What Is Concealed Carry Insurance?

Concealed carry insurance is a type of specialized liability coverage that takes care of legal fees and other expenses that may arise if you injure or kill someone using a concealed weapon such as a handgun. Coverage typically applies if you shoot another person in self-defense but you may also be covered in other situations such as if your firearm discharges without you pulling the trigger.

Keep reading to learn more about carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) insurance such as what it usually covers and how much homeowners can expect to pay for a concealed carry insurance policy.

Key Takeaways Concealed carry insurance, also known as CCW insurance, protects you from having to bear the brunt of a costly criminal or civil court case after you use a weapon to injure or kill someone else in self-defense. Many concealed carry insurance policies cover legal expenses, bail, lost income and more, while intentional criminal actions are generally excluded from coverage. Whenever you file a CCW insurance claim, you will often receive payment up front without having to pay a deductible. You may have to pay around $200 to $600 per year for CCW coverage depending on factors like where you live, what your occupation is, what your plan covers and how you choose to pay for coverage.

How Does Concealed Carry Insurance Work?

Concealed carry coverage is a type of insurance policy that predominantly takes effect if you use a weapon to injure or kill someone in self-defense. While this insurance product primarily applies to the use of a gun, your coverage may also extend to other weapons such as knives or pepper spray.

In addition, some policies cover bodily injury and property damage claims that arise after you accidentally fire a gun and may even cover cases where you are accused of another crime like assault and battery.^[1] Unlike many other types of insurance, concealed carry insurance claims often don’t require a deductible, according to Patti Yencho, owner of Professional Insurance Advisors.

“Rather than requiring a deductible before coverage kicks in, these policies generally focus on providing immediate support for legal defense costs, which are a critical aspect of concealed carry coverage,” Yencho said in a message to SmartFinancial. “This approach emphasizes the importance of protecting the insured from the substantial legal fees that can accrue from self-defense incidents, making the absence of a conventional deductible a key feature.”

What Does Concealed Carry Insurance Cover?

CCW insurance can cover your legal expenses such as attorney, private investigator and expert witness fees in the event that you are sued or charged with a crime after shooting or otherwise harming someone in self-defense. In the case of a civil lawsuit, some self-defense insurance plans may also cover settlements and judgements.^[2]

In addition to providing criminal defense coverage and civil defense coverage, your concealed carry insurance provider may pay to bail you out of jail and give you a daily benefit to make up for lost income while you are on trial and unable to work.^[3]

You should note that many plans provide payment up front rather than requiring you to cover your own expenses out of pocket and then reimbursing you after the fact.

Depending on where you shop for CCW insurance, other coverage add-ons may be available. For example, some plans may pay to clean up a crime scene, replace your firearms after they are damaged or help your loved ones cover your funeral and other final expenses if you are killed in the process of trying to defend yourself.^[3]

What Isn’t Covered?

Concealed carry insurance generally doesn’t cover criminal actions, so if you are convicted of a crime such as murder or manslaughter, you will likely no longer be eligible for coverage. In fact, some concealed carry insurance providers may even require you to reimburse them for the legal expenses they initially covered if you are found guilty.^[1]

How Much Does Concealed Carry Insurance Cost?

The cost of insurance for CCW may depend on factors like how much coverage your policy includes, what state you live in and what the state’s gun regulations are, whether you have a concealed carry permit and whether you are an active or retired military service member, police officer or other first responder.

For example, depending on what plan you sign up for, you can secure self-defense coverage from CCW Safe for $16 to $55 per month if you pay for coverage on a monthly basis or $179 to $609 per year if you pay for coverage on an annual basis.^[3]

Is CCW Insurance Required?

Concealed carry insurance coverage is not broadly required throughout the United States but some jurisdictions may set liability insurance requirements for people with firearms. For example, gun owners in San José, California, must carry some kind of liability insurance that covers bodily injury and property damage due to the unintentional use of a firearm. This may be satisfied by purchasing CCW insurance or obtaining a homeowners or renters insurance policy that covers losses related to the accidental discharge of a gun.^[4]

How To Get Concealed Carry Insurance

Traditional insurance companies generally don’t sell concealed carry insurance, so you will likely have to shop from carriers that specialize in insuring weapon-related incidents. That said, some homeowners insurance policies may cover liability claims involving the use of self-defense. As a result, you could also fill out SmartFinancial’s online questionnaire and speak to an agent about comparing home insurance quotes to see if you can find a policy that will cover gun-related liability claims at an affordable price.