Laptop insurance
With the most expensive laptops retailing at thousands of pounds, it’s well worth thinking about how you could protect yours against damage, theft and more. We take a look at the options for laptop insurance.
With the most expensive laptops retailing at thousands of pounds, it’s well worth thinking about how you could protect yours against damage, theft and more. We take a look at the options for laptop insurance.
What is laptop insurance?
Laptop insurance is a type of gadget insurance that you can buy as a standalone policy.
You can buy insurance just for your laptop, but it’s often bundled together as phone and laptop insurance, or with cover for your tablet, PC or MacBook and other valuable devices. Specialist laptop insurance typically offers high levels of cover for your laptop and other devices.
But you don’t necessarily have to buy a separate insurance policy for your laptop. Insurance for your laptop may already be included as part of your home contents insurance.
Or you might be able to add on cover for any gadgets and valuables, such as your laptop, that aren’t covered by your home insurance.
You can’t compare standalone laptop or gadget insurance at Compare the Market.
What does laptop insurance cover?
Standalone laptop insurance offers specialised protection for your laptop. Policies vary but you can expect to see the following features in a basic or comprehensive policy.
Basic laptop insurance may cover:
- Theft
- Accidental damage
- Liquid damage
- Travelling with your laptop abroad. Check if it’s worldwide or Europe only
- Mechanical failure once your laptop’s out of warranty
- Accessories.
More comprehensive laptop insurance may also cover:
- Replacement if your laptop is lost
- Cracked screen
- Unauthorised usage if your laptop is stolen or lost
- Malicious damage
- E-wallet protection in case of fraud
- Fire damage
- Family cover so you can pool your gadgets under one policy.
What won’t laptop insurance cover?
Policy limits and exclusions vary among providers, but laptop insurance generally won’t cover:
- Loss or theft of a laptop that’s been left unattended and in clear sight
- Viruses and malware – unless you have a cyber policy
- Refurbished laptops – unless they have a 12-month warranty
- Old laptops – typically over 36 months but check the policy age limits before you buy
- Scratches, scuffmarks, cosmetic damage and general wear and tear
- Mechanical faults while your laptop is still under warranty.
Are there alternatives to laptop insurance?
There are a couple of alternatives, but it’s important to look carefully at what they offer and weigh up your options.
- A laptop care plan: these ongoing support packages can cover repairs, parts, and labour and technical support for your laptop. Some will also cover accidental damage.
- A laptop warranty: new laptops come with time-limited warranties, but these typically only cover mechanical failures. They won’t cover you if your laptop is stolen, lost or damaged. Check the details of your warranty so you know exactly what’s covered and for how long.
Is my laptop already covered by my home insurance?
Home contents insurance typically covers theft of your laptop from your home, and loss or damage caused by certain insured events, like a fire.
Including a laptop in your home insurance cover is typically cheaper than taking out a separate policy. But there are a few details to consider to make sure your laptop is properly insured:
- If you have a valuable, top-of-the-range laptop, it may exceed the single-item limit. This is the maximum amount your policy will pay out for one item, typically around £1,500.
- If your laptop exceeds the single-item limit, it will need to be listed separately on your policy and there’s likely to be an extra cost for covering it.
- Your laptop might not be covered for accidental damage. That means you wouldn’t be able to claim if, for example, you spilled a cup of tea on the keyboard and it no longer worked. But you may be able to add accidental damage insurance to your policy for an extra cost.
- Your laptop may only be covered while it’s inside your home. Check your policy to see if it includes personal possessions cover. This can protect your gadgets and any other valuables that you take with you when you’re out and about.
If personal possessions cover isn’t included in your policy, you may be able to add it on for an extra cost.
Do I need laptop travel insurance?
You may do. Cover for your laptop should be included in a standard travel insurance policy, but single item limits can be low. A travel insurance policy will show cover limits for gadgets, so make sure you check. If your laptop is worth more than £200 or so, it might be worth getting travel insurance with laptop/gadget cover as an add-on.
Travel insurance with gadget cover offers a higher level of protection with higher limits. It can cover not just your laptop but other expensive devices you’ll be taking with you, such as your smartphone, camera or wearables.
If you have standalone laptop insurance, it may already include cover for your laptop abroad. If it does, look out for any exclusions. For example, check you’ll be covered in the destination you’re travelling to.
Is there dedicated student laptop insurance?
Yes, some insurance providers specialise in gadget insurance for university students. Student laptop insurance will cover you for the specific risks you face as a student, living in halls or student accommodation. It can help replace your laptop quickly so you can get back to studying (or watching Netflix).
Before you rush off to sign up for a student gadget insurance deal, it’s worth seeing what cover you already have. Check if your laptop will be covered by your parents’ home insurance while you’re at university. If you have student contents insurance for your halls or shared house, check that policy to see if you’re covered or if you need additional laptop cover.
How much does laptop insurance cost?
The cost of laptop insurance will depend on several factors, including:
- Whether you want cover for just your laptop or for other gadgets too
- The level of cover you choose
- The value of your laptop
- Whether you pay annually or monthly – it’s usually cheaper to pay annually, if you can.
Where can I find laptop insurance?
You can’t compare quotes for standalone laptop or gadget insurance at Compare the Market.
But we can help you find a great deal on home contents insurance – or student contents insurance – that can include cover for your laptop.
Our simple comparison tool can help you get quotes from leading home insurance providers in minutes. Just tell us a little bit about yourself and the computer/laptop you want to insure, and we’ll do the rest.
Start a quoteFrequently asked questions
Does laptop insurance cover computer viruses?
Standard laptop insurance policies may not cover computer viruses. If you’re concerned about malware, you might want to look for more comprehensive computer insurance with cyber cover.
Can I insure a laptop that’s over three years old?
You should be able to find insurance that covers older laptops and gadgets, but your choices will be limited. Many standard laptop insurance policies will only cover your laptop if it’s under a certain age, often 36 months, but sometimes less. That’s because as your laptop gets older, it’s more likely to have mechanical faults and breakdowns.
Do I need proof of ownership to claim on insurance for my laptop?
To reduce fraud, insurance providers may ask for proof of ownership so they can be certain that the gadget you’re claiming for is yours.
Make sure you keep receipts or have proof of purchase via a bank or credit card statement. If you’ve been given your laptop as a gift, then you might need a gift receipt.
Will I get a new laptop if I make a claim?
It depends on the policy. Some pay out in cash, while others provide an equivalent replacement.
If it’s not possible to replace your laptop with an identical version of a similar age, you’ll get one with the nearest specification. However, it won’t necessarily be the same colour or possibly even the same manufacturer as the original item.
Will I need to register my laptop on Immobilise?
Some insurance providers may ask you to register your device on Immobilise – the UK National Property Register. It helps police identify the owners of recovered property and might help track down a missing laptop. Check your policy to see if you need to register.
Anna McEntee – Home, travel and pet insurance expert
Anna’s all about delivering fantastic insurance products at a great price. Value is the most important thing for Anna, as she cuts through the jargon and finds what’s most important and worth your hard-earned money.