There’s a lot to consider when it comes to carrying a firearm for self-defense.
One of the most daunting aspects is the potential legal consequences you may encounter if you need to use your weapon. Even if your shot is justified, there’s still a chance that you could face criminal charges related to the incident.
Regardless of whether or not these charges are brought against you, a civil lawsuit could also be a possibility. So, aside from hiring a lawyer right away, what steps can you take to address these concerns?
The answer is straightforward: obtain some insurance. We have researched the leading companies in the CCW insurance sector and have compiled our top recommendations for you, along with plenty of information to help you make the best choice. Keep reading!
What Exactly Is “CCW Insurance”?
First off, while we will commonly call it “insurance,” none of these companies are actually legally “insurance” companies. They are memberships to a pre-paid legal team.
To keep it simple, you really can think of it as insurance.
You pay a fee every month or every year and if the worst happens, these guys will be there for you with lawyers, guns, and money. Literally.
So why isn’t it “legally” insurance? Some states started to crack down on “insurance” as a means of gun control. In light of that, the companies that used to offer “insurance” now offer “memberships.”
It’s a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo, just go with it.
Do You Really Need It?
This is a major decision that only you can make. However, here are some key facts to consider.
The exact number of defensive gun uses in the United States each year is unknown. Estimates, which can vary widely, range from 20,000 to 5 million.
We also don’t have precise figures on how many of these cases lead to criminal or civil charges.
What we do know is that statistically, it’s quite unlikely that you will ever need this insurance.
However, if you do find yourself in need of it, not having it can be very costly.
You won’t be able to beat the ride, but with CCW Insurance you can feel confident that your lawyer isn’t far behind you and will be there to protect your rights.
The average cost for legal representation in a murder trial exceeds $40,000, not including expenses for expert witnesses, time off work, investigators, and other legal services.
Defending yourself against a wrongful death lawsuit can be nearly as expensive, and if you lose the civil case, you might face a judgment of at least $500,000.
In any scenario, that’s a significant amount of money.
For roughly $200-$500 annually, you can obtain CCW insurance that covers all these costs and more, including counseling, clean-up services (since blood stains are tough to remove), compensation for time off work, and even a replacement firearm if yours is confiscated.
At the very least, you owe it to yourself to gather more information.
Best Concealed Carry Insurance
#1 CCW Safe
Our first CCW insurance pick is CCW Safe. While not the best-known provider, CCW Safe has an exceptional program that is run by a highly experienced team.
The leadership at CCW Safe boasts a significant background in law enforcement, which allows them to address the practical aspects of self-defense effectively. Their extensive experience in this field is incredibly valuable.
While CCW Safe doesn’t offer the same training benefits as USCCA, it provides several plans with greater flexibility in terms of payment and coverage.
They also offer significant discounts for current or retired law enforcement officers.
What truly distinguishes CCW Safe is the breadth of its coverage. They provide unlimited civil and criminal defense, bail amounts ranging from $500,000 to $1 million, funds for crime scene clean-up, and support for combating Extreme Risk Protective Orders (ERPOs).
Moreover, most of these benefits can be extended to cover a spouse for an additional fee with the lower-tier plan, or are included in the higher-tier plan. Children under 18 residing in the home are also covered.
One minor drawback is that the per diem is relatively low, at $250 or $350 for the Ultimate plan. While this equates to $31/$43 per hour for a workday, it might still be insufficient for some.
Like USCCA, CCW Safe provides the funds upfront, allowing you to select your own lawyer.
Financials
| Monthly cost | $14/mo |
| Civil defense limit | unlimited |
| Criminal defense limit | unlimited |
| Bail amount | Up to $500,000 |
| Compensation while in court | $250/day |
#2 USCCA
One of the largest of its type in the US with about 560,000 paying members, USCCA is well-known as one of the top choices in the business.
In my experience, more professionals in the firearm sector prefer USCCA over other brands, which is a significant endorsement.
USCCA offers three membership tiers: Gold, Platinum, and Elite, with prices starting at $29 per month for Gold, $39 for Platinum, and $49 for Elite. Each tier also has an annual payment option that is cheaper than the monthly rate.
What truly distinguishes USCCA from its competitors is the extensive training it provides. While in-person training is irreplaceable, USCCA offers a vast library of training videos and seminars that significantly enhance your learning experience. This is particularly valuable for new gun owners or those new to carrying.
The videos I’ve seen are well-produced, though occasionally a bit dramatic, and they deliver a wealth of useful information.
Interestingly, USCCA does not offer different levels of protection across its membership tiers; all members receive the same coverage. The differences between tiers lie solely in the type and amount of training provided.
Although some coverage limits might not be as high as those from other companies, USCCA’s per diem rate of $750 stands out as the highest among major brands. For an 8-hour workday, this equates to nearly $94 per hour. If your annual income is below $200,000, this per diem ensures you won’t incur a financial loss from missing a workday.
Additionally, USCCA allows you to choose your own lawyer and provides coverage funds upfront, benefits that should be standard but are not always offered.
Financials
| Monthly cost | $29-49/mo |
| Civil defense limit | $2 million |
| Criminal defense limit | $250,000 |
| Bail amount | $50,000 (subject to defense limit) |
| Compensation while in court | $750/day |
#3 U.S. Law Shield
U.S. Law Shield organization might be the right choice for some people, but there are a lot of things to consider before going with them
The key advantages of US Law Shield include its affordability and the fact that it provides unlimited coverage for both civil and criminal defense.
At just $11 per month, you receive a substantial amount of coverage, making it a very cost-effective choice.
With the base level of membership, you get limited coverage, no bail money, per diem, or expert witness support. This lack of additional features is a significant drawback for me, as bail and expert witnesses are essential. You can add both to your US Law Shield plan for an extra $3 per month, but once you do, the cost becomes comparable to other providers.
A major downside is that you don’t get to choose your lawyer; US Law Shield assigns one from their network. Although their legal network is well-regarded and the lawyers are thoroughly vetted, not having a choice might be a concern.
On a positive note, US Law Shield offers a unique add-on called Huntershield. For an additional $3 per month, it covers “sportsmen who have unintentionally broken the law or been falsely accused of breaking the law.” If you do a lot of hunting, this could be a valuable benefit.
However, one last annoyance is the one-time $20 “setup fee” that US Law Shield charges upon enrollment. They are the only provider I found that adds such a surcharge, which I find frustrating.
Financials
| Monthly cost | $10.95/mo |
| Civil defense limit | unlimited |
| Criminal defense limit | unlimited |
| Bail amount | none |
| Compensation while in court | none |
#4 Armed Citizen Legal Defense Network
ACLDN is in many ways like USCCA, but kind of a lite version.
While ACLDN lacks the membership size and extensive reach of USCCA, it still provides solid training, excellent coverage, and does so at a very affordable price.
Adding additional people to your membership is notably more affordable with ACLDN compared to many other options, making it ideal if you have family members you want to include.
ACLDN does have a cap on civil and criminal defense coverage, limited to up to half of their total fund. Currently, their fund exceeds $2.5 million, which means the coverage they offer is substantially higher than the fixed amounts provided by other companies.
While bail coverage is somewhat modest at $25,000, it still represents a significant amount.
Beyond being a cost-effective choice, ACLDN impresses with its honesty and transparency. Unlike many corporate blogs that offer little value, ACLDN provides extensive, meaningful information. Their blog includes detailed, data-driven statistics about their fund, coverage, and the cases they handle.
For fascinating statistics on the cases they’ve managed in 2020, check out their blog post. Additionally, ACLDN allows you to choose your own lawyer, which is a feature I particularly appreciate.
Financials
| Monthly cost | $ 12/mo |
| Civil defense limit | unlimited |
| Criminal defense limit | unlimited |
| Bail amount | Up to $25,000 |
| Compensation while in court | none |
#5 Second Call Defense
Another contender is Second Call Defense, their entry-level plan comes in at $9.95 per month and is the cheapest option we found, however coverage offered at this level is horrible. Period.
With the “Basic” plan, Second Call Defense offers only $1,000 for bail, $10,000 for criminal defense, and $10,000 for civil defense, though the civil defense is limited to accidental shootings only. Given these shortcomings, we’ll focus on their “Defender” and “Ultimate” plans instead.
The Defender plan is priced at $15 per month, while the Ultimate plan costs $35 per month.
Defender members receive a $5,000 bond, up to $50,000 in criminal defense, and $500,000 in civil defense. The Ultimate plan increases these amounts to a $25,000 bond, $100,000 for criminal defense, and $1 million for civil defense.
Both plans include a per diem, $250 per day for Defender members and $500 per day for Ultimate members.
Overall, these plans offer reasonable rates and solid coverage. However, Second Call Defense doesn’t particularly excel in any specific area.
Financials
| Monthly cost | $14.95/mo |
| Civil defense limit | $500,000 |
| Criminal defense limit | $50,000 |
| Bail amount | Up to $5,000 |
| Compensation while in court | $250/day |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “CCW” stand for?
CCW stands for “Carry a Concealed Weapon”
Is concealed carry insurance worth it?
Yes, if you carry for self-defense, concealed carry insurance is worth it. Knowing that using your firearm for self-defense won’t financially ruin you is definitely worth the small monthly fee those plans cost.
Do you really need CCW insurance?
The short answer is: Probably yes. There are no reasons not to have one if you carry a firearm for self-defense. Legal costs after a self-defense shooting can easily reach $500,000 and not many people can pay this sum out of pocket.
Is Concealed Carry insurance required by law?
No, concealed carry insurance is not required by law. It is an optional coverage you should consider if you want to protect yourself against the often financially devastating lawsuit following any kind of self-defense with a firearm.
How Much Does Concealed Carry Insurance cost?
Concealed Carry Insurance costs between $11 and $47 per month, depending on the coverage and company you choose.
How much does it cost to defend yourself after a shooting?
The legal aftermath after a shooting in self-defense can easily cost you $300,000 to $600,000, depending on the case. Sometimes even more.
What is the best concealed carry insurance?
The best concealed carry insurance for most gun owners is the CCW Safe.
Does the NRA offer concealed carry insurance?
The NRA used to offer concealed carry insurance called “Carry Guard”. They discontinued this program in 2019 and so far there is no replacement.
Conclusions
Ultimately, the decision on whether CCW insurance is right for you and your family is yours to make. Personally, I support it because the cost is relatively low compared to the potentially severe consequences, which provides peace of mind knowing that defending myself won’t lead to financial ruin.
Our top recommendation is CCW Safe While other companies have their own advantages, you’ll need to evaluate those based on your individual needs to determine which one suits you best.
If these are considered “Legal Defense Services” can one belong to more than one and receive services from multiple companies at the time of need? This would be in direct opposition to insurance companies which do not allow multiple company payouts. If one can use multiple, I would suggest that is VERY beneficial – receiving multiple payouts, but more importantly, creating a “specialized” service.
Very interesting question. Unfortunately we don’t have an answer for you at the moment. When we know more we’ll update this part.
EDIT: This depends on the specific Service and if it qualifies as an insurance (not all of them do). You’d need to check back with their customer support and make sure to get a written answer if you rely on it.
No need to double dip as the money is paid directly to the Attorney, not you.
Thanks for a great review Mike! I like your included links. Trying to sort out the differing insurance plans is a time-consuming headache, so your time is appreciated.
Mike.. u mention that a few of these do not provide coverage for any work or ‘duty’ type situation..
I carry (for personal defense) in my capacity as a private investigator/process server..(i.e NOT as armed security/bodyguard)
Having read the ‘fine print’ do any of the plans reviewed cover this capacity?
Hi Dale,
jumping in here for Mike. For such specific questions we recommend asking the insurances directly. All of them will be very happy to help you and have great customer support. Just to be sure, get their answer in writing, so you are on the safe side in case anything happens.
Very very good! Thanks a lot!
Tony, appreciate it-thanks!
I am glad you published this information . I had never considered the possibility of being caught up in the aftermath of a gunfight. Thank you.
Howard, it’s something we all have to think about – rather have and not need it than the other way around. Thanks for writing!
After two years of state investigations and numerous lawsuits, the National Rifle Association has stopped offering its Carry Guard self-defense insurance products. The Carry Guard website has been stripped of all mentions of insurance.
Apparently no new plans are being issued but they do intend to launch a new insurance program in the future. All this because the anti-gun folks in New York and other places have figured out that continuous litigation or as I call it, the death of a thousand cuts, is a viable way to interfere with lawful commerce involving firearms.
David, unfortunately you’re right – I hate to see it come to this, but we must all face facts and do what we can. Thanks for writing!
Thank you for a very detailed report. I had previously looked into USCCA (they sent me a cool T-shirt) but in one or more of the pluther of emails that have followed the founder keeps saying that if you decide to carry you need $50K in a bank account just to be able to make bail. And the way he puts it in the video that’s even with his coverage. That’s different than the information shown in the charts they provided to you.
Based on my understanding my wife and I, decided not to carry because that $50K is our WTSHTF fund and our nest egg. I will be contacting USCCA to clarify this ambiguity. Thank you again for a great article.
Calvin, glad you have it figured out. Thanks for writing!
Calvin I would love to know what you found out as I am also torn between USCCA and another.
USCCA covers legal costs in a self defense instance. You won’t need that 50k when you have it
I think that means “without having this coverage”. hence why you need it.
You are correct
Covers legal costs in a self defense incident. You won’t need that 50k as we have your back!
Great article and thank you for helping me sort through the various plans. I just received my concealed carry license and the instructor recommended insurance. Like you, the would not specifically recommend one (understandably so). This consolidated information made my decision much easier. Thank you again!
Mat, appreciate your comments. Thanks!
sadly none of the plans are available to WA residents. The state calls it “murder insurance”
Mark, too bad. Are there any options in your homeowner’s policy that would cover an incident that happened at your home at least? Liberal states have different rules at times, to be sure. I appreciate your comments!
Thanks for compiling all this information. I wanted to go with your first choices but they do not make themselves available to residents of Puerto Rico – only cover residents of the USA who travel there. ACLDN is the only one of the group that will admit PR residents. I would like to point out that when I inquired with ACLDN they clarified that their program is not “insurance” but a network of members; a fund. It seems that your coverage is at the discretion of the president when you have a claim. Left me with a feeling the coverage would not be there if I need it. Certainly a possibility. Still looking….
John, too bad you are limited in your choices. I hope things work out for the best for you-thanks for writing!
CCW Safe absolutely will not cover defending you in court if a violent ex-spouse or a violent child attacks you. While USCCA’s limits are frustratingly low $250,000.00 is a whole lot better than $0.00
Gene, that’s for sure. Interesting that they do that… not sure why. Thanks for writing!
Another great article! I did a deep dive into the insurance companies a little over a year ago when i decided it was time to get the piece of mind. I was able to narrow it down to two, which happen to be your top two lol. I ended up going with ccw safe. I was initially not sure how to feel about them retaining attorney choice. I decided to send a message to a trusted author and legal expert Andrew Branca, and he actually responded to me. He stated that he worked for uscca and has worked with ccw safe for several years now and advised both were great companies. He told me essentially what you stated…they make sure you have an attorney that is experienced and understands self defense defenses in court and other unique nuances especially pre trial that inexperienced attorneys wouldn’t know. He said not to let that turn me off and that they have an amazing legal council that personally oversees every case. Ccw safe was the first, and I believe still the only company that has actually gone through an actual murder trial with a client. I honestly think uscca and ccw safe are both excellent choices. In this day and age it’s too risky to not have this insurance. And as a side note: CCW safe covers you even if a firearm isn’t used (i.e. knife, bare hands, bat etc)…I believe uscca also does this as well…not all do. Some are strictly firearm usage.
Adam, thanks for your comments. It’s nice to hear from someone who has signed on with a company and has contacted a lawyer. Hopefully you’ll never need it, but the coverage is there if you do. Thanks for writing!
I have USCCA but recently found a clause in the agreement that allows them to recover all funds if your found guilty. I find that troubling since the lawyers are their recommended and juries are the key to your outcome in states that are populated with anti-gunners. The thought actually troubled me enough to rethink when i would use my firearm out side my home, defending a person other myself or my family could be a losing proposition in court.
To anyone who can answer: Do any of these cover/provide representation if an incident occurs within your home or just out of the home while carrying concealed?
If not how might I be covered for former? Thanks