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At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
If you’re producing a film, commercial, or TV project, insurance isn’t just a box to check—it’s a core part of your risk management plan. But between policy types, premiums, and exceptions, understanding film production insurance costs can feel confusing.
This guide breaks down what determines your production insurance rates, what types of coverage you need, and how to choose the right policy for your project and budget.
Film production insurance—sometimes called entertainment insurance—is a specialized form of commercial insurance that protects productions against financial loss from accidents, injuries, or property damage that occur during filming.
A typical policy includes general liability, workers’ compensation, and inland marine coverage, among others. These protect your cast, crew, equipment, and locations through all phases of production—from pre-production to post-production.
Most productions carry at least $1 million in general liability and $1 million in auto liability coverage. If you’re filming in cities like Los Angeles, those limits are often required to obtain shooting permits.
Production insurance can be purchased as:
Both options protect your team and your bottom line—choosing the right one depends on your production volume.
Insurance costs vary because every production is different. Your production company, project size, and shoot conditions all shape your premium. Here are the most common cost factors:
Your Gross Production Cost is the total amount spent to make your project—cast, crew, locations, rentals, post-production, and more. Higher budgets typically mean higher premiums, since there’s more risk exposure.
When seeking a quote, share accurate GPC figures with your insurance agents. Underestimating costs can leave you underinsured, while overstating them can make you overpay.
Your payroll directly affects your workers’ comp costs. The more people you hire—and the more locations you work across—the higher your premium may be.
If you use an employer-of-record service like Wrapbook, your payroll and workers’ compensation coverage are already integrated, which can simplify and sometimes reduce your overall policy costs.
Moving people and equipment between locations increases risk. Whether you’re renting production trucks or having crew drive their personal vehicles, you’ll need auto liability insurance to cover potential property damage or accidents.
Relying on personal auto policies won’t protect your production—make sure your production insurance includes both owned and non-owned auto coverage.
If your shoot involves pyrotechnics, watercraft, drones, animals, or stunts, expect additional premiums. Each activity increases liability and requires specialized underwriting.
Be upfront with your broker about these elements early—adding them later can slow down your coverage approval and permitting.
For most independent films, a short-term policy is sufficient. For larger or ongoing projects, an annual plan often makes more financial sense.
It might be tempting to rely on your homeowner’s or business owner’s insurance, especially if you’re filming in your own space. But standard personal or commercial policies rarely cover the unique risks of production.
Business owner insurance protects your company’s property and operations, but not what happens during a film shoot. For example:
In short, production insurance is designed for the unpredictable nature of filmmaking—gear in transit, rented locations, temporary hires, and constant movement.
Every production relies on partnerships—rental houses, studio lots, and private locations—and all of them will want proof that they’re protected under your insurance policy.
Adding additional insureds extends your coverage to these third parties. It ensures that, if an accident occurs during your shoot, they’re covered under your policy rather than left liable.
Your Certificate of Insurance (COI) is the document that proves that coverage. Always have copies on hand; many permits, vendors, and landlords won’t release equipment or grant access without one.
When reviewing your policy, look for “blanket additional insured” language. This allows you to add as many partners as necessary without extra fees or delays—a must for productions with multiple vendors and locations.
The best way to manage your film production insurance costs is to prepare your numbers before contacting a broker. Have ready:
A knowledgeable insurance agent can then tailor a policy that meets your project’s risk profile without adding unnecessary coverage.
When shopping for production insurance, remember that you can only work with one broker per carrier at a time—so choose an experienced team that specializes in entertainment insurance.
Wrapbook’s brokers understand production from the ground up. They’ll help you compare policies, combine payroll and insurance needs, and secure coverage that fits both your project and your budget.
Every production, from short-form content to feature films, carries financial risk. Film production insurance protects your project from those risks, ensuring one accident or equipment issue doesn’t end your shoot.
By understanding what drives insurance costs—and working with brokers who know the production world—you can get the coverage you need at a price that makes sense.
Reach out to Wrapbook’s insurance specialists for a personalized quote or to discuss your next project’s coverage needs.
