When it comes to picking CCW insurance, the options can be a little overwhelming.
Just like any other type of insurance though, it’s always a good idea to check out the offerings of a few companies before deciding on which policy to go with.
Luckily, we’ve gathered the best of the best to help you narrow down the choices and find out which insurance is right for you when you’re carrying a CCW (concealed carry weapon).
Followed up by a quick description of what all the legalese means.
Summary of Our Top Picks
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Editor's PickUSCCA Membership includes educational courses and self-defense liability insurance.
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Most AffordableBudget friendly with unlimited civil and criminal liability.
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Budget No Limit PlanNo limit on crim/civ defenses, affordable, no lost wages reimbursement
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Table of Contents
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Best Overall Concealed Carry Insurance
Worth noting before we start that all of these options focus on the lowest tier of pricing.
Many of these companies offer multiple plans, so if these don’t cover what you want, consider upgrading to a higher-level plan.
1. USCCA
Pros
- Lots of educational content
- $2,000,000 liability insurance limit
- No limit for defense expenses
- Nice goodies when you sign up
Cons
- Most affordable plan is $29/month
- Not available in NY, NJ, or WA
Our team’s favorite option isn’t technically insurance…
However, they are the biggest player whenever someone thinks about “concealed carry insurance.”
But rather, it is a membership where you get tons of education and have personal liability insurance a part of your membership.
A little confusing…but our editor goes over it ALL in his USCCA review. And if it helps…he’s been a member since 2017!
We’ll go over what tier to get, a breakdown of all the courses you get, and how to get a free course from Pew Pew Tactical as well.
But for a quick synopsis here’s the coverage details:
- Liability Insurance Limit: $2,000,000 annual aggregate
- Defense Expense: No Limit
- Cost of Bail Expenses: $100,000 of funds. A $1,000,000 bond usually costs $100,000 or 10% of the total.
- Incidental Expenses: $20,000
- Actual Loss of Earnings: Up to $750 per day
Plus…new signups with our link get a free access code to our video Beginner Handgun course.
Get the rest of the details here.
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What’s your take on the USCCA?
Best Affordable Concealed Carry Insurance
2. Right to Bear
Pros
- Most affordable per month
- Unlimited civil/criminal defense
- No claw back even if you're found guilty
Cons
- Additional services are a la carte
If you like options and some flexibility, Right to Bear presents a decent option for those looking to be insured.
Offering a single budget-friendly tier — only $11 a month or $125 a year — Right to Bear makes a CCW self-protection plan achievable.
They’ve also upgraded their plan to be unlimited for both civil and criminal court. And if you’re found guilty in criminal court…they won’t claw back the amount.
Plus they’ve got some other great features like online training, psychological support, expert witness coverage, and industry discounts.
And something that I just found out and isn’t on their Features list (but is on their Education tab)…is that they’ll replace your gun if it is taken after a self-defense incident.
However, if you’re looking for other add-ons such as spousal insurance, bail-bond coverage, minor coverage, or multi-stage coverage they are add-ons.
But at reasonable prices:
- Additional Associate Coverage: $105/Year
- Multi-State Coverage: $35/Year
- Bail Bond Coverage: (Up to $100,000): $35/Year
- Minor Household Children: $35/Year
The Numbers
So what does this plan cost you?
- $11/month or $125 a year
- Add-ons above
See our full review of Right To Bear here.
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Best No Limit Insurance Option
3. CCW Safe
Pros
- No limits for civil/criminal defense
- Three different plans for your needs
- No claw back if you're found guilty or make a plea deal
Cons
- Requires a permit or constitutional carry location
CCW Safe is a well-established and time-tested CCW coverage plan.
One of the biggest draws for CCW Safe is that there is no limit on the amount of criminal or civil defense you are covered for.
Now, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t worry when discharging your firearm since you should only ever use it at the range or in self-defense.
It’s just the policy of CCW Safe to provide as much coverage as you need, not as much as they’re willing to budget.
They don’t require a reimbursement method of payment, so you won’t have to worry about paying for any of your civil or criminal defense costs at all.
CCW Safe also does not seek reimbursement of defense costs if you’re found guilty or have to plead to a lesser offense.
They also now cover red flag incidents with $5k coverage for their lower Defender plan and $10k for their Ultimate plan. And if a red flag case is associated with a covered self-defense case you are covered 100%.
While close to being the perfect plan, there is one downside to CCW Safe policies. But it’s not really if you read into it…
They cover you if you have a permit or live in a constitutional carry state. Otherwise there is a home only plan for those who live in states where it is difficult to get a permit. AKA where it’s legal anyways.
And if you’re in Washington state you’re out of luck.
The Numbers
So what does this awesome Defender plan cost you?
- Monthly cost – $19/mo
- Civil defense coverage limit – no limit
- Criminal defense coverage limit – no limit
- Bail amount – $1,000,000
- Lost wages compensation – $250/day
Yup…we have a full review of CCW Safe too!
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Best CCW Insurance: Notable Mentions
4. US & TX Law Shield
Pros
- No limit civil/criminal
- Payments made up front
Cons
- No bail coverage at basic level
- No lost wages compensation at basic level
Does size really matter? Your mom seems to think so. That’s right, a your mom joke.
US & TX Law Shield offers a relatively competitive plan, at very competitive prices.
With that lower price comes some tradeoffs.
You’d think a smaller company with lower prices wouldn’t be able to compete with the big boys at all. And you’d be wrong. Despite their size, US & TX Law Shield actually has no limit on their civil or criminal defense coverage.
What’s more, the payments are made upfront, so you don’t need to worry about waiting for reimbursements on attorneys’ fees while you’re busy planning your legal defense.
The lower cost has to be made up somewhere, right?
With the cheaper offering from US & TX Law Shield, their basic plan offers NO lost wages compensation, and there are additional charges tacked on to the plan if you want to have bail coverage or have your policy effective throughout the entire US.
It’s essentially a way to tailor your plan to suit your needs. Though after adding back in all the coverage offered as part of a standard policy by the other companies, you might end up paying about the same anyway.
The Numbers
Getting down to brass tacks, here’s where US & TX Law Shield stands:
- Monthly cost – $10.95/mo
- Civil defense coverage limit – no limit
- Criminal defense coverage limit – no limit
- Bail amount – no coverage at the basic level
- Lost wages compensation – no coverage at the basic level
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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5. Second Call Defense
Pros
- Upfront payments
Cons
- Coverage limits are on the lower end
Not the last call, but the second call (get it???), Second Call Defense sits right in the middle, offering decent coverage limits. They aren’t the best, but also not the worst.
Like some of the better plans, Second Call Defense offers upfront payments of all your covered fees, such as attorneys’ fees. So, you don’t have to shell out the money yourself for bail or during the trial.
The coverage also ranks right up there with the big boys and covers the entire US in their standard plan.
As a middle-tier offering, the criminal defense coverage is on the lower end, as is the bail amount. Of course, this is pretty much expected going in.
The Numbers
With nothing surprising here as a middle-of-the-road offering, Second Call Defense numbers look like this:
- Monthly cost – $9.95/mo
- Civil defense coverage limit – $500,000
- Accidental shooting protection – $10,000
- Criminal defense coverage limit – $100,000
- Bail amount – $25,000
Prices accurate at time of writing
Prices accurate at time of writing
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Why Do You Need Concealed Carry Insurance?
Civil…criminal…what? These legal terms can be downright confusing. But here’s a quick overview of what they mean and why you want to be protected.
Civil Defense
Concealed carry insurance offers protection against liability claims resulting from using a firearm for self-defense in a civil claim. Some plans also protect against using any other legal object.
It can cover things such as:
- attorney fees
- bail bonds
- other costs
Criminal Defense
Even if the shoot was good, you’ll possibly still be charged with a crime.
If you don’t want to go to jail you’ll probably want a criminal defense attorney specializing in firearm self-defense. Most of the plans allow you to select your own so you aren’t stuck with the lowest bidder.
Good lawyers cost money, and you’ll also be dealing with other expensive things such as lost wages, bail bonds, and other incidentals.
Bail Bonds
Bail comes up several times and it’s basically an agreement to show up in court for a certain amount of money.
Bail bondsmen typically charge 10% of the bond up front for their service and this is what most plans cover.
Example: if you have a $1,000,000 bond the plan will cover the required $100,000.
How to Choose the Best CCW Insurance For You
This is where you get the favorite answer of lawyers everywhere…it depends.
While it seems like a cop-out, it really does depend on what you want, and what you think you’ll need.
Even the staff here at Pew Pew Tactical have gone with different providers to suit our individual needs, ranging from USCCA to Right to Bear and CCW Safe.
The main thing is that you get some type of insurance, rather than none at all.
Ultimately, just like choosing any other insurance policy, try to see which of these plans seem like they would fit you the best, and check them out in detail.
We even have a couple of reviews on some of the providers, to help you make a more informed decision – if you haven’t read those, take a look at our USCCA and CCW Safe reviews.
Even at around $20/mo for a typical CCW insurance policy, the money adds up, and could easily be spent on ammo instead, so it’s a good idea to be sure you know what you are getting for your money.
Everyone’s situation is different, and someone in a free state like Texas may want to consider a policy that provides more coverage than someone living in the heart of New York City.
It’s also important to note that not all the policies we compared are available in all states. There are varying insurance and firearms regulations across the 50 states, so it never hurts to pick a few options just in case your top choice isn’t available in your home state.
FAQs
How much does concealed carry insurance cost?
Concealed carry insurance is between $11 to $49 a month depending on provider and tier.
Does concealed carry insurance cover lawsuits and attorney fees.
Most will cover civil and criminal defense costs as well as bail, damages, and lost wages.
What is concealed carry insurance?
It's a type of coverage that provides legal protection if you use a firearm or other weapon in a defensive situation.
Final Thoughts
While everyone’s got their own views on insurance policies, at the very least, consider coverage limits and bail amounts when shopping around.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to your situation and what works best for you. But, again, any insurance plan is better than none at all.
Was there a CCW Insurance that we didn’t cover? What CCW insurance did you choose? Let us know in the comments! If you’re looking for a new CCW gun, take a look at the Best CCW Guns!
CA #4272012
119 Leave a Reply
You mention claw bar in some reviews, but not USCCA. Does USCCA have a claw back stipulation if you're found guilty?
Any info on Firearms Legal Protection?
I bought a policy for their plan at a seminar I attended last year which is up for renewal now.
Bob
USCCA may be the biggest because they constantly flood you with ads. At least they used to - I haven't seen their ads in a while. Whenever a company floods me with advertisements, I tend to think that there isn't much substance behind all the ads.
I chose CCW Safe when I found out that Don West was their National Trial Counsel -- he was George Zimmerman's lawyer in the Trayvon Martin case. My thought is that if he was able to get George Zimmerman declared not guilty in that case, I want his team of lawyers to defend me should I ever be charged. In other words, I want the very best legal service if I am ever charged for using my handgun.
The use of 'Concealed Carry Insurance' is incorrect. Its actually liability insurance that provides coverage if you conceal carry or not plus its not limited to just defensive gun use but rather will cover you no matter what you use in a legal defensive situations unless specifically limited in the coverage. So check the policy coverage to make sure, and that it covers nationwide.
A little explanation about USCCA.
Although the USCCA entity its self is not an insurance, a benefit of membership with USCCA is being covered under the Liability Insurance Policy (AKA 'Self Defense Insurance') Issued to the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) by Universal Fire & Casualty Insurance Company.
The policy covers you for any form of legal defense and it can be with hands, guns, knives, running them over with your car, anything you use for legal defense in a situation that requires it. Your family members can also be covered.
What about Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network? Is there a reason they did not make the list?
Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network is not an insurance nor does it offer insurance as a membership benefit by a policy issued to them.
Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network is a pre-paid legal service. Basically its keeping a lawyer on retainer to defend you and that's it. The cost expenditures in a complicated case may exceed what the board is willing to approve, I think their limit is $25,000.00 before board approval for more is needed.
Unfortunately, most of these “policies” have more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese …all of which can easily result in a denial of coverage. They almost never cover unintentional discharges (the single most common gun-related incident that results in legal charges), they often don’t cover incidents related to family members or people you invite into your home, they may not cover you if you have imbibed any alcohol or are on prescription meds, they generally don’t cover you if you use a firearm in self-defense related to a vicious animal attack (again, a common scenario) and worst of all, they generally deny coverage if a self-defense shooting takes place where you were not legally supposed to carry a firearm (in some states these “gun free zones” change on what seems to be a daily basis). In at least one state that I am aware of, you cannot carry on ANY private property whatsoever without the express permission of the property owner, and many states ban concealed carry on any public transportation, public parks, etc.
Carl, really great points. Do you have CCW “insurance” and, if so, which offering did you choose?
Thanks.
Robert
uscca is scam shame for you having them on here
US LawShield is not "the smallest." They started as the first prepaid legal company in 2009 and are still the largest at over 750,000 members -- as large as USCCA without the magazine and firearms instruction. They cover full scope of work, hands (physical assault), hunters, negligent discharges, appeals, any criminal charge where defense can be articulated, and have no caps.
USCCA only covers you when compensatory damages are involved--so there is no criminal defense. If you are convicted of any criminal charge, your coverage ends--including if you take a plea. So no appeals (for criminal), and they recoup all the money from you if they paid out anything before you were convicted. They do not cover scope of work (no LEO, etc.). You only get one incident every 12 months, and it can ONLY be when force to stop an imminent threat of grave bodily injury or death is used (no assaults). You also agree to sue on their behalf, and anything you are owed in damages you must give to them. You are paying for a magazine subscription; it is basically useless unless it's a clear-cut in-home shooting where no charges are filed, and damages are available.
Right to Bear (a wing of Palmetto State Armory) does not cover hands--only weapons. They are also not unlimited.. "THE TOTAL, AGGREGATE AND CUMULATIVE LIABILITY OF THE ASSOCIATION, IF ANY, FOR ALL CLAIMS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OF ANY KIND WHATSOVER, WHETHER IN AN ACTION BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR STRICT LIABILITY) OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, SHALL NOT EXCEED AT ANY GIVEN TIME THE TOTAL AMOUNTS PAID TO THE ASSOCIATION BY ALL ASSOCIATES HEREUNDER IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING SIX MONTHS." They only cover (for all members) what they made in the last six months. They have the smallest member base of any company doing "this;" so if you are the next Rittenhouse, they will NOT have the funds to cover you fully. They also do not cover anyone who uses self-defense while working for/in a gun shop, range, or store selling any such devices and ammunition.
Both USCCA and Right to Bear's model is the individual getting into an incident, then trying to find their own attorney who they must hope accepts the terms, and then coverage can begin. This is not the case with US LawShield; your named attorney will answer the phone and (if feasible) show up on the scene immediately to assist. There is no waiting time trying to search for one. They only place in the network each state's best criminal defense attorneys -- for $10.95, 14 years later, they still can't be beaten. Happy to cite any contracts/member agreements if clarity on these coverages is needed.
I like the highlighted best plans for insurance, but additionally we will need an excellent legal team. Do these companies (CCWSafe or USCCA) help find/recommend a legal team, or are you out on your own for that?
CCW Safe will either provide you a lawyer or let you use a lawyer of your own choosing - the choice is entirely up to you. That's another thing I like about CCW Safe.
Just FYI. New York has BANNED NRA insurance. To make it even more risky to own a firearm in NY.
I decided to go with CCW Safe Ultimate. I wanted something that would cover civil damages, since there always seems to be a civil suit following any incident, and CCW Safe has 1M coverage. The cost of the premium is high but I would rather pay now than regret it later. I didn't like that USCCA would not pay if you are found guilty, which would include a guilty plea to a lesser charge.
CCW Safe offers $2 million coverage for the member ($10 per month add-on) and $1.5 million for the spouse ($20 per month add-on) on civil liability (that's what they will pay up to if you are sued and lose).
I just learned about Bluecoat insurance. Coverage seems very good. Any knowledge of the company?
I'm wondering why the Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network wasn't included here. I'm a huge fan, believe it's the best.
I am thinking of going with Armed Citizens legal - does anyone have any experience with them - any thoughts or advice?
My only experience with them is my membership, their coverage which unlike some companies do cover both criminal and civil cases, and appeals, and do not demand repayment if you lose. Bail benefit caps 50k I believe.
To me their coverage/benefits are straight forward and their website does a good job of providing info. I do recommend thoroughly reading coverage detail, you know the super long fine print some people skip.
Many companies seemed to have many "if, then, but" clauses and were more convoluted, USCAA comes to mind. USCAA does tout their large focus on training; however, as you know one can learn only so much from watching vids.
Armed Citizens Legal Defense Fund sends a few books, has a series of videos, but that's it. I did call to talk to them to get more info before signing up.
I also had prior knowledge of the people who came together to create the company, Mas Ayoob and Jim Fleming in particular.
I'm sure you're familiar with Mas Ayoob. Sadly, Jim Fleming passed away last year. Before becoming a defense attorney, he was a policeman. Shorty before he passed away, he wrote the following exceptional book which if you haven't read it, I highly recommend.
By Jim Fleming: AFTERMATH: Lessons In-Self Defense: What To Expect When the Shooting Stops
I wish you the best luck in finding your preferred company.
It says it in the name. It's a legal team. Not an insurance policy
If you accept a plea deal, say a misdemeanor rather than go to trial, which over 90% of SD cases end up that way, USCCA's insurer will NOT pay one penny. Why? You admittedly committed a criminal act.
CCW Safe dies not cover any incident in which Force is used against other family members ir when Force is used against people who are in member's house with permission or by invitation, excluding servicemen, delivery, contractors, etc.
Since many self-defense incidents involve family member or people known to a defender, this should be a no go for most people.
From CCW Safe:
"No that is not true, we used to have a domestic exclusion in our terms but it has been removed and as long as it is a legal self defense incident we will provide coverage."
Did you have any recommendations about the NRA's option: Lockton Affinity Outdoor’s Personal Firearm Liability Insurance? What about coverage for your spouse? USCCA charges $199 more. Do other providers?
You should have rated Firearms Legal Protection. In looking at plans, they seem to be right there, or better, than what’s compared here. Not complaining. Thanks for what you do!
Yeah, I think it's odd they didn't list FLP...I've looked at everything out there and FLP is the way to go.
FLP only covers you if you use a weapon (no physical force and no pepper spray) and only when there is the threat of grave bodily harm or death (no assaults). They do not cover appeals, scope of work, or negligent discharges. You pay them if you call the emergency number by accident and also have to pay $49.99 just to ask an attorney a question. Not the best choice.
It isn't clear whether "defense coverage" means only paying for attorney fees and costs to defend a criminal or civil case, or an actual civil judgment or settlement. Can that be clarified?
USCCA is NOT what it used to be. The per Diem is higher than everyone else. If you lose or found guilty in any way, regard of on what count or if it is a reduced charge, they will make you pay the money spent from USCCA back. USCCA is technically not insurance. It says it in the paperwork you receive. You are basically prepaying expenses. Most others are actual insurance. There are some other changes I do not like as well but those are the two main reasons why I am switching. Those of you that have had this insurance a long time, please read you policy since it has most likely changed since you purchased it.
I love US Lawshield. I never have had to use them for a case as if yet, but I travel for work and at times for personal pleasure. The nice thing about US Lawshield is you can call them and talk to a attorney and ask questions about gun laws in both your state and any state you may travel through. You can also call and ask about different changes in the laws and what they mean.
Have you reviewed Self Defense Fund? selfdefensefunddotcom
CCW Safe for me. The Defender I do have my ccw permit
You left out Firearm Legal Protection
I just mentioned that too. They seem the best so far to me. Had USCCA for a year until they upped their cost. Compared others and thinking of FLP. They could have a better website though to explain more.
Before buying USCCA Insurance, read the policy, you will discover that it no longer specifies civil defense coverage.
I’ve read a lot of reviews and everyone leaves out a critical element...civil DAMAGES. If you are sued civilly (not criminally) and the person suing you is awarded damages, who’s going to pay for those? Some may thing their homeowners liability insurance but most policies have intentional act exclusions that would give them the right to deny the claim. This is potentially much larger than say per diem costs, which some reviewers emphasize as an important feature.
Going on what Terry said below, if you take a Plea Deal (which nearly any person would) USCCA will DEMAND ALL their money back also. They will pay up ONLY if you are found Not Guilty!!
Uscca if your found guilty in a self defense trial Uscca has it in their police they can demand all their money back leaving you high and dry. Read their police.
Here’s a reality of insurance: you don’t buy insurance because you need it. You buy insurance in case you need it. A good example is the money I spend on health insurance. I’ve always been fairly healthy, and have never generated enough expenses to justify the outlay. Two years ago I was diagnosed with a high grade cancer. Long story short, I think the insurance has paid out so far something close to $1.2 million.
If you find yourself in a situation to use a firearm defensively, and get charged, that insurance to cover the bail will be worth the price of admission for that alone. Add in the attorney fees, lost wages, getting your gun back, getting your life back on track, not bankrupting your family... how much would that be worth to you?
Don’t buy because you heed it. Buy in case you need it.
Well, you didn't discuss Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network which is 'recognized' by Massad Ayoob, a very well respected firearms (police) instructor. What do you think of the Armed Citizens' Legal Defense Network and Massad Ayoob?
I have had ACLDN membership for 5 or more years, I don't remember how long. They have been an excellent choice from the start. The initial membership includes an extensive DVD and Online training course and recommendations. Marty and Gila are great people to work with and are accessible, unlike the monster CCW insurance companies. I have received some very good manuals and books from Massad Ayoob, free of charge. Knowing he's on their Team is reassuring. He knows more than most people have forgotten. It's time to renew, and do it I will. Recommended highly!
"He knows more than most people have forgotten."
Brilliant. I know not to take advice from Tig.
So, what about Firearms Legal Protection? How do they rate?
I just signed up for US & TX Law Shield. I can add/drop extras (such as 50-state coverage) as needed when I travel out of state.