- No products in the cart.
FAQ
FAQ
Questions?
Surfcare is an extended warranty service plan that you purchase up to 30 days after purchasing your new surfboard, SUP or other board. Ding it, we’ll fix it. Break it, we’ll replace it.
Coverage
Q
Where can I purchase Surfcare?
A
You can purchase a Surfcare protection plan at Surfcare.co with proof of receipt of your new board within 30 days of purchase. You can purchase at your local surf shop or their online store at checkout. If Surfcare is not currently available at your local shop and you’d like it to be, send us a message with details about your shop and we will reach out.
Q
Can I purchase Surfcare on a used board?
A
No, at this time Surfcare can only be purchased up to 30 days following the purchase of your new board at a participating retailer with a valid receipt.
Q
If I buy two or more new surfboards, does my Surfcare plan cover both of the boards?
A
Each protection plan is unique to a single board. If you purchase two boards you will need to purchase two protection plans and register the boards with Surfcare separately. In the near future we will be exploring ideas to cover your entire quiver. Sign up for our newsletter below for the latest news about new product launches and exclusive offers.
Q
Does Surfcare provide Insurance or Protection Plans on other types of boards other than surfboards?
A
Yes, Surfcare provides Protection Plans on;
- Surfboards (shortboards, fishes, fun shapes, mid-lengths, logs and just about everything else with fins).
- Stand up Paddle Boards
- Skimboards
- Foil boards
- Wakesurf Boards
- Wakeboards
- Kite boards
- Knee boards
- Wind surfboards
Q
Does Surfcare Insure soft-tops or foam boards?
A
Yes, Surfcare covers soft-top (aka foamies) structural damage. However, we don’t cover damage done to the foam area. Example, if your board is run over by another surfer and the fin slices through the foam, we currently don’t cover the foam repair. See youtube for simple foam repairs. Because soft tops and foam boards have advanced, we recommend the Premium which would cover the replacement of the board in the occurrence of a break, buckle or ripping out of the fin boxes - all common damages to soft tops.
Q
Does Surfcare Insure motorized surf, SUP or foil boards from damage?
A
Currently, we do not provide Protection Plans on any motorized surf, SUP or foil boards. If this is something you are interested in, drop us a line and tell us why this is important to you.
Q
Does Surfcare offer protection plans on inflatable (PVC, Rubber, Plastic) Stand up Paddle (SUP) Boards?
A
At this time, we do not cover inflatable SUPs against damage. However, many inflatable SUP manufacturers offer product warranties against delamination of rubber components, seal separation, etc... Make sure to check your manufacturer’s warranty policy to see if you are possibly covered.
Q
What kind of damage does Surfcare Cover?
A
Surfcare offers several protection plans ranging from covering your board(s) against the most severe damage of a break, buckle and/or fin box damage; all the way to covering against dings and damaged fins. Surfcare repairs surfboards that are glassed in traditional fiberglass, epoxy resin or similar material, including fins (if you purchased fin coverage). See all surfboard protection plan options on the “Surfcare Plans” page.
Q
What are examples of damage that Surfcare protects against if my board gets dinged or broken?
A
Coverage is dependent on the plan purchased. See “Surfcare Plans” for details.
Example scenarios resulting in a covered claim:
- If your leash breaks and your board ends up on the rocks damaging the fiberglass or epoxy to the point water gains access to the core of your board, the board will be covered by Surfcare with a valid protection plan.
- If you damage your fins or fin boxes on a shallow spot the board will be covered by Surfcare with a valid protection plan.
- If someone drops in on you and damages your board, the board will be covered by Surfcare with a valid protection plan.
- If you pull into a closeout and you buckle your board, the board will be covered by Surfcare with a valid protection plan.
Q
Does the Surfcare protection plan cover my sail, kite, harness, boots, straps, bindings, paddle or foil as part of my wind, kite, wake, SUP, foil or other board?
A
Surfcare board protection plans cover any part of the board that is glassed in traditional fiberglass, epoxy resin or similar material, including fins (if you purchased the appropriate coverage, excluding foils). The plan does not include coverage for soft goods or external accessories associated with the board.
Q
How long does my Surfcare Protection Plan last?
A
Surfcare offers one year and two year plans. See “Surfcare Plans” for more details around how long a protection plan last.
Q
Does Surfcare cover my board if it’s lost or stolen?
A
Surfcare does not cover boards that have been lost or stolen. It covers damage while “in use”. If you have a homeowners or renters insurance plan you should check your policy to see if it covers theft or loss of personal property.
Q
Does Surfcare cover my board if it’s damaged at home?
A
If your board is damaged while surfing, Surfcare will fix or replace your board. See Surfcare Terms of Service for details. Surfcare does not provide homeowners or renters insurance which may protect your surfboard from damage due to fire, theft, accidents, etc... while at home.
Q
Does Surfcare cover my board if it’s damaged while in my car?
A
If your board is damaged while surfing, Surfcare will fix or replace your board. See Surfcare Terms of Service for details. Surfcare does not provide automobile related insurance for surfboards, which may protect your surfboard in the case that it is damage during an auto accident. See your automobile insurance policy for details.
Q
Does Surfcare cover my board if it’s damaged while surfing outside of the U.S.?
A
Just like an automobile that is taken into another country, additional insurance is required to cover that vehicle while abroad. Surfcare is not responsible for damages that occur outside of the licensed state or country in which you purchased your protection plan within. See Surfcare Terms of Service for details. As of now the network is limited to the USA, but will continue to grow globally.
Q
Does Surfcare cover my board if it’s damaged while traveling by air or boat?
A
If your board is damaged while “in use,” Surfcare will fix or replace your board. See Surfcare Terms of Service for details. Surfcare does not provide travelers related insurance for surfboards, etc... To ensure protection while traveling at home or abroad, it may be beneficial to add a travel insurance policy.
Q
Does "Whose fault it is" matter when the board is damaged or broken?
A
No, if a board is damaged “in use” while covered by Surfcare, it will be repaired or replaced.
Q
If I have a Surfcare Protection Plan and I damage someone else’s board, is that board covered by Surfcare?
A
Surfcare only covers the board that is registered with Surfcare at the time of purchase against damage while “in use”. If the person’s board you damaged has Surfcare they are eligible to submit their own claim with Surfcare by calling our claims team toll free at (833) 349-7873.
Q
What States is Surfcare Available in?
A
Surfcare is currently available in all 50 States.
Registration
Q
How do I register my surfboard after purchasing a protection plan at Surfcare.co?
A
Register your board here. All covered surfboards must be registered prior to filing a claim.
Q
When do I register my board?
A
Immediately after purchasing Surfcare you will be prompted to register your new board. All covered surfboards must be registered prior to filing a claim.
Q
What if I purchased a board and it’s on backorder?
A
Immediately after receiving the new board, register it here and submit proof of delivery along with the proof of receipt. All covered surfboards must be registered prior to filing a claim.
Q
When registering my surfboard after purchasing my Surfcare protection plan, what information will I need to provide?
A
You will need to provide your:
- First Name
- Last Name
- Phone Number
- Surfcare order number found on your receipt
- Type of board
- Manufacturer of board
- Board Model
- Board Dimensions
- Board ID or serial number (usually found between the fins)
- Photo of the top of the board
- Photo of the bottom of the board
- Photo of your receipt of the new board
Claims
Q
How do I place a claim on my damaged or broken board?
A
Please call our claims team toll free at (833) 349-7873.
Q
What is the submission timeframe for claims?
A
Placing a claim takes only about 5 minutes on the phone. Replacing a board takes a few minutes at a Certified Sales Shop. Ding repair timeframes vary based on Certified Repair Shops’ process. Soon we will allow you to rate repair shops online to help improve quality of repair and timing in your local area.
Q
How does the 30% deductible work when submitting a claim on a broken board?
A
If your board is broken and non-repairable, Surfcare will replace it. Customers cover 30% of the receipt price they paid for the board. For example, if the board cost $800, the customer pays $240 and Surfcare covers the rest.
Retailers
Q
Why should I offer Protection Plans and Extended Warranties on surfboards?
A
- A good protection plan provides peace of mind to your customers when they purchase high value items like surfboards.
- Protection plans provide additional all profit revenue, risk-free to the retailers that sell them.
- Protection plans and extended warranties increase purchase conversion, giving customers the confidence to spend the extra dollars on a new, high priced board, knowing that they are protected from damage to their prized possession caused accidentally.
- Retailers will benefit from brand/store loyalty after the sale. In many cases where a customer damages their board, Surfcare instructs the customers to return to your shop to facilitate the repair inevitably leading to follow-on purchases of other items. In the case, the retail store doesn’t facilitate the ding repair but the customer incurs catastrophic damage, the customer always returns to the retailer where the board was originally purchased to pick up their new replacement - covered and paid for by Surfcare.
- The retailer no longer has to discount secondary board purchases due to breaks and buckles of a recently purchased board, not only generating revenue on new board purchases but saving the merchant money from discounting after the fact.
- All-in-all, the retailer gains a satisfied customer that will return time-and-time-again.
Q
How many protection plans should I expect to sell with new board purchases
A
Retailers should expect to see an attachment rate of 20% to 50% depending on how well the product is represented in the store.
Other
Q
When discussing surfboard insurance, what’s the difference between a surfboard manufacturer’s warranty and a surfboard protection plan?
A
Manufacturer Warranty
A manufacturer’s warranty generally comes with the purchase of a product and is bundled with the price of the product from the manufacturer as the name suggests. The warranty usually addresses the company’s promise to make repairs and/or replace defective parts or even the complete product for a specific period of time. Because some products do not come with a warranty or because a manufacturer’s warranty only lasts for a period of time, many third party companies offer protection plans and extended protection plans.
Protection Plans
Protection Plans are commonly found on higher ticket items that customers see as holding value as a long-term investment. Items such as surfboards, skis, bikes, appliances, tools, cars, boats, computers and electronics all have a high enough price to be worth purchasing a protection plan or extended protection plan for. Many protection plans go above and beyond the beneficial coverage of the manufacturer’s warranty. In most cases protection plans are well worth the added expense for high value items that are likely to incur damage at some point during the life of the item.
Q
How do I scan a Surfcare QR code with my Android or Apple phone?
A
The most common place you will find a Surfcare QR code will be stuck to the surfboard you are looking to purchase at your local surf shop. When activated, Surfcare QR codes should provide additional information about what Surfcare covers and/or allows you to purchase a Surfcare Protection Plan. Using QR codes should be easy, open your camera, point it at the QR code and click on the link that is provided on the screen. In order to engage the QR code on your phone follow these steps:
Apple Users:
- Open the camera app.
- Point the camera at the QR code.
- Click on the notification bar that appears at the top of your screen.
Android Users:
- Visit the Google Play Store and search for a “QR Barcode Scanner”.
- Install the QR code scanner.
- Open the app and point it at the QR code.
- Click on the notification bar that appears at the top of your screen.