Copier lease insurance fees: what $15-$40 a month really costs
Many copier leases add a monthly loss damage waiver or insurance charge of $15 to $40. Because a lease is non-cancelable, it runs the full term: $945 to $2,520 over 63 months. Here is what the fee is and what to ask.
Industry range as listed on printree.com/faq.
1 machine: what the fee is
1 machine, owned by the lessor, sitting in your office.
In a lease, the lessor owns the copier. The lease commonly requires the machine to be insured against loss or damage while you use it. An invoice may call the charge a “loss damage waiver”, “LDW”, “property insurance” or simply “insurance”. Check your lease to see what the charge covers.
Printree's FAQ lists “loss damage waiver / property insurance: $15–$40 per month” among common charges found elsewhere in the industry. This page examines that charge alone; read about the other common lease fees for the wider context.
2 common paths: do you have to pay it?
2 common paths: your lessor's charge, or proof of your own coverage.
Many lessors add their charge when you have not sent proof that your own business insurance covers the leased machine. Many remove it once you send a certificate of insurance that names the lessor as loss payee. Some leases make the charge standard.
Terms differ by lessor, so the only reliable answer is in your lease. Before choosing either path, ask your insurance agent whether your business policy covers leased equipment.
$945 to $2,520: what it adds up to
$945 to $2,520 over a 63-month term.
A monthly fee is charged every month of the term. Compare the full-term amount, not just the line on a single invoice.
Same fee range: $15-$40 a month.
Per year:
$15.00 x 12 = $180.00
$40.00 x 12 = $480.00
Over each term:
36 months: $15.00 x 36 = $540.00 | $40.00 x 36 = $1,440.00
48 months: $15.00 x 48 = $720.00 | $40.00 x 48 = $1,920.00
60 months: $15.00 x 60 = $900.00 | $40.00 x 60 = $2,400.00
63 months: $15.00 x 63 = $945.00 | $40.00 x 63 = $2,520.00
| Term | At $15/mo | At $40/mo |
|---|---|---|
| 36 months | $540.00 | $1,440.00 |
| 48 months | $720.00 | $1,920.00 |
| 60 months | $900.00 | $2,400.00 |
| 63 months | $945.00 | $2,520.00 |
Monthly fee multiplied by the number of months in the term. Fee range as listed on printree.com/faq.
The same full-term logic applies to an annual escalation clause.
1 comparison: how to spot it on your invoice
1 comparison: your invoice total against the payment you signed.
If your invoice is higher than the signed base payment, an added charge such as a loss damage waiver, or an escalation, is the likely cause. Find the difference, then look for “loss damage waiver”, “LDW”, “property insurance” or “insurance” in the invoice lines. Check the corresponding wording in your lease rather than assuming a label tells you the full terms.
3 questions to ask before you sign
3 questions to ask any lessor about insurance.
- Is there a monthly insurance or loss damage waiver charge, and how much is it?
- Will you remove it if I send a certificate of insurance naming you as loss payee?
- Is the charge included in the monthly payment you quoted, or billed on top of it?
Printree's FAQ lists the loss damage waiver among the items you can negotiate on a copier lease.
0 early-cancellation options: what this means for the fee
0 early-cancellation options: a copier lease is non-cancelable.
Once you sign, you owe the full term, so any monthly charge that remains on the lease runs for the full term too. That is why the fee is worth settling before you sign rather than after. Read about getting out of a copier lease for the separate question of an existing commitment.
0% escalation and $0 down: where we stand on fees
0% escalation on every term, and $0 down.
“Printree leases have no hidden fees — the payment you sign is the payment for the full term.”
— printree.com/faq
We offer terms of 36, 48, 60 or 63 months, with $0 down and 0% escalation on every term. For full pricing, see what a lease costs.
6 questions about copier lease insurance fees
What is a copier lease insurance fee?
A copier lease insurance fee is a monthly charge commonly listed as a loss damage waiver, LDW, property insurance or insurance. The lessor owns the machine, and leases commonly require protection against loss or damage. Many lessors add their own charge when you have not provided proof of coverage. Check your lease for the charge's name and terms.
Does a copier lease insurance fee have to be paid?
Many lessors charge for coverage unless you provide proof of your own insurance; some leases make the charge standard. Terms differ by lessor, so check your lease rather than assuming the charge can be removed. Before you sign, ask your insurance agent whether your business policy covers leased equipment.
How much is a loss damage waiver on a copier lease?
Printree's FAQ lists the industry loss damage waiver or property insurance range as $15-$40 per month. At that monthly range, the charge adds $180.00-$480.00 per year. Over 63 months, it adds $945.00-$2,520.00. Terms differ by lessor, so check your lessor's quoted payment and lease terms.
How do I get an insurance charge removed from my copier lease?
Many lessors remove their charge after receiving a certificate of insurance naming them as loss payee. Terms differ by lessor, and some leases make the charge standard. Ask your lessor what proof it requires and whether removal is allowed under your lease; ask your insurance agent whether your business policy covers leased equipment.
Can I cancel my copier lease to stop the insurance fee?
A copier lease is non-cancelable: once you sign, you owe the full term. Any monthly charge that remains on the lease runs for that term too. Cancellation is not a way to stop the insurance fee. Settle the charge and any proof-of-coverage requirements with your lessor before signing, rather than relying on an early exit later.
Is a loss damage waiver a hidden fee?
A loss damage waiver can be an added charge if it is billed on top of the payment you were quoted. Ask any lessor whether it is included or separate, and check the signed lease. Printree's FAQ states: “Printree leases have no hidden fees — the payment you sign is the payment for the full term.”
36 to 63 months: compare the full commitment
36, 48, 60 or 63 months. Look at the monthly payment and the full term before you sign.