liability coverVehicle and contents coverBusiness interruption coverRodent damage cover

Liability cover

Liability cover is there to protect both members of the public and any workers you employ. If any of them are injured or have their possessions damaged in an accident on your property, you are responsible for medical expenses and fees for repairs and replacements.

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement for any business, so you need to make sure anyone you employ on your farm is covered — even those you have not directly employed. Anyone who helps out on your farm could be injured. The one exception to this is hiring contractors who have their own insurance.

Liability cover is an efficient way to cover all your bases and make sure you do not have to pay a large sum if any accidents happen. It’s best to check with your insurer and opt to have liability cover that protects you in any scenario.

Vehicle and contents insurance

If your combine harvester is damaged beyond repair or stolen, this will ensure that it’s replaced. Any contents that are lost will also be compensated.

The extent of cover for your vehicle and contents insurance policy will depend on what your insurance provider typically offers. The duration of this policy and its cover value are usually agreed upon when you negotiate your cover.

Business interruption insurance

Business interruption insurance is helpful for when your farming activities cannot take place because your vehicle is severely damaged.

Typically, you would face significant financial loss if you could not complete your harvest and sell your products. With business interruption insurance, you are covered for most vehicle damage.

Business interruption insurance will provide you with a new vehicle for an agreed-upon value or provide contractors. You can then complete your farming activities without financial loss.

Rodent damage cover

You will likely lock away your combine harvester for most of the year. During that period, it is mostly left unsupervised and at risk of vermin attacks.

Rodent damage cover protects you against financial loss if vermin damage your combine. If they nest in or around your combine, you are at risk of having them chew through the complex electronic systems.

Some comprehensive cover policies do include rodent damage, but it is not the case for all of them. Check with your insurer and add this on yourself if you are worried about rodent damage.

How can I get a better price for combine harvester insurance?

If you want to get a better quote for your combine harvester insurance, there are some things you can do that could help:

Talking to an insurance broker. Brokers have the means to get you the best premium. They’ll negotiate with a range of underwriters on your behalf to get you the best quote.How much excess you pay. The sum you pay to make a claim on your insurance is your excess. When you first set up your insurance, you can opt for a higher excess. It usually helps get a better insurance price, but always make sure you choose an excess that you can afford.Limiting the indemnity of your insurance. The amount of money you can claim is your indemnity. If you set a lower indemnity when you buy insurance, you will likely get a better price. But beware of going too low. Pick a sum that will cover all your otherwise unaffordable expenses if you need to make a claim.Do you need to claim? Insurance is an excellent backup if something unexpectedly happens to your combine harvester and you need to pay a lot of money to fix it. But, if you try to keep it as safe as possible, you will avoid making claims. In that case, insurance companies will view your combine harvester as a low-risk vehicle. They will grant you a better premium since you are likely a careful owner.The security of your combine harvester. Your combine harvester’s risk of damage is a significant factor for how much you will pay when you get it insured. So it’s wise to take every possible measure to ensure it’s kept safe. Some examples of this would be to lock it away in a garage, instal secure locks on it and monitor it with cameras.

Does combine harvester insurance cover fires?

By default, combine harvester insurance does not cover fire damage caused by dry harvests. But as with many insurance products, you can get policies to protect yourself against any scenario — including one where your combine harvester catches on fire.

If you opt for business interruption as part of your combine harvester insurance, you will be covered for fire damage. You can also purchase a replacement combine harvester or pay contractors under the business interruption policy for agricultural vehicles.

Do I get any additional benefits with my combine harvester insurance?

Some insurance companies offer you benefits for buying your combine harvester cover with them:

No-claims discounts: If you do not make any claims for your combine harvester, your renewal fee could be discounted.Garaging discounts: Some insurance providers will offer you a discount for keeping your combine harvester in a garage.Add-on to a commercial vehicle or personal car insurance: In some cases, you can add your combine harvester to your commercial or personal vehicle insurance.