Best Concealed Carry Insurance [2023]: Written by a Lawyer!
“Concealed carry insurance” or “CCW insurance” has become a popular option for many people who carry a firearm for self-defense.
But be careful! Not all concealed carry insurance options are equal and some are lacking in a few crucial areas.
BEST CCW INSURANCE
Here’s a quick summary and ranking of the top 6 concealed carry protection options for those of you who are looking for a quick comparison of self defense insurance and just want to know which CCW protection option ranks highest.
Best Concealed Carry Insurance Companies
#1 Best Legal Team CCW Safe |  |
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#2 Best Coverage USCCA | |
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#3 – Best Value Right to Bear Insurance |  |
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However, if you’d like more details, including a review of each concealed carry insurance provider, we cover each one individually (with their specs and details) below in our CCW Insurance Review .
Editor’s note: it is very difficult (impossible?) for us to determine which option is “best” for you and your specific situation/needs. Much like how I can’t determine what level of coverage you need for homeowners insurance, I can’t tell you which firearms legal protection option to get. However, in an attempt to make it simple, I’ll say this: I purchased CCW Safe for myself and my family.
BEST CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE REVIEWS
If you carry a firearm for self-defense, whether the gun is concealed on your person because you have a concealed carry permit (CCW) or it is stored in your vehicle, you clearly understand the possibility of using a firearm to defend your life, the life of a loved one, or the life of a victim of a violent crime.
Choosing the right CCW insurance option can help cover the costs of a criminal or civil trial.
In this concealed carry insurance comparison, you’ll learn:
- Our rankings for the best concealed carry insurance
- How CCW insurance options compare
- What concealed carry insurance is and who it’s for
- The three crucial things to look for in CCW insurance
- Answers to Frequently Asked Questions on CCW insurance
Before we begin, I want to let you know that some of the links below are affiliate links that can help us keep our ammo budget going but they will NOT affect your price nor do they affect our advice.
Top 6 Self-Defense Liability Providers:
Companies that Haven’t Made the Cut:
Also, none of these are actually “insurance,” they are either pre-paid legal coverage or self-defense liability plans.
And, since you’re reading an article about the best concealed carry insurance, you also probably understand that after your use of lethal force (even if you never fired your weapon) you might have an expensive and time-consuming legal battle ahead of you.
As difficult as it is to rank which ccw insurance is “best,” we’ve reviewed each company here with details about their concealed carry coverage and costs.
It’s up to you as a gun owner to decide which is best for you and your needs. If you’re unsure, go check them out to see more information.
As part of each CCW legal defense option review, we’ll include specifications about the monthly cost for each as well as their respective coverage limits for civil and criminal defense.
In the same specs table, you’ll also see how each company measures up against our three “must-haves” for legal coverage. As an attorney, these are the three basic requirements I look for (in addition to, of course, pricing and coverage options):
Ability to Pick Your Own Attorney: You should be able to choose the best attorney you can find for your defense. I will never recommend a service that requires you to use your own attorney.
Money Up Front: Reimbursement is better than nothing, but most people don’t have the few hundred thousand dollars that might be required laying around to cover the costs of attorneys fees and other criminal defense costs upfront. Instead, if you’re going to pay for legal defense coverage to cover you after a self-defense incident, you need to choose one that gives you the money UP FRONT.
Daily Allowance / Per Diem: Having your legal expenses covered should be the most critical concern. However, while you’re on trial and can’t work, how are you going to bring in money for your other bills? We recommend a company that gives you a daily “Per Diem” payment while you’re on trial.
At the bottom of this list covering details about each company’s insurance policy, we’ll include some companies that haven’t made the cut, for one reason or another.
#1 CCW Safe Insurance : Editor’s Choice
CCW Safe Insurance
The best, and most, legal defense coverage and what we purchased for us and our families.
- Cost A
- Coverage A+
- Features A
- Value A+
Our Grade
A+
Reviewed by Ryan Cleckner
Reader’s Grade
A-
Based on 20 Reviews
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CCW Safe Specs
- Monthly Cost $18-44
- Criminal Defense Max Unlimited
- Civil Defense Max Unlimited
- Pick Own Attorney? Yes
- Money Up Front? Yes
- Per Diem $250
CCW Safe Review
CCW Safe is an excellent option for CCW insurance, or “firearms legal protection” – we struggled a bit choosing CCW Safe over USCCA but in the end, the overall value and the legal coverage of CCW Safe won out.
What we love about CCW Safe: The biggest reason we love CCW Safe is their unlimited and up-front coverage of certain legal expenses.
For example, they cover 100% of the following costs in advance:
- Criminal Defense
- Civil Defense
- Administrative Defense
- Private Investigators
- Expert Witness Coverage
Most people focus on their unlimited criminal and civil defense coverage (and they should), but a cost that many folks don’t consider is how much private investigators and expert witnesses can cost.
Another cost to consider (that will surely be very important to you if it’s needed) is bail bond coverage. CCW Safe provides the highest amount available, $500,000 with the option to upgrade to $1 million.
We also really liked how far their services cover: I purchased the “Ultimate Plan for CCW Holders” because it also covers my spouse in 47 states and the rest of my family in our home. Other providers require you to pay more for multi-state coverage.
Finally, we love the team they’ve put together from the case managers to the senior legal team. They have the best legal minds and experts making the legal decisions and former law enforcement helping with critical responses.
In my opinion, there’s nobody better at this than Andrew Branca of the Law of Self Defense. They have him as an advisor/expert for cases and they send out a newsletter with Andrew’s review of current cases across the country to help educate you on what you should and shouldn’t do.
Another thing we like is that they cover any legal weapon – not just firearms.
What we don’t like about CCW Safe: Although they offer a daily per diem (some offer none), it is the lowest at $250/day.
However, our biggest reservation was the fact that they let you pick your own attorney as long as they approve of the attorney. At first, this bothered me and made my decision tough. However, after a bit of thought, it made sense to me and I understand why they do it.
CCW Safe has an interest in not only protecting you but also in not wasting money. If you choose an ineffective criminal defense attorney, your freedom and livelihood are at risk.
For example, although I’m an attorney, I would hope that CCW Safe wouldn’t want you to pick me in a self-defense criminal trial because I have no experience as a criminal defense lawyer.
CCW Safe Summary: After comparing their coverage and costs to other companies, it was a no-brainer for me to purchase the Ultimate Plan from CCW Safe for myself and my family. Although I can’t decide whether they’re also right for you, I can say that I have no hesitation in giving them my endorsement.
If you’d like to learn more, check out our full CCW Safe Review.
CCW Safe Pros and Cons
- Unlimited Defense Budgets
- Can Choose Own Lawyer
- Excellent Resources
- Legal “Dream Team”
- Higher-end Cost
- Attorney Must Be Approved
#2 Best Coverage USCCA – CCW Insurance : United States Concealed Carry Association
USCCA – CCW Insurance
United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) Membership offers great features and coverage.
- Cost A-
- Coverage A
- Features A+
- Value A+
Our Grade
A
Reviewed by Ryan Cleckner
Reader’s Grade
B+
Based on 38 Reviews
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USCCA Specs
- Monthly Cost $29-49
- Criminal Defense Max Unlimited
- Civil Defense Max Unlimited
- Civil Damages Max $2 Million
- Pick Own Attorney? Yes
- Money Up Front? Yes
- Per Diem $750
USCCA Review
The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) comes in at the highest monthly cost, however, members get an amazing amount of features and benefits including a great online training library and checklist, guides, and even a monthly concealed carry magazine.
As you can read below, we recommend that you look for three crucial parts of concealed carry legal coverage: choice of attorney, payment vs reimbursement, and per diem rates. USCCA satisfies all three must-have features.
With their extensive training and resources and their recently unlimited legal defense coverage, USCCA is a strong choice.
If you’d like to learn more about what we think of their coverage and membership, please check out our USCCA Review.
USCCA Pros and Cons
- Great Training
- Highest Daily Per Diem
- Can Choose Your Own Lawyer
- Might Have to Pay Everything Back
- Highest Cost
#3 – Best Value Right to Bear Insurance
Right to Bear Insurance
Right To Bear is backed by a great company, however, their insurance coverage is limited and must be shared.
- Cost A+
- Coverage A-
- Features A-
- Value A+
Our Grade
A
Reviewed by Ryan Cleckner
Reader’s Grade
C
Based on 7 Reviews
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Right to Bear Specs
- Monthly Cost $11-51
- Criminal Defense Max Unlimited
- Civil Defense Max Unlimited
- Pick Own Attorney? Yes
- Money Up Front? Yes
- Per Diem n/a
Right to Bear Review
One of the newest options on the block, Right to Bear ccw insurance is an offering from Palmetto State Armory.
Unfortunately, Right to Bear received a bad grade out of the gate. Thankfully, Right to Bear has been very open to all of our previous critiques and has changed their policy and coverage to address each and every single one. This not only makes for great coverage, it also makes us like the company even more!
Our issues with the previous plan were not being able to choose your own attorney) and some odd exclusions. We’re happy to report that they have all been changed and they offer a solid plan for a GREAT VALUE.
You can read more about them in our full Right to Bear Insurance review.
Right to Bear Pros and Cons
- Low Cost
- Unlimited Coverage
- Choose Your Own Attorney
- Optional Add-Ons
- Bail Coverage must be added and is capped for any payment
- No longer offers per diem coverage
#4 Second Call Defense – CCW Insurance
Second Call Defense – CCW Insurance
A budget friendly option that meets all of our criteria for a CCW insurance company.
- Cost A
- Coverage B-
- Features B-
- Value B
Our Grade
B
Reviewed by Ryan Cleckner
Reader’s Grade
A
Based on 6 Reviews
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SECOND CALL DEFENSE SPECS
- Monthly Cost $10-35
- Criminal Defense Max $100,000
- Civil Defense Max $1,250,000
- Pick Own Attorney? Yes
- Money Up Front? Yes
- Per Diem $500
SECOND CALL DEFENSE REVIEW
Second Call Defense’s lowest tier option is the least expensive among this group of concealed carry insurance providers. However, it only comes with $10,000 of criminal defense protection and no civil defense protection. The low cost might be enticing, but if you choose Second Call Defense, you really should be looking at their higher tiers. However, note that their limits are the lowest amongst the group.
Despite their lower coverage amounts, Second Call Defense is the only other CCW insurance company to meet all three of our must-have cow insurance guidelines. You can pick your own attorney, you get money upfront and you get a per diem during the trial.
Although Second Call Defense appears to meet the requirements in a more budget-friendly package, you get more features and value with the lower-tier options of USCCA. We still have no problems recommending Second Call Defense because they are a great company and we’ve heard nothing but high praise of their service both before and after a self-defense shooting.
SECOND CALL DEFENSE PROS AND CONS
- Inexpensive
- High Customer Satisfaction
- Capped (limited) Coverage
- Less Value on Lower End
#5 ACDLN : Armed Citizens Defense League Network
ACDLN
High coverage at a budget rate. Although no per diem, this is a decent option for CCW coverage as long as their fund stays full.
- Cost A-
- Features B-
- Coverage B
- Features B-
Our Grade
B
Reviewed by Ryan Cleckner
Reader’s Grade
C+
Based on 2 Reviews
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ACDLN SPECS
- Monthly Cost $12
- Criminal Defense Max Unlimited
- Civil Defense Max Unlimited
- Pick Own Attorney? Yes
- Money Up Front? Yes
- Per Diem None
ACLDN REVIEW
The Armed Citizen Legal Defense Network offers low monthly rates and unlimited coverage (up to a limit discussed below), and you can pick your own attorney. On those stats alone, even without a per diem payment, they are a viable option for legal protection. ACLDN is unique in that it does not provide, nor is it underwritten by an insurance policy. Also, it applies to all forms of self defense, not just firearms. Therefore, it’s not technically correct to call it concealed carry insurance. It provides member benefits from a legal defense fund that is controlled solely by the ACLDN board of advisors.
Also, there’s a bit of fine print to their unlimited coverage for firearms legal protection: they only cover up to half of their defense fund. Currently, the defense fund is large enough that it can cover more than any other fixed amount, but that may not always be the case when you’re the one that needs criminal defense protection.
ACLDN PROS AND CONS
- Unlimited Coverage
- Low Cost
- Coverage Still Limited to Defense Fund
- No Per Diem Rate
#6 US Law Shield – CCW Insurance
US Law Shield – CCW Insurance
Although US Law Shield comes in at a low cost, the inability to pick your own attorney is a deal-breaker for us.
- Cost A+
- Coverage D-
- Features F
- Value C
Our Grade
C-
Reviewed by Ryan Cleckner
Reader’s Grade
B-
Based on 29 Reviews
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US Law Shield Specs
- Monthly Cost $11
- Criminal Defense Max unlimited
- Civil Defense Max unlimited
- Pick Own Attorney? No
- Money Up Front? Yes
- Per Diem None
US Law Shield Review
At first, there’s a lot to like about U.S. Law Shield (also called Texas Law Shield). They have one of the lowest monthly rates AND they offer unlimited coverage amounts.
However, no free choice on your own attorney and no per diem bumps them out of the running for our recommended concealed carry insurance.
Unfortunately, this is a deal-breaker for us. Paying a bad attorney a lot of money won’t help.
Despite the lack of those features, we have heard positive feedback from people who have used U.S. Law Shield (TX Law Shield), so they may be right for you.
US Law Shield Pros and Cons
- Low Cost
- Unlimited Coverage
- No Per Diem
- No Choice of Attorney
X Insurance (firearm liability coverage)
X Insurance is, to date, the WORST coverage we’ve seen offered.
Not only can we not recommend X Insurance for CCW coverage, we fully encourage you to avoid them entirely.
For more details on why they did not make our list of recommended companies, check out our X Insurance Review.
Carry Guard
The NRA’s Carry Guard did not make our list of top firearms legal liability providers because they are no longer available as an option.
The NRA came out with Carry Guard in 2017 but ended it in 2019 due to many lawsuits and issues with state regulatory agencies.
If you were looking for Carry Guard and want to know who to get instead, we recommend CCW Safe.
Lockton Affinity
Lockton Affinity is a large insurance company that provides many great products. In fact, we recommend their business insurance for FFLs.
Unfortunately, their concealed carry insurance coverage does not make the cut – we hope it is improved as it is a brand new offering by them.
The reasons we can’t recommend them are:
- Criminal Defense coverage is reimbursement only
- They have low coverage amounts (compared to other companies)
- Daily per diem amount comes out of coverage limits
To learn more about their coverage, check out our full Lockton Affinity Insurance Review.
BEST CCW INSURANCE BUYER’S GUIDE
CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE COSTS AND COMPARISONS
There are MANY variables to consider when picking the right concealed carry insurance for yourself. You absolutely must determine which features are best for you.
To put things in a closer perspective, here are the crucial features of the groups we recommend above side-by-side.
| Feature | CCW Safe | USCCA | Second Call Defense | ACLDN | U.S. Law Shield | Right to Bear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $16-42 | $29-49 | $10-35 | $12 | $11 | $11 |
| Criminal Defense Max | Unlimited | Unlimited | $100,000 | Unlimited* | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Civil Defense Max | Unlimited | Unlimited | $1,000,000 | Unlimited* | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Civil Liability Max | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $250,000 | $0 | $0 | Unlimited |
| Pick Own Attorney? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Money Up Front? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Per Diem Max | $250 | $750 | $500 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
WHAT IS CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE AND IS IT FOR ME?
CCW insurance is financial protection against the costs of possible criminal prosecution or civil lawsuits if the person you shot in self-defense or their family members sue you.
Before you can decide how valuable CCW insurance may be for you, we should first explore the potential costs of using a firearm to protect yourself.
The two main financial risks after using your firearm in self-defense are the costs of defending yourself in a criminal trial if you are prosecuted by law enforcement and/or in a civil trial if you are sued by someone.
Even though you used your CCW firearm in self-defense that you believe was justified, you still may be prosecuted. Either the evidence doesn’t clearly exonerate you or you may be an example for an anti-gun prosecutor to make. Either way, you might need bail money to get out of jail and you’ll need to hire a criminal defense attorney which will likely require $20-30,000 up front and more money as your case continues. It is not unreasonable for a criminal defense case to cost a few hundred thousand dollars.
If there’s a civil case (someone sues you), which can happen with or without a criminal case, the financial cost can be even higher because you not only have attorney’s fees, but you also run the risk of a potential judgment against you and you run the risk of having multiple lawsuits at once.
If this isn’t a grim enough picture, now think about what money you might need because you might lose your income while the trials are ongoing.
Depending on which CCW insurance option you choose to go with, these costs can all be covered for you. In addition, some plans will give you a per diem (personal money per day) to offset your lost income during the trial and also give you access to resources like counseling and property repair.
So, is CCW insurance for you?
I can’t answer that question for you any more than I can answer whether health insurance is right for you. CCW insurance is a smaller cost per month as protection against a possible insurmountable cost later.
I don’t know your monthly budget, your risk tolerance, or whether you have half a million dollars in a bank account just waiting for you in case you have to use your firearm to defend yourself.
As you make this decision for yourself, I encourage you to ask yourself these questions:
- What do you think the likelihood is of using your firearm in self-defense?
- Do you have the financial reserves ready in case you have to defend yourself?
- If you have a family, how will a financial hit of this size affect them?
For me, the decision came down to this: Am I someone that prepares for scenarios or just hopes that they don’t happen?
If you are someone who has a CCW and carries a firearm, I think we might belong in the same group.
THE THREE CRUCIAL THINGS THAT CCW INSURANCE SHOULD HAVE
Just getting “CCW Insurance” is NOT enough.
If you really want to protect yourself against legal and financial risks, you need to ensure that your cow insurance has these three things:
- The ability to pick your own attorney
- Money upfront
- Per diem during trial
Picking Your Own Attorney
Let me break it down real simple: you don’t want me as your criminal defense attorney.
I am an attorney. I am even an attorney that specializes in firearms law. However, my last exposure to the topic of criminal law was in a law school classroom. Trust me, neither of us would want me as your attorney in a criminal defense case.
Some CCW insurance providers will only provide you protection if you use an attorney they pick. Please avoid this. I suggest you get an attorney that you have confidence in, that is the best you could find, and that you never have to wonder if they are doing what is best for you vs what is the cheapest for the insurance company.
Get the Money Up Front
If your CCW insurance provider guarantees coverage up to a certain amount but only reimburses you after the fact, it’s better than nothing but it doesn’t help you avoid the heartache and cost burden of the process.
For example, if you have to sell your home and everything you own to pay for trials, getting reimbursed is better than nothing, but wouldn’t it have been better to not have to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars on your own? Of course, it would have.
Get Paid a Per Diem During Trial
In addition to the legal fees, you also have the risk of lost income you may experience if you lose your job during months of trial.
Getting your legal fees covered is great, but that doesn’t help pay your mortgage or help you support your family during a trial. If you can afford it, please consider a CCW insurance option that gives you a daily per diem (allowance every day) during a trial.
UNDERSTANDING LEGAL DEFENSE COVERAGE
As you likely know, there are many different variables and coverage amounts between these coverage plans – this is why it can be difficult to compare them.
You’ll see terms referring to coverage amounts like “criminal defense,” “civil defense,” “civil liability,” and “bail bond coverage.” Without knowing what each of these means, you may not be able to make an informed decision.
So, let’s break down each of these liability coverage terms so that you can better understand them.
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
When it comes to shopping for CCW insurance, most people are concerned with the criminal defense amount covered – and for good reason.
After all, the biggest reason a gun owner gets a legal defense protection plan is that they are worried about the legal costs associated if they are charged with a crime by law enforcement as a result of their defensive firearm use.
Although the criminal defense dollar amount is important, it should not be the sole determining factor of which plan you choose. There are a few reasons for this: all the money spent on the wrong lawyer(s) won’t help and there are many other costs that may be incurred (e.g. civil defense and civil liability that will be covered next).
The criminal defense money is usually meant to cover some of the costs associated with your defense in a criminal trial. If there is no criminal trial (if you’re not charged with a crime), then this money won’t be used. This money is only for criminal defense protection.
Most plans allow the criminal defense portion to cover your attorney fees in the criminal case and fees for experts, depositions, and investigative work.
CIVIL DEFENSE
Civil defense coverage is often the second most important value for legal defense coverage plan shoppers.
The civil defense dollar amount is similar to the criminal defense coverage in that it is meant for attorney fees and other associated legal costs but is meant solely for civil defense instead of criminal defense.
So, what is the difference between civil and criminal? Civil cases are lawsuits brought by individuals or companies against someone whereas criminal cases involve the government charging someone with a crime.
As part of defensive gun use, even if you aren’t charged with a crime, you may be sued by either the person you used a firearm against, their family, others involved, or even perhaps a business that suffered damages from the incident.
The civil defense amount is very important because there is no limit to the number of lawsuits that may be brought against you. Each person or group involved may sue you separately and the costs can really add up.
In addition, you may lose one or more of the civil cases and have to pay damages (money) which are covered by the next section, civil liability.
CIVIL LIABILITY
If you lose a civil suit, even though your legal costs during the lawsuit(s) may have been covered by the civil defense amounts above, you may have to pay damages. Damages are money that the court orders you to pay to the plaintiff if you lose the civil suit as a defendant.
As you can imagine, the dollar amount needed for paying civil damages could easily be higher than your civil legal defense costs. Civil liability does not cover your attorney fees from your civil suit.
BAIL BOND MONEY
If you’re charged with a crime, you may be released until the trial or you may be held. Hopefully, you have the option to be released on bail.
Bail is a security amount paid to insure your return for the upcoming court case.
The bail coverage amounts can be confusing because the amount paid doesn’t match up with the bail amount – this is how the process typically works.
If you are covered up to a $1 million bail amount, for example, often only 10% of the money will actually need to be put down and therefore the provider would pay $100,000.
Please keep this in mind when you see the bail coverage amount paid is only 10% of the total bail amount covered. To further understand the bail system, please check out this article we found: How Do Bail Bonds Work.
LIABILITY INSURANCE
You very likely have heard about, and may even be shopping for, liability insurance.
Unfortunately, none of the plans above are actually “self-defense insurance.” Instead, they’re better described as legal self-defense protection coverage.
Despite this, liability insurance is a common enough term that we should discuss it here.
Liability insurance, according to Investopedia, is an “insurance product that provides an insured party with protection against claims resulting from injuries and damage to other people or property.” Effectively it covers anything that you’d need to pay the costs for if you were found “liable” (responsible for).
ATTORNEY RETAINER
An attorney retainer is effectively an upfront payment on your attorney fees.
Most attorneys, especially criminal defense attorneys, will require the payment of a retainer to “retain” their services. This advanced payment may be refundable depending on the attorney but it is most often non-refundable.
After paying the retainer in advance, which is covered by most plans, the attorney starts working on your case and then they bill their hours against the retainer until it has been consumed. After that, they may require another advance payment or they’ll start to bill hourly.
APPEALS
If you are convicted (you receive a “guilty verdict”) and you think that the trial court got it wrong, you have the option to appeal to a higher court.
Appeals are a very important process in our legal system and help to protect against an unfair trial.
There are many reasons why the first court might get something wrong: a witness might have lied, evidence that shouldn’t have been included was used, the jury might just not like you, etc.
If you’re concerned about maybe needing an appeal, make sure that the coverage you choose allows for appeals.
NRA CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE
Many people looking for self-defense insurance have heard about and are trying to find more information about the NRA’s CCW Insurance plan.
Unfortunately, the NRA no longer offers this coverage that was called NRA Carry Guard.
NRA CARRY GAURD
Unlike the other plans we recommend above, the NRA structured their plan as actual insurance and lost some legal battles in states that specifically prohibit self-defense “insurance.”
This caused lawsuits for violating state laws and caused a significant payout as a fine.
Once NRA Carry Gaurd was shut down in a couple of states, and due to other ways in which their plan was managed, they were no longer able to operate and they shut their coverage down.
One less option is NOT bad news for you. In fact, while they were active, we ranked their coverage and they came in at almost last place because they didn’t meet the three basic requirements we recommend above.
CONCEALED CARRY INSURANCE FAQ
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About Ryan Cleckner
Ryan is a former special operations sniper (1/75 Ranger) and current firearms attorney, firearms industry executive, university lecturer, and bestselling author of the Long Range Shooting Handbook.
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May 30, 2023
This article took a lot of time to prepare. Thank you for taking the time and making the effort. I carry self-defense coverage from USCCA mainly because of the companies I was aware of didn’t include CCW. Based on your article I am going to re-evaluate my coverage. I was a court reporter for 25 years in CA. I totally agree that attorney selection is all important. Even a CA certified criminal defense attorney is no guarantee that your attorney has self-defense gun use experience. I personally know of one certified criminal defense attorney who told his client if he had done nothing wrong it was perfectly all right to talk to the police. My brother who was a deputy public defender inherited the case when the “certified criminal defense attorney” bailed. Had it not been against the law, he would have cheerfully killed the “CCDA”. I understand Robert Kardashian, a supposed, well known criminal defense attorney gave O.J.Simpson that same advice. While O.J. was acquitted, how much it cost him is a closely guarded secret. I might state that in my experience, expert witnesses who do not fly Spirit Air and don’t stay at Motel 6, are absolutely essential to a criminal defense and the later civil action. I don’t care if you killed Whitey Bulger in a shootout where he expended 19 rounds trying to kill you and you took him out with a single shot, if you are in a liberal county, you are going to at least go through either the grand jury route or the preliminary exam route and even without expert witnesses flying in from all over the country, just that little exerciser will cost a bundle.
Can you name any of these “bad attorneys” you claim US LawShield pays a lot of money to? Because the attorneys in my state have both made the national top 100 trial attorney list with 10 Avvo scores and tons of experience.. pretty much every state is that way. “Getting to pick your own attorney” is great and all.. until they don’t want to take your case or your coverage won’t accept them. Precious time wasted finding someone to represent you when you can just call your independent attorney with US LawShield, whom you know. They answer the phone, you only deal with them not a call center, and they get to the scene without you filing some claim first. No other coverage can say that. Immediacy is your friend when you’ve just taken a life and need help.. not a “crisis center.” The name of the game here is attorney coverage.. and yet, none of these coverages can promise you that your named attorney will be there for you on that phone and/or come to the scene, except US LawShield. Jack Wilson’s attorney showed up to his church after he killed that active shooter in Texas in 2019 immediately, because he had US LawShield. USCCA would have you waiting around in a cell as they asked their insurance provider for permission to even issue the funds for an attorney, assuming you hadn’t already come out of pocket because you were tired of waiting. USLS all day.
You call USCCA the best coverage knowing they do basically nothing for criminal charges? It’s a magazine subscription that offers liability coverage that requires jumping through hoops to actually get.
Also, right to bear claiming to be unlimited is a blatant lie. They only cover up to what they made in the last 6 months, and as the nations smallest coverage, it’s probably not an exuberant amount. You’d better hope you’re not the next Rittenhouse needing 1.4mil or that a lot of members don’t need help at the same time.
I’m an active LEO and fall under the HR218 with FOP Legal Defense Fund, but it only covers me on duty. Im leaning towards the CCWSafe policy that includes house of worship since Im on the safety team. However, since I hangout at the kids schools a bit on my days off, it appears I’m not covered by any of the plans since they are all gun free zones. Any suggestions?
US LawShield covers full scope work without exclusions like every other coverage, along with covering self defense for any threat, including hands, not just firearms and weapons.
It is really important for anyone who signs up for CCW insurance that you stay on top of the policies because they have changed over the years. Luckily Ryan, the writer of this article, updates it multiple times a year so as to keep up with the changes. This, in turn, has changed the rankings of the best ccw insurance and who holds the top spot. For example, Right To Bear was almost in dead last in 2022 – this was because tehy advertised things that they did that was NOT in the fine print of their policy. But in early 2023, they changed the policy to reflect what they were touting.
I see in most of these plan descriptions something like “Recognized Self-Defense Use of Force Incident”. Do they cover in situations like the recent mall shooting where a hero stopped and killed the shooter who was attempting to kill as many as possible in the mall food court? In this situation the argument might be made to say that the hero’s life was not in immediate danger even though many others lives were.
Would our hero be cover if he had one of these plans?
Thanks.
I am retired military police covered by HR218 as well as a permit to carry holder in MN. I am currently working armed security and looking for a carry “insurance” that will provide coverage both On and off Duty however from what I’m seeing most only provide coverage for off duty carry. Do you know of any that meet your 3 primary criteria AND provide on duty coverage? Thank you
It appears that USCCA expects repayment if you are convicted. Others, like CCWSafe, do not. I think we all know that even if you do everything right, there is still a chance of conviction. Could you amend your reviews to include which of these carriers do and do not expect repayment in the case of conviction? For me, that is a non-starter.
Hello Ryan,
Can you look at and review Self Defense Fund Membership. A friend suggested it but wanted you point of view
I chose USACCA over CCW Safe even though it is a little more expensive as it has the deepest bench in the industry. Hopefully their services are never tested by me. Yet in the current social economic environment – what was once a more kinder gentler world is now exhibiting a growing instability with increased acts of violence. In my opinion everyone who practices EDC should keep a good CCW Insurance package in their wallet.
Has anyone heard about 2a shield? seems like a decent plan but I couldn’t find any review about them anywhere
As Director of Legal Services for ACLDN, I would ask you to please correct the erroneous information about the Network. ACldN is NOT insurance; we are a 100% membership organization. Please remove us from the insurance category. Thank you, kindly.
Thanks for reaching out, Art! I will make some edits and corrections now. Ryan Cleckner, J.D., BAMF.
Are there any known cases where a person was legally defended by one of these insurance sponsored lawyers. How did it turn out..? Basically, any proof these insurance will actually pay out or try to pull out the fine print and wiggle out of paying.
US LawShield covered Jack Wilson, guy in Texas who killed that active shooter in church in 2019. Attorneys right on scene immediately, covered.
If I get CCW Safe and somebody breaks into my home and threatens my or my familys life, and my son shoots the intruder is his legal defenses/bail etc. covered under my CCW Safe plan? Is it true that CCW Safe does not cover the cost of expert witnesses for the defense as well?
Based on my understanding, yes you would be covered if your son shot an intruder in your home. As far as expert witnesses go, where did you hear that they weren’t covered? One of the reasons I love CCW Safe is that they do cover the cost of expert witnesses.
It is now February 2022. Could you please revisit this article and the players in the field and current laws and policies and update it. It would be much appreciated if this could be updated annually and whenever a significant change impacts this information. Thanks for the article. I am wondering about the per diem payouts for the retired who have income, but not for a job. If they don’t apply, why don’t the companies offer plans w/o the offering at a lower cost?
I just accidently came across your site in my quest to decide on a carry insurance. Every question that I have asked myself was answered by the time I read the article through. I was looking at USCCA or CCWSafe. Both had their good and bad. But that Recoupment Clause and the No Appeals covered as well as the no home coverage for my wife had already made me favor CCW. Thank you for a really informative article. We, here in Texas, have the new Constitutional Carry Law that is really causing many to look around for this type of option.
Will/which companies will cover the shooting of an innocent bystander in the event of a stray bullet (God forbid)?
Depends on the circumstances. In many cases if an actor is justified in using self defense against an aggressor, that justification also covers harm to innocent bystanders (and therefore, absent some contractual clause to the contrary would be covered as part of costs relating to self defense). However, harm to bystanders may not be justified if the actors’ actions are found to be reckless or negligent under the circumstances; in that case it’s possible your costs would be covered anyway, depending on the contract (not sure if any of these companies say they won’t cover you if you end up guilty). If you’re talking about an accidental discharge, that would definitely not be covered.
Ryan –
What is the best method of financial/legal preparation for those of us who live in one of the three states (NY, NJ, WA) where these products are not currently allowed? Are there other sorts of “pre-paid legal” plans that can help with a self-defense defense?
Reading through CCW Safe policy exclusions….I understand that they do not cover you in situations of domestic relationships. Say an a husband and spouse are separated and they meet to discuss possible reconciliation (or about the kids, or about anything) …. and the conversation turns bad with one attacking the other with deadly intent (this DOES happen). If you defend yourself….CCW Safe excludes this circumstance??? AND this exclusion includes “those in a current or FORMER dating relationships”….REALLY???
They also exclude instances where someone is invited into their home….say a buyer from craigslist. But he has ill deadly ill intent, you defend yourself….you are not covered???
Same can happen with a borderline mentally unstable family member….like a cousin…not covered???
No Gun Signs. A movie theater is an important place to carry as they have been targets of mass shootings in the past. Yet…..if the state you reside in allows those signs to carry the weight of law (misdemeanor charge)….you are not covered if you defend yourself, and others, from a mass shooter…is this true??? If so….it is a concern.
Does the following statement in their exclusions mean you are only covered for instances in their State????
“CCW Safe will not provide the services for a Covered Member of the Constitutional Carry Plan outside of the Covered Member’s recognized “Constitutional Carry” state.”
This plan seems to be the best plan….and I am or was strongly considering it (as USCCA can now ask or recoup expenses if guilty or accept plea deal, and others do not have much in civil damage liability)….but these exclusions really take me back. Unless I am reading them incorrectly.
Thoughts???
You have valid concerns (we have them, too). However, I think these companies are limited in what they can cover – regarding the signs, they can’t cover “illegal” activity and carrying where it is prohibited by a sign can be against the law in some states.
This is the same on all insurance plans as well. If illegal activity is involved, then policies will not provide coverage.
I really enjoyed your article and CCW comparisons and just purchased an elite USCCA membership but am now having doubts to instead go with CCW Safe. One point of clarification (and I may be misunderstanding this) is I am comparing USCCA to CCW Safe with your Criminal Defense Max and Civil Defense Max categories where you list $250,000/$2,000,000 (USCCA) and Unlimited/Unlimited (CCW Safe) respectively. This does not appear accurate based on CCW Safe’s website. Although CCWSafe says “unlimited” for Criminal and Civil DEFENSE costs they clearly state $1,000,000 for Civil Liability which I assume is damages. Therefore, USCCA’s $2,000,000 would seem to beat CCWSafe’s $1,000,000. So you can’t compare USCCA $2M to CCWSafe unlimited because USCCA’s includes the damages as well as the defense costs. It sounds like CCW Safe gives you unlimited civil defense costs plus $1M of damages, whereas USCCA gives you $2M total which includes both the civil defense costs and any damages, since USCCA’s $250,000 only applies to criminal defense (I think). It sounds like USCCA’s definition of “defense expenses” only applies to criminal cases (the $250k), and the terms “claim expenses” and “damages” are civil court definitions (their $2M limit) based on my reading of the 17 page USCAA policy, but again, maybe I’m wrong here. These three terms “defense expenses, claim expenses, and damages” are under USCCA’s self-defense liability insurance columns on their website and defined in their policy. What am I missing here? Am I understanding this correctly? So if a $1.7M judgment is entered against someone in a civil court where they incur $300,000 of defense costs, CCWSafe will pay the whole $300k of defense costs plus $1M of damages, or $1.3M total, whereas USCCA will pay out the whole $2M? Appreciate any clarification anyone can provide! Thank you so much.
I meant to say above 2nd to last sentence”. . . .whereas USCCA will pay out the whole $2M” (not $1.7M) Sorry, I added wrong!
I really enjoyed your article and CCW comparisons and just purchased an elite USCCA membership but am now having doubts to instead go with CCW Safe. One point of clarification (and I may be misunderstanding this) is I am comparing USCCA to CCW Safe with your Criminal Defense Max and Civil Defense Max categories where you list $250,000/$2,000,000 (USCCA) and Unlimited/Unlimited (CCW Safe) respectively. This does not appear accurate based on CCW Safe’s website. Although CCWSafe says “unlimited” for Criminal and Civil DEFENSE costs they clearly state $1,000,000 for Civil Liability which I assume is damages. Therefore, USCCA’s $2,000,000 would seem to beat CCWSafe’s $1,000,000. So you can’t compare USCCA $2M to CCWSafe unlimited because USCCA’s includes the damages as well as the defense costs. It sounds like CCW Safe gives you unlimited civil defense costs plus $1M of damages, whereas USCCA gives you $2M total which includes both the civil defense costs and any damages, since USCCA’s $250,000 only applies to criminal defense (I think). It sounds like USCCA’s definition of “defense expenses” only applies to criminal cases (the $250k), and the terms “claim expenses” and “damages” are civil court definitions (their $2M limit) based on my reading of the 17 page USCAA policy, but again, maybe I’m wrong here. These three terms “defense expenses, claim expenses, and damages” are under USCCA’s self-defense liability insurance columns on their website and defined in their policy. What am I missing here? Am I understanding this correctly? So if a $1.7M judgment is entered against someone in a civil court where they incur $300,000 of defense costs, CCWSafe will pay the whole $300k of defense costs plus $1M of damages, or $1.3M total, whereas USCCA will pay out the whole $1.7M? Appreciate any clarification anyone can provide!
USCCA has an indemnification clause, if you are convicted, they can subrogate against you for all that they have paid out, this means that if you plea down, which is about 90% of the time, and are therefore “convicted” on a lesser charge, you are screwed.
Hi Ryan, Same situation as Bryant. I’m a retired Massachusetts State Trooper with an LTC and HR-218 LEOSA qualified which is required annually in Massachusetts. This allows me to carry nationwide as a retired LEO. Will CCW Safe fully cover me in said capacity? Thanks, Noel
Ryan, I’m a retired Police Officer in New York State, HR-218 Qualified and I have CCW SAFE NY STATE LEO PLUS plan. I’m also an Executive Board member with my local FOP Lodge. A question has come up with regards to CCW SAFE…Does CCW have the financial resources and assets, as a fiscally sound company, to back up their coverage and payments listed under their plan ? I would also like to pose the exact same question with regards to USCCA. I’m not trying to demean either company BUT rather confirm their fiscal soundness and resources. In the event that if anyone who is enrolled under either company’s plans has to use deadly force, ie: shot a perp in self defense and needs either company’s services, will both company’s have the financial resources to cover all aspects of their plan and promised coverage ? To coin an old phrase…”It’s better to have it and not need it OR to need it and not have it”. Should that person need it and either company doesn’t have the financial resources to fully pay for all the costs and benefits…then that person could be liable for paying out a lot of money. Your thoughts please…
That’s a great question that’s going to get a bad answer. 🙂
You have a perfectly valid concern, but I can’t answer it for you as I don’t know.
You will have to use your judgment about each company and understand that if a company goes out of business, you may need to choose another company. This is similar to auto insurance.
What happens if a plea deal is reached for a lesser charge for instance. Are you on the hook for all of the legal fees? What is the stance of CCW Safe for this? I’ve heard USCCA won’t pay if plea deal reached.
Nice article! I just did a deep dive comparison video myself. You should look consider the Family / Intimate Partner exclusion clause and see if the rankings still hold up.
I’ll check it out, thanks!
Hi! Civil liability is important to me. If I am involved in a defensive shooting, whether or not I am cleared of any wrong doing, I can still be sued. The descriptions (as well as the individual sites) do not make it clear about civil liability coverage. They all just say civil defense, which is only half of the issue. I prefer not to pay an additional $220/yr to get it with CCW Safe. Do oyu have any further insight on civil liability?
I have this same question. Civil and Criminal defense are great, but what happens if the lawyer fails to clear you in the civil suit? That seems like a huge deal these days and would be nice to see addressed in the charts above.
I may be making this too complicated but I’m not sure what you mean. If a lawyer fails to clear you… you lose.
I think what these people were asking is: if you are involved in a self-defense incident, even if you are cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, a civil suit can still be brought against you by the injured person or others. For example, if self-defense results in the attacker being paralyzed, a court could find the defender negligent and award the attacker $2,000,000. Or the defender could have to settle out of court. I believe some of these programs or plans would cover that $2,000,000 civil liability, not just the associated legal fees, but others would not.
What insurance did you chose Ryan?
I purchased CCW Safe for myself and my family.
I just wanted to thank you very much for your service.
I’m still just a little confused about civil forfeitures. I know LawShield does not pay forfeitures in a civil matter if the judgement goes against the defendant. They will provide unlimited attorney representation, but the member may be left hanging in the breeze. If a member is found to have lawfully used their weapon, but in civil proceedings they are found liable, do any of the coverers provide forfeiture coverage?
I found this article to be the most informative one regarding ccw insurance. Would you please address the concerns brought up by this article regarding domestic violence relates incidents and lack of coverage?
Thank you sir
Great point – We saw that before and had some of the same concerns. However we realized that all services provide something more or less than others. I have CCW insurance to protect me against a home invader or when I’m out concealed carrying. You are right, many people are at risk of domestic violence (way too many) and that is why they are likely to have a firearm and need to defend themselves. I’m going to amend the article to address this because it is important information.
I am curious about the rates…are these just introductory rates to get you hooked; then next year double your premium…or are they consistent rates with periodic increases based on the COLA/inflation rate of the nation? Been hood winked by to many of those type of companies so had to ask. Thanks.
We know of no company listed here that offers introductory rates to get you “hooked.”
If I purchase both CCWSAFE & USCCA will both cover me?
I wouldn’t do that. I think there’s too much of a chance of one company insisting that the other company should cover something. Pick the one you feel most comfortable with. If you can afford two separate plans from two different companies, then perhaps just get the biggest plan from one company.
Just received a great question via email about this article. Considering that many of you may have the same question, I decided to post the question and my answer here:
QUESTION: “[you say you should] choose a CCW plan that allows you to pick your own lawyer. You also mention that even though you are a firearms attorney, you may not be the best choice. You would work in a pinch but are not an active defense attorney.
So how would I go about picking an attorney that would be experienced in firearm defense or civil defense for a CCW holder?
Do you have any suggestions as to where to look or resources to read up on that I can use in my search for a firearm attorney?…”
MY ANSWER: “Great question. What I would do is see who my CCW insurance company recommends. If I like that person and feel that they are good for me, I’d go with them. However, I would want the right to fire them as my attorney if they weren’t competent or we didn’t agree on my defense.”
CCW Safe pay $350 a day work los coverage. They also offer “Church Security Team Coverage” and “Extreme Risk Protection Order (red flag)” coverage.
Even more reason to like CCW Safe. Did you select them?
Is it just a coincidence that the #1 and #2 picks each provide you with a referral kickback, while the remainder do not?
No – one of the bottom picks is also a referral link. As I explain in the features and review, the #1 and #2 picks are there based on what they offer. Also, the company that offers us the most is NOT #1. If we were giving advice based only on referral money, the order would be different. Instead, we are giving advice based on what coverages are offered.
Hi Ryan and thank you for this CCW “Review”. I wanted to quote CCW Safe from their website :
“Membership includes “bail premium” paid for up to a $250,000, bond; or up to a $500,000, bond; or up to a $1,000,000 bond depending on your selected level of service or plan restrictions. CCW Safe will select a bondsman and make arrangements for obtaining the bond. CCW Safe will pay the bond premium for its Covered Members, which is typically up to 10% of the bond. CCW Safe does not put up the collateral for the bond, as this is the responsibility of the Covered Member to coordinate through the bondsmen. CCW Safe will facilitate acquisition of the bail bond and pay the premium, but not more than 10% of the listed bond. An example would be if the Covered Member received a $100,000 bond, CCW Safe would pay the $10,000 premium. The rest of that bond is secured by collateral of the Covered Member, if needed”. That’s not good ! and it states coverage for Civil AND Criminal is $1,000,000. – not “Unlimited” as you state ?
Thank you for this – you caused me to scramble back and dive into the terms and conditions.
Yes, they pay the bond premium. This is what I’ve found for every coverage option and it is the money that needs to be paid to bail you out of jail (if you skip your bond, then your collateral is at risk). So, they’re example is the best way to explain it – if you are put into jail but can be released on a $100,000 bond, then they will pay the 10% premium (actual money) of $10,000 and you then need to offer to give up something if you don’t return to court. This keeps you from having to come up with the cash for the premium.
For the unlimited coverage, CCW Safe does cover your legal defense costs for both criminal and civil lawsuits without a limit. It is unlimited. However, “civl damages” is not the same as your legal defense costs. So, if you get sued by someone else, CCW Safe is here to help with legal defense costs only. If a jury or a judge finds in favor of the person suing you and orders you to pay them a certain amount of money in damages, CCW Safe limits that to $1,000,000 if you have a plan with the damages option added. Summery: they DO provide unlimited legal defense coverage. But, they will only pay up to $1,000,000 in damages if someone wins against you.
I hope this helps and apologies if I explained it poorly.
All these services seem to have a built in catch 22.
If an incident is self defense the policy is in force. If an incident is determined to NOT be self defense, services will not be rendered. If the police agree with self defense, I wont need legal help. If police say its not self defense is when I would need legal help but the membership agreements says that is excluded.
I see what you’re saying, however, we don’t agree on the premise. If the police say it is not self defense, it is exactly what these services are for: to help you in your criminal defense case.
The best answer!
Great website, highly educational and informative. Thank you for all you do to help and educate others. Bought Hellcat based on your recommendations and it is a great EDC. Once again, Thank you!
Thank you – we’re god to hear that we helped.
I love everything you do, Mr. Cleckner, and I know you wouldn’t provide anything but honest advice. Others who don’t follow you might think it too coincidental that your top two recommendations happen to be those with referral links! Could you disclose your interest in, or relationship to those companies? Regardless, this is a great list of the the available options in CCW insurance. I’m even considering changing or adding to my SCD membership.
Thanks for the support and accountability! It might surprise you to know that we have (or had until this review) an affiliate relationship with 4 out of the 5 companies listed. After seeing the results of our ranking, one company revoked our relationship. Also, the company that offers us the most financial incentive is not listed first. Therefore, I can confidently say that our recommendations are not motivated by the affiliate relationships – we’ve chosen to earn less because of our recommendations and we have a company with no relationship listed higher than a company with which we have a relationship.
You did not show the expense chart for US Law Shield. You repeated the chart of USCCA expenses.
Thank you – we’re fixing that.
None of what you have listed work in Washinton State. 2 have a partial in Washington, but ZERO $$$$ for Bail or Lawer.
DO YOU have a listing that will work in Washington State.
As far as I know, there are no options for Washington state.
Other deciding factors as to why I picked the USCCA is other companies exclusions. For example, in the membership agreement forms a lot of the other companies state they will not pay for expert witness, private investigators, ballistic experts. Other plans will also exclude legal representation against a member or covered person’s current or former family member, household or dating relationships.
Those are just some of the many reasons why I went with the USCCA as well as what is written above.
Thanks for confirming my pick!