Our Pick Of The Best Laptop Insurance

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Next to smartphones, laptop computers are among the most expensive electronics we carry around with us. Since they’re expensive to replace, a good insurance policy is a sensible precaution.

While it’s possible to protect a laptop with a home insurance policy featuring personal possessions cover, we looked at some of the best standalone gadget insurance policies that covered laptops, comparing them on price and policy features.

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  • Market-wide survey of leading gadget insurance providers
  • Rigorous assessment of policy features and benefits
  • Thorough analysis of pros and cons

Our pick of the best laptop insurance providers in the UK


Dynamo Gadget Silver

Dynamo Gadget Silver
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Monthly cost

£5.10

Min. Excess

£200

Max gadgets

5

Monthly cost

£5.10

Min. Excess

£200

Max gadgets

5

Why We Picked It

For £5.10 per month – or £61.20  per year (or £53.50 if paid annually) – Dynamo Gadget’s Silver policy allows customers to make unlimited claims and receive unlimited replacement devices should theirs be lost, stolen or accidentally damaged beyond repair.

The policy could be a good option for frequent travellers, since it includes 90 days’ worldwide cover each year. Accessories, such as chargers and carrying cases, are covered up to the value of £150, and replacements and any repairs come with a three-month warranty.

At £200, this policy also has a relatively high excess (the amount policyholders must pay towards any claims they make).

Dynamo Gadget requires customers to provide photographic proof of their device’s condition when they take out a policy.

Pros & Cons
  • Most affordable quote
  • Replacement devices include 3 month warranty
  • 90 days’ worldwide cover per year
  • High excess

Dynamo Gadget Gold

Dynamo Gadget Gold
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Monthly cost

£5.47

Min. Excess

£150

Max gadgets

5

Monthly cost

£5.47

Min. Excess

£150

Max gadgets

5

Why We Picked It

For £5.47 per month – or £65.64 per year (£57.45 if paid annually) – Dynamo Gadget’s Gold policy offers the same features as its Silver policy but with a lower excess.

At £150, the excess (the amount policyholders must pay towards any claims they make) on this policy is somewhere in the middle of the pack. It’s not the cheapest, nor is it the most expensive.

Dynamo Gadget requires customers to provide photographic proof of their device’s condition when they take out a policy.

Pros & Cons
  • Low excess
  • 90 days’ worldwide cover per year
  • 3 month warranty on replacement devices
  • £150 excess on claims

Home Rescue Co Gold

Home Rescue Co Gold
5.0
Our ratings take into account a product's rewards, fees, rates and other category-specific attributes. All ratings are determined solely by our editorial team.

Monthly cost

£5.91

Min. Excess

£150

Max gadgets

5

Monthly cost

£5.91

Min. Excess

£150

Max gadgets

5

Why We Picked It

For £5.91 per month – or £70.92 per year (£61.99 if paid annually) – Home Rescue Co’s Gold policy allows customers to make unlimited claims per year, should their device be lost or accidentally damaged beyond repair.

Replacement devices and repairs come with a three month warranty.

The policy could be a good option for frequent travellers, since it includes 90 days’ worldwide cover each year.

At £150, this policy has a relatively high excess (the amount policyholders must pay towards any claims they make). Accessories for your device, such as headphones and cases, are also covered up to £150.

Home Rescue Co requires customers to provide photographic proof of their device’s condition when they take out a policy.

Pros & Cons
  • 90 days’ worldwide cover per year
  • Accessory cover included
  • Repairs come with 3 month warranty
  • £150 excess

Methodology

For the sake of comparison, we gathered quotes from a series of insurance providers for a 2022 Apple MacBook Pro 13″ M2 256GB, bought in the last month and worth between £800 and £1,000 (May 2024).

We looked at each provider’s lowest premium and their lowest premium for a policy including cover against theft and loss.

For each quote, we opted for the provider’s default compulsory excess amount, which ranged from £150 to £200.


What to look out for with laptop insurance

Every kind of insurance policy comes with conditions and exclusions, so while a policy might technically cover you against theft, for example, the insurer is unlikely to pay out if your laptop were stolen after you left it unattended in a cafe.

Policies also have an excess – the amount automatically deducted from any claims payment you receive. In some instances we found this cost as much as £200, so it’s definitely something to take into consideration when buying your policy.

Be aware that some insurance providers won’t provide cover for older laptops. It’s typical for them to only cover devices bought in the last 12 months, or sometimes less. You’ll sometimes need to provide proof of purchase too.

It’s also worth noting that some policies won’t let you make a claim within a certain number of days of buying the policy. In some cases, you can’t claim in the first 14 days, for example.

Accidental damage is unlikely to pay out if the damage suffered by your laptop is cosmetic only. For example, if you’ve dropped your laptop and cracked its casing but it’s operating normally, a policy is unlikely to pay out.

Finally, check the policy wording for the maximum number of claims you can make per year. It’d be bad luck to have to file two accidental damage claims in a span of 12 months, but it can happen. If a provider only allows one claim per year, you’d have to pay for repair yourself.


What does laptop insurance include and exclude?

Laptop insurance can protect you against loss, theft and damage – depending on the level of cover you pay for and the circumstances of the claim.

Cover typically excludes instances where a laptop is lost or stolen after having been left unattended in public, or used in such a way as to put it at particular risk of damage.

Policies don’t cover general wear and tear of the device either, meaning you can’t claim for scratches and cracks if they don’t make the laptop unusable. Policies don’t usually cover against viruses, malware or any other kind of infection.

Any claim filed as a result of the owner not taking reasonable care of their laptop is likely to be rejected.

Many insurers will only cover newer devices, for example, one that was bought in the last 36 months. If you bought a refurbished laptop, you may only be able to get cover if the refurbisher is deemed reputable – Dell, for example.

Finally, it’s common for policies to exclude claims within the first few days or even weeks of the policy starting.

If you have a policy in place, you should contact your insurer to start a claim. If covered, you’ll get a claim number and be asked to pay the excess. Your insurer will then  give you instructions about its process for getting the laptop repaired or, if necessary, replaced.


Does laptop insurance cover computer viruses?

No. Laptop insurance is designed to cover the hardware – that is, the physical machine. Any harm that comes to your computer’s operating system or software as a result of computer viruses is something you’ll need to remedy on your own.


What should I do if my laptop needs repairing?

If you have a policy in place, you should contact your insurer to start a claim. If covered, you’ll get a claim number and be asked to pay the excess. Your insurer will then  give you instructions about its process for getting the laptop repaired or, if necessary, replaced.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does my warranty mean I don’t need insurance?

The manufacturer’s warranty on your laptop concerns mechanical failure. If you were to damage or lose your laptop, the manufacturer isn’t obliged to help you. A good insurance policy will cover these kinds of things.

Does my care plan mean I don't need insurance?

If you have an Apple laptop and opted for its AppleCare+ cover, problems such as accidental damage may already be included, so it’s best to read the policy wording carefully before buying additional cover.

According to its website, Apple offers protection against unlimited incidents of accidental damage, each subject to an excess fee of £79 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or £229 for other accidental damage.

The AppleCare+ premium for the laptop used in our research (a 2022 Apple MacBook Pro 13″ M2 256GB) comes in at £69.99 per year.

Does my home contents insurance cover my laptop?

Your home contents insurance policy only covers your laptop if it features personal possessions cover, the value of your laptop doesn’t exceed the policy’s single item limit, and laptops aren’t listed in the policy’s exclusions. Check your policy wording carefully to find out more.


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