General Insurance

Unusual Insurance Policies

March 19, 2026
By GEICO Team
4 min read
Editorial Guidelines
A man looking up at a UFO that is landing near him.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

If It Is Valuable Enough to Lose, Someone Has Found a Way to Insure It

A Dutch winemaker insured his nose for $8 million. Gene Simmons insured his tongue for $1 million. Troy Polamalu insured his hair for $1 million as part of an endorsement deal. A London firm has sold over 30,000 alien abduction policies. And a hotel in England once covered staff and guests against death and disability caused by ghosts. These sound absurd, but they follow the same logic as every other insurance policy: identify the risk, put a dollar value on it, and transfer that risk to an insurer.

The Unusual Ones Reveal How Insurance Actually Works

Ransom reimbursement policies cover multinational companies and travelers against kidnapping, including deploying professional negotiators. Food truck insurance covers auto accidents, fire, and foodborne illness for an industry with risks that standard auto or business policies were never designed to handle. These are not novelty products. They are real policies built for real risks that fall outside conventional coverage. The lesson for everyone else: if your standard policy does not cover something that matters to you, a specialty policy might exist for exactly that gap.

You Probably Do Not Need Alien Abduction Insurance, But You Might Need Specialty Coverage

Event insurance, collectibles coverage, and scheduled endorsements for high-value items are far more common than most people realize. If something is essential to your livelihood or irreplaceable to you personally, it is worth asking whether your current policy covers it and what a specialty addition would cost.

Everyone knows us for car insurance; we can help protect your home and you can even insure your collectibles. But when it comes to a fear of the supernatural, you won’t be getting a quote on geico.com. Not yet, anyway.

From celebrities to the just plain bizarre, here are some of the most unusual insurance policies in the world. For your more “typical” insurance needs, we’re still here for you.

Alien Abduction Insurance

Believe it or not, a London based firm has sold more than 30,000 alien abduction insurance policies throughout Europe. Of course, you’ll need to provide proof of the occurrence to file a claim. If you’re a believer, a little green could save you from the little green men.

Don’t Forget Werewolfs, Vampires and Ghosts

A werewolf driving a car.

Are you a little too into the TV series True Blood? No problem. There’s an insurance policy for you, too. The Royal Falcon Hotel in Lowestoft, England, for example, insured its staff and customers against death and disability caused by ghosts, poltergeists and other abnormal phenomena.

Ransom Reimbursement

Multinational corporations have been known to secure policies for kidnapping, just in case their executives are abducted in another country while on a business trip. But individuals can also purchase this insurance if they so desire. How does it work? The insurance company will deploy a team of negotiators, and will reimburse the ransom price up to your policy limits.

Food Truck Insurance

Customers ordering at a food truck window.

Here’s one that’s relatively unknown, but necessary if you’re a part of the growing mobile food vendor industry. With up to 10,000 food trucks in Los Angeles County alone, you want to be sure your rolling veggie burrito business is insured. Auto accidents, fire, and food borne illness are just some of the risks they face.

Celebrities And Other Irreplaceable Talents

From rock stars to athletes, the list of over-the-top celebrity insurance policies is a long one, often with major payouts. In fact, just about any body part you can think of has been insured. Here are just a few.

A Dutch Winemaker’s Nose

After hearing about a man who lost his sense of smell in a car accident, winemaker Ilja Gort took out an $8 million policy on his nose. Under the terms of the policy, he is barred from riding a motorcycle or working as a knife thrower’s assistant or fire-breather, among other things.

Gene Simmons

You don’t always have to insure the entire body. Gene Simmons, the legendary bassist for the 70’s rock band Kiss, allegedly insured his tongue for $1 million when the band was in its prime.

Troy Polamalu’s Hair Endorsement

Policies on athletes don’t have to be about performance. For example, this Pittsburgh Steeler is a star on the field, but Proctor & Gamble has something more specific in mind with their endorsement deal. As the star of their shampoo commercial, they’ve insured his famous hair for $1 million.

Did you know? While we can help you compare auto insurance to get a great rate, GEICO is more than just car insurance; we can help you with insurance for your home, life and more! Check out the variety on geico.com and get a fast, free quote to see how much you could save on quality insurance coverage.

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Learn More

  • Alien Abduction Insurance
  • Don’t Forget Werewolfs, Vampires and Ghosts
  • Ransom Reimbursement
  • Food Truck Insurance
  • Celebrities And Other Irreplaceable Talents
  • Ready to Help Protect Your Loved Ones?

Please note that the information above is meant to help you better understand insurance coverage in general. This content is for educational purposes only and does not serve as an actual insurance policy, nor does it change any terms or details in your own policy. Because insurance options can vary depending on your insurer, where you live, and what's available, we recommend that you review your policy documents and speak with a licensed insurance expert if you have questions about your coverage. Any examples of premiums, losses, deductibles, or repair costs are just for illustration and might not reflect your personal situation. Whether an accident or loss is covered will depend on the specific rules and details in your policy. Also, if you click on any links to other websites, we are not responsible for their content.