Laptop insurance

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Insuring your laptop

It's up to you whether you protect your laptop - you'll know whether you can afford to replace it without help. Laptop cover is usually sold as a specific type of gadget insurance, but sometimes you can get cover as part of your house insurance instead.

Every policy is different, but you'll usually be able to get cover for a whole host of events. Things like accidental damage and theft.

Broadly speaking the more you pay, the more extensive your cover will be. Cheap and basic cover is available, but don't expect to be covered for every eventuality with it. You'll need to check policy docs to make sure you're happy with the cover you're getting.

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What does laptop insurance cover?

Every policy is different, but you'll usually get the below from either a basic or more comprehensive policy:

Basic cover


  • Accidental damage, including liquid damage
  • Worldwide cover, so you can take your laptop abroad with you
  • Mechanical failure and repair - even when your warranty has expired
  • Cover for accessories
  • Theft

Comprehensive cover


  • Loss
  • Screen cracks
  • Replacement
  • Unauthorised usage, if your laptop is lost or stolen
  • Malicious damage
  • Short-circuit damage - due to power surges, for example
  • Operating errors
  • Fire damage
  • E-wallet cover, in case of fraud
  • Family cover, so you can pull together insurance for your family's gadgets under one policy

Exclusions and limits

All policies come with exclusions and limitations, and they vary between insurers.  It just means there are some circumstances where you won't be able to claim.

Losing your laptop

You'll need to prove you weren't completely careless - an idea of where and when you lost it, for example.

Theft

You'll need to have made some effort to protect your laptop from theft. If it was stolen from a car, for example, it will need to have been concealed in the glove box or boot - and locked away. From your home, you'd usually need proof of forced entry.

Manufacturer warranty

You will be unlikely to claim on your gadget insurance for a fault if your device is still under warranty.

Cosmetic damage and general wear and tear

If you've given your laptop a bit of a bash, but it still works, a policy won't usually pay out to repair scuffs and scratches. The same goes for general wear and tear from using it

Deferment periods

You usually can't make a claim within the first 14 days of your policy starting. But the time period varies between insurers.

Number of claims you can make

For example, you may only be able to make two in a 12-month policy period.

Viruses and malware

Your insurance policy won't typically cover the cost of getting your laptop back in running order - particularly if you've forgotten to update your anti-virus software.

Old or refurbished laptops

Some policies will only cover your laptop if it's under a certain age, for example 36 months. If you bought a refurbished laptop, you may have to provide proof that you got it from a reputable source - for example an Apple Store refurb, rather than second-hand on eBay.

Dedicated laptop cover isn't your only option

There are a number of different options for insuring your laptop:

Care plans

If you buy a brand-new laptop, you'll usually be offer a care plan. Taking one out usually seems like the easiest option, but our top tip is to shop around to make sure you get a good level of cover at a reasonable price.

Warranty

A new laptop generally comes with a warranty, which will usually cover repairing your laptop if it breaks down, or replacing it if it can't be fixed. It'll be time-limited though, usually a few years. Sometimes, you can pay for an extended warranty. Just like care plans, shop around and see if it's worth it.

Home insurance

You can usually cover your laptop as part of your home insurance. If it's worth more than £1,000 (or thereabouts, it varies between providers) you'll need to specify it separately to get cover. At a basic level, it'll only cover your laptop in your home. If you want additional cover away from home and for things like accidental damage - you'll need to pay extra. It doesn't always work out cheaper than separate cover - so compare your options. 

Also, if you do need to claim, it'll impact the price of your home insurance in the future and your no-claims bonus.

Frequently asked questions

Your warranty normally covers you for mechanical failure, rather than things like accidental damage or theft. If you want to be protected against a few more eventualities, it's worth insuring your laptop alongside your warranty.

Call the police immediately to report the theft - most insurers expect you to do this within 24 hours. You'll need a crime reference, or incident number, to hand before you call your insurer to start the claim process.

Make sure to contact your insurer before proceeding with any repairs. It's usually one of the terms of your policy that you use one of their approved repairers. If you don't, you'll usually have to foot the bill yourself or pay an additional excess.

Laptop insurance will only cover the cost of repairs or replace your laptop if the safety or performance of your device is impacted. You won't be able to claim for things like scratches, dents or other visible defects.

Compare laptop insurance the easy way

Find the right cover for your laptop at the right price

  1. A bit about you and your tech

    We need a few details about you and your laptop. Who the manufacturer was, and when you bought it, for example

  2. Choose the type of cover you want

    Whether you want cover for accidental damage, theft or comprehensive cover. Plus, how much excess you want to pay

  3. View your quotes

    Compare policies, and pick the best option for you

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References

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