Best Concealed Carry Insurance 2020

You just got your brand, spank’n new CCW. You can’t wait to show your friends and family and carry your new $1,000 Glock to the park, because, America. The first thing you purchased is a nice inside of the waistband holster, a mag carrier, and a weapons light, you want to be prepared for anything that comes your way. But what about concealed carry Insurance? Keep reading to learn about the best concealed carry insurance of 2020.

Carrying a Concealed Weapon (CCW)

So, there you are, at the supermarket and right in front of you while standing in line the guy ahead of you decides to make a withdrawal from the cash register at gunpoint. You snap into action, draw your weapon and take the shot. You miss, scare the crap out of him and hit the tobacco display. The suspect runs and you stay at the scene waiting for the cops.

To decrease your chances of missing, check out these 5 Gun Targets to Increase your Marksmanship.

The one thing you didn’t get, the one thing you didn’t buy. CCW Insurance. Now, you find yourself at the police station, answering questions. The person who was standing behind you made the statement, “He didn’t have to shoot at him!” and now she wants to sue you because she can’t work due to “PTSD”. Oh, did I mention that the supermarket also wants to sue you? Yeah, you now lost your home, cars and if you lose in court, you will have your wages garnished for the foreseeable future. How about them apples?

Trust me, if you decide to take on the risk of carrying a firearm in today’s “sue happy” system, you better source some CCW insurance. I have it, I know many who do and I hope after reading this article you start looking for some for yourself, before buying that $1,000 Glock, before buying your holster, mag carrier, and little weapon light. Do your homework, get the darn insurance, and make sure it starts the same day you get that new CCW!

The following four companies are ones you can look into and at the very least, point you in the right direction to get the process started. ReFactor, has no stake in these companies. I was not paid to represent any of these companies or push their products. Now, I am not going to cover every nuance of CCW coverage, but the finer points.

This article will list the top-selling points of the selected companies, their websites, and who they are. It is upon YOU, the CCW holder to dig deeper into whatever membership agreements you enter into with these companies, do your due diligence.

Interested in what revolvers work best as a CCW? Read our blog, The Best Revolver for Concealed Carry [2019]

Important terms to know

When shopping for Concealed Carry Insurance you will see that various companies offer various services.  It’s important to know what these coverages entail

Bail Bond Coverage

Some Concealed Carry Insurance Companies will cover your bail bond, up to a certain amount, if you’re facing trial for your actions

Appeals and Expungement Coverage

Some Concealed Carry Insurance companies will only cover your main trial.  If you’re found guilty and you would like to file an appeal, you will need to have a CCW Insurance company that covers both the main trial and an appeal.  Expungement coverage gives you coverage to expunge your record in the event you are found innocent.

Criminal Defense Fund Cap

Some insurance companies will cover you up to a certain amount.  This is important since some defense fees can easily exceed 1 million dollars.

USCCA

The first company is, USCCA, which boasts that it has 285,000 members and offers several different packages. You can find them here, USConcealedCarry.com, their website is very simple and straightforward. The packages they offer for concealed carry insurance are as follows:

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GOLD MEMBERSHIP

$22/MONTH or $247/YEAR.

With this package, you get a subscription to their magazine, education, training, legal representation, member perks, and access to their community.

What’s the best CCW? Read our blog, Best Concealed Carry Pistols Buyer’s Guide (2019)

The Gold Membership gives you up to $500,000 for civil defense coverage and up to $100,000 in Criminal Defense coverage.

PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP

$30/MONTH or $347/YEAR.

The Platinum Membership provides you with everything the Gold Membership comes with and ups the Civil Defense coverage to $1,000,000 and the Criminal Defense coverage to $150,000. You also will be given additional video packages if you choose this coverage.

For more information you can visit their website, linked above, and here is a link to their membership agreement, which can be found on the site as well.

ELITE MEMBERSHIP

$47/MONTH or $497/YEAR

With their top tier “Elite” package, you see the Civil Defense coverage jump to $2,000,000 and Criminal Defense coverage goes to $250,000. There are also added perks, like lifetime access to all their back issues of the magazine and added perks of discounts with their partners.

CCW Safe

CCW Safe was co-founded by three gentlemen, one being a police officer and DOJ contractor, another police officer of over 20 years, and a lawyer (general counsel). The company is based out of Oklahoma City, Ok. One thing I like about CCW Safe is they have an eclectic panel of advisors that cover many different professional areas. This panel includes the likes of Larry Vickers, behavioral physiologists, a women’s advisor, and more, it really runs the table of experts.

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The plans they offer pretty much cover anything a CCW holder is looking for, which include, but not limited to, plans for active and retired LEO/Mil, CCW permit holders, constitutional carry (non-permit) holders, and home defense gun owners. These plans all vary in costs ranging from as low as $149 a year up to $499 a year. You can select the plan that best works for you and builds a plan with additional coverages if needed. It is pretty comprehensive and tailored to fit your needs.

Listed here are some of the coverage options that come with their “Protector” plan, which is designed for active/retired LEO and Mil (taken from CCWsafe website):

• Access to our 24-hour emergency hotline
• Critical Response Team on site
• $500,000 bail coverage
• Vetting of Attorneys by National Trial Counsel
• Unlimited Attorney fees covered up front
• Unlimited Investigators covered up front
• Unlimited Expert Witnesses covered up front
• All trial fees covered up front
• Firearm Replacement during trial
• Spouse and children under 18 covered in home only
• Up to $250 a day work loss while in criminal or civil trial
• Up to 10 sessions (up to $4k) for a licensed counselor
• Up to $3k for crime scene clean-up home*
• Appeals and expungements covered

Click here to visit their website and to view their packages, click here. Another great feature they offer is training. They call this the “Academy” and it covers the following areas:

• Firearms training, handling, and storage
• The aftermath of a shooting
• The real cost of self-defense
• The art of de-escalation

These courses are very reasonably priced and are a very nice touch to round out their insurance coverage and products. 

Read our full CCW review here

NRA Carry Guard

According to The Trace, the NRA had to disband its Carry Guard Insurance program due to extensive litigation at the state and federal levels. In the end, states like New York, Washington, and California deemed this extensive coverage to be in direct violation of state laws. Although the Carry guard Insurance was only around from 2017-2019, the NRA made its impact on the carry insurance market. Instead of getting rid of the Carry Guard name all-together, the NRA decided to change it from an insurance product to a training and education program.

What is NRA Carry Guard Training?

NRA Carry Guard Training is designed by Veteran Navy SEALs and Law Enforcement experts to ensure you understand the basics. NRA Carry Guard training is centered around real-world scenarios that you could face, The Carry Guard training is the most comprehensive self-defense training that a civilian could ever go through for Concealed Carry Weapon training (CCW). You’ll learn the basics of firing from uncovered and covered positions, low-light scenarios (sundown, sunrise), target acquisition, and trigger pull. Once you learn the basics, you’ll feel more comfortable and be able to know what you need to practice and what you’re confident doing by yourself.

How Much is The NRA Carry Guard Class?

The NRA Carry Guard Basic Training Course costs $425 per student and covers the entire 1 1/2 day course and the student apparel. Each student is responsible for their meals, lodging, transportation, and meeting the course requirements before the class starts. However, your NRA instructor will reach out to you by email or phone to help you through the entire process.

The NRA Carry Guard Intermediate Training costs $850 per student and covers the entire 3-day course, course materials, and NRA Carry Guard student apparel.  Just keep in mind that you can’t take this intermediate course until you complete the Basic Training course. You’ll receive either a pass/fail rating from your instructor at the end of each course you take. The 3-day intermediate course is specifically designed to enhance your comfort level and improve your shooting technique in order to become the best shooter you can be.

The NRA Carry Guard Scenario Training costs $300 per student and covers the 1-day course, course materials, and NRA Carry Guard student apparel. This course is expensive but will teach you how to react in many different scenarios. The main cost is from the UTM (Ultimate Training Munitions) guns and ammunition that is required for this course, which is all provided by the NRA. If I were to take any course, the scenario course would be my first choice because it puts you in situations that anybody could potentially face and teaches you how to legally respond.

Is NRA Carry Guard and NRA Membership the Same?

No, they are completely separate memberships that require 2 distinct options for individual needs. The NRA Carry Guard is specifically designed to give you comprehensive training and education resources. Many of these educational resources will help you become more confident with your CCW and understand updated laws and regulations associated with your CCW. The NRA membership gives you dozens of discounts on products from almost every major manufacturer around the country and provides legal advice for each state. If you’re interested in buying an NRA membership, call 1-877-672-2000 and they will explain everything to you.

Second Call Defense

One of the most affordable companies I have found is Second Call Defense. Their slogan, which can be found in their mission statement, is, “When you are forced to defend yourself with a firearm, your first call should be to 911. Your second call should be to Second Call Defense.” I listed the plan details below as the link just takes you to a page to sign up for coverage. They offer three (3) plans with escalating coverage;

Entry Level (Basic)

$9.95 a month or $119 a year

• Insurance Protection
• Criminal Defense Protection – $10,000
• Financial Support
• Immediate Cash for Bond – $1,000
• Immediate Attorney Retainer – $2,000
• Rapid Response Team
• 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline
• Personal Crisis Manager
• Nationwide Attorney Network Access
• Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours
• Emergency Contact Notification
• Training & Education
• Member Newsletter
• Self Defense News

Full Coverage (Defender)

$14.95 a month or $179 a year

• Insurance Protection2
• Civil Suit Defense Protection – $500,000
• Civil Suit Damages Protection – $50,000
• Criminal Defense Protection – $50,000
• Financial Support
• Immediate Cash for Bond – $5,000
• Immediate Attorney Retainer – $5,000
• Aftermath Cleanup – $1,000
• Compensation While in Court – $250/day
• Rapid Response Team
• 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline
• Personal Crisis Manager
• Nationwide Attorney Network Access
• Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours
• Emergency Contact Notification
• Expert Witness Coordination
• Gun Retrieval or Replacement
• Psychological Support – 20 sessions
• On-Site Assistance
• Training & Education
• Member Newsletter
• Self Defense News
• Online Training

“Elite” Protection (Ultimate)

$34.99 a month or $399 a year

• Insurance Protection2
• Civil Suit Defense Protection – $1,000,000
• Civil Suit Damages Protection – $250,000
• Criminal Defense Protection – $100,000
• Financial Support
• Immediate Cash for Bond – $25,000
• Immediate Attorney Retainer – $10,000
• Aftermath Cleanup – $2,000
• Compensation While in Court – $500/day
• Rapid Response Team
• 24/7 Emergency Legal Hotline
• Personal Crisis Manager
• Nationwide Attorney Network Access
• Local Attorney Referral within 24 hours
• Emergency Contact Notification
• Expert Witness Coordination
• Gun Retrieval or Replacement
• Psychological Support – 40 sessions
• On-Site Assistance
• Training & Education
• Member Newsletter
• Self Defense News
• Online Training

As you can see, there is a pretty big difference when comparing plans, both in price and in coverage offerings. Take this into consideration when choosing, there isn’t much offered with the basic plan, that being said, it doesn’t cost much either. You get what you pay for, however, I am sure there are a lot of people that could benefit from the basic plan, something is better than nothing.

Be a responsible concealed carrying American, go to the range, and test out some of The Best Shooting Targets on the market to help improve your shot placement.

U.S. Law Shield

Single Adult Membership- $10.95/month or $131.40/year

Two Adults Membership- $21.90/month or $240.00/year

U.S. Law Shield might be one of the top recognized CCW insurance providers out there. Not only is it affordable, but they have an emergency line that lets you talk to a real attorney. Whether you need insurance because you own a gun, or you intend on using one, U.S. Law Shield will represent you. Keep in mind, their representation is based on the use of a legal weapon. It does not matter if it’s yours or someone else’s. As long as the firearm is legal, you’ll be covered.

A nice addition that many CCW insurers don’t offer is their protection for children. If someone breaks into your home while Jr. is home and he’s forced to defend himself, he can. And U.S. Law Shield will be there to represent him, just like they do for you.

Memberships Include

• 24/7/365 access to Attorney-Answered Emergency Hotline
• Member perks with special offers and discounts on LTC classes, firearms, optics, gunsmithing services, tactical training classes, range time, and more!
• You pay zero attorneys’ fees for covered events
• There are no caps, no hourly limits, and no deductibles
• Legal representation for both Criminal and Civil proceedings
• Member seminars with face-to-face time with experienced attorneys, instructors, and experts in self-defense law

Additional Add-Ons

• Gun owner identity theft
• Multi-state protection (Includes D.C. and Puerto Rico)
• Minor Children (17 and under)
• Hunter’s Shield
• Bail Bond and Expert Witness (only available in Texas, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania)

Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network, Inc.

Armed Citizen Legal Defense Network isn’t like a lot of the other legal defense options out there when it comes to self-defense. They don’t offer a bunch of random “free” items to make their membership seem worth it. They actually have helped their members in self-defense cases (22 to be exact) and they offer bail assistance—a lot of other options out there don’t or they’ll make you pay extra for this service.

All membership options offer the same benefits. The longer you’re a member, the bigger your discount. They make funds available to members by taking 25% of your dues and putting it toward the network’s fund, which is currently sitting at over $2 million, according to the network’s president and intended for use to help in matters of all legitimate acts of self-defense (firearm or other means of defense).

1-Year Membership

• Receive eight educational lectures on DVD
• 230-page educational book
• Assistance with legal expenses after self-defense

Price: $135 (initial), $95 (renewal)

• 1 Additional Member (+$60.00)
• 2 Additional Members (+$120.00)
• 3 Additional Members (+$180.00)

3-Year Membership

• Receive eight educational lectures on DVD
• 230-page educational book
• Assistance with legal expenses after self-defense

Price: $295 (initial), $255 (renewal)

• 1 Additional Member (+$180.00)
• 2 Additional Members (+$360.00)
• 3 Additional Members (+$540.00)

10-Year Membership

• Receive eight educational lectures on DVD
• 230-page educational book
• Assistance with legal expenses after self-defense

Price: $790 (initial), $750 (renewal)

• 1 Additional Member (+$600.00)
• 2 Additional Members (+$1,200.00)
• 3 Additional Members (+$1,800.00)

Each membership comes with an initial retaining fee paid to the attorney for up to $25,000 and up to $25,000 for bail assistance.

*Armed Citizens Legal Defense Network is NOT an insurance company or a pre-paid legal service

Concealed Carry Classes

On top of getting yourself some concealed carry insurance, make sure you do the training to back yourself up. The intentions may be good, but a person carrying a weapon who doesn’t know how to use it is a walking hazard. So, do yourself a favor before you even start carrying. Take classes, know your weapon, and also learn how to draw your weapon from its concealed location. If you’re always practicing drawing from the hip with no obstacles, such as a hoodie, then you won’t be prepared and your speed will be hindered if the time every came and your clothing choice got in the way.

In summary, if you are willing to carry your pistol and obtain a CCW, you need to do the research and invest in proper training that is relevant to your purpose for carrying concealed. With this, a CCW holder should also obtain insurance to protect you, your family, and your investments in the event an incident occurs. The companies I have listed run the gambit of offerings and price. Find the one that works best for your lifestyle and budget, there are no excuses for someone not have this type of coverage.