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How Does Insurance Work in Tarkov? A Veteran’s Guide

Insurance in Escape from Tarkov (EFT) is your lifeline, your safety net, and sometimes, the only thing standing between you and complete gear annihilation. In its simplest form, insurance is a system where you pay a fee to have specific in-game items flagged for retrieval if you die during a raid and nobody else takes them. If another player doesn’t loot your insured gear, it will be returned to you via the game’s messaging system after a set period. Think of it as a very persistent, and sometimes unreliable, postman delivering your lost goodies back to your hideout.

The Nuances of Tarkov Insurance: More Than Just a Refund

While the core concept is simple, the devil, as always, is in the details. Understanding the intricacies of insurance is crucial for maximizing your chances of gear recovery and minimizing unnecessary expenses. Let’s dive into the specifics.

Who Can Insure Your Gear?

You have two primary options for insuring your gear: Prapor and Therapist. Each offers different pricing and return times, impacting your overall strategy.

Prapor: He’s the budget-friendly option. Prapor’s insurance is generally cheaper, making it ideal for insuring less valuable gear, or when you’re running low on funds. However, his return times are typically longer, meaning you’ll have to wait longer to get your insured items back.
Therapist: She’s the premium choice. Therapist offers faster return times, often cutting the wait in half compared to Prapor. This speed comes at a higher cost, so it’s best suited for insuring expensive gear that you want back quickly, reducing the risk of needing to rebuy it in the meantime. Also, insuring with Therapist can be a good idea when you are sure you might die and do not want someone else to loot the item.

How to Insure Your Gear

Insuring your gear in Tarkov is a straightforward process done via the pre-raid lobby. Before deploying into a raid, you’ll see your character’s loadout. Here’s how to do it:

Select Your Gear: You can individually select items you want to insure, or opt to “insure all.”
Choose Your Insurer: A pop-up will appear allowing you to select either Prapor or Therapist for each item.
Confirm and Pay: Review the insurance cost for each item with your chosen insurer. Confirm and pay the fee. Note that this money is non-refundable, even if you don’t enter the raid.

What Happens When You Die? The Insurance Timeline

The real magic (or lack thereof) happens after you die. Here’s a breakdown of the post-death insurance process:

The Fall: You die, and your gear is left on the battlefield.
The Scavengers Arrive (Maybe): Other players, both PMCs and Scavs, have the opportunity to loot your body and take your gear. This is the crucial element that determines whether you get your insurance back.
Insurance Trigger: If your insured items are not looted by other players within a certain timeframe (dependent on the map), the insurance system triggers.
The Waiting Game: A timer starts. The duration depends on the trader you used (Prapor or Therapist) and sometimes factors in external events, such as server load.
Return Delivery: Once the timer expires, you’ll receive a message from your chosen trader (Prapor or Therapist) with the insured items that were not looted. These items are delivered to your in-game message system and must be retrieved within a specified timeframe (usually 72 hours), otherwise, they disappear.

Factors Affecting Insurance Success

Several factors influence whether you actually get your gear back:

Map Location: High-traffic areas where players frequently fight have a lower chance of insurance returns. More secluded or less contested areas offer a better chance.
Gear Visibility: Leaving your gear in plain sight is a surefire way to ensure someone loots it. Hiding it in a bush or a less obvious location increases the odds of it being overlooked.
Desirability of Gear: High-value items are almost guaranteed to be looted. Insuring these is more about the chance of return than a certainty. Lower-value or niche items have a higher likelihood of coming back.
Player Activity: Events like server wipes or high player counts can affect the overall looting frequency and, consequently, insurance returns.
Scav behavior: The behavior of AI and player Scavs can also have an impact. They will also loot gear if possible and it can effect your insurance.

The Art of Strategic Insurance

Insurance isn’t just about blindly insuring everything. It’s about making informed decisions based on your risk tolerance, financial situation, and the gear you’re taking into the raid. Here are some strategic considerations:

Prioritize Expensive Items: Focus insurance on high-value items like helmets, armor, rigs, and weapons that are costly to replace.
Skip Common Items: Basic clothing, low-level backpacks, and inexpensive modifications are often not worth insuring, as the insurance cost might outweigh the item’s value.
Consider the Map: On maps known for intense PvP, lower your expectations for insurance returns and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Use Therapist for Time-Sensitive Returns: If you need your gear back quickly for subsequent raids, Therapist is worth the extra cost.
Hide Your Gear: If you know you are in trouble, hide the gear you want back. This is not a guarantee, but it can increase your chance of getting it back.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Tarkov Insurance

Here are some common questions about Tarkov insurance, answered with the precision and insight you’d expect from a seasoned player:

FAQ 1: What happens if I insure an item, but then extract with it?

Nothing happens. You paid for the insurance, but since you extracted with the item, the insurance contract is nullified. You essentially wasted the money, but you still have your gear!

FAQ 2: Can other players see what items I have insured?

No. Insurance is a private agreement between you and the trader. Other players have no way of knowing what items you’ve insured.

FAQ 3: If a Scav kills me and loots my insured gear, will I get it back?

No. Insurance only covers you if no one loots your gear. Whether it’s a PMC or a Scav, if someone takes your insured item, you won’t get it back.

FAQ 4: Does insurance guarantee I’ll get my gear back?

Absolutely not! Insurance only provides a chance of getting your gear back. The likelihood depends on the factors mentioned earlier, such as map location, gear visibility, and player activity.

FAQ 5: What if my insured item is damaged or has low durability when I get it back?

The condition of your insured item when returned is the same as when you died. If your armor was heavily damaged during the fight, it will be returned in that state.

FAQ 6: Can I insure items found in raid?

Yes! You can insure any item in your inventory, regardless of how you obtained it. This includes items found in raid, crafted items, or items purchased from traders.

FAQ 7: What happens if I insure an item that’s already damaged?

The item will be returned in its damaged state, as mentioned before. The insurance doesn’t repair or restore items.

FAQ 8: Is it worth insuring low-value items?

Generally, no. The insurance cost for low-value items often outweighs the item’s worth. Focus on insuring higher-value items. However, if you’re very attached to a specific modification or have sentimental value attached to an item, it might be worth insuring.

FAQ 9: Can I cancel insurance after I’ve paid for it?

No, insurance fees are non-refundable. Once you’ve paid for insurance, you cannot cancel it, even if you don’t enter the raid.

FAQ 10: How long do I have to claim my insured items once they’re returned?

You typically have 72 hours to claim your insured items from your in-game messages. If you don’t claim them within that timeframe, they will disappear.

FAQ 11: Does insurance work differently on Hardcore Mode?

While there isn’t a dedicated “Hardcore Mode” insurance is a regular feature of all game modes. Its effectiveness will always depend on the factors already covered.

FAQ 12: If I drop my insured item to help a friend, can I still get it back?

If another player picks up the item, it won’t return. If your friend picks it up and manages to extract it from the raid, it’s considered looted and insurance will not return it. If your friend dies with it and nobody else loots it, it should return to you. The risk is high, so plan carefully!

By understanding the nuances of insurance in Tarkov, you can make informed decisions that increase your chances of gear recovery and minimize unnecessary costs. Remember, insurance is a tool, and like any tool, it’s most effective when used strategically. Good luck out there, and may your insured gear always find its way back to you (eventually).