Laptop insurance

Whether you use your laptop for your studies, work, or gaming, we know how important they are in our day-to-day lives. 

So when a laptop gets lost, stolen or damaged it can feel like the end of the world. Making sure your laptop is insured can limit your stress levels and save you money. 

We don't offer dedicated laptop insurance, but you can compare contents insurance quotes for laptops with us.

What's the best way to insure a laptop?

The best way to insure a laptop will depend on your individual needs.

So what works for you? Let's take a look at the options:

Dedicated laptop insurance

This just covers your laptop, which can be a good option as you may get more comprehensive cover. But as a heads up - you may have to pay more for it.

Gadget insurance

This covers all your electricals, so might be a good choice if you've got a lot of electronic items you want to cover.

Contents insurance

This covers the majority of your possessions. It might work out cheaper than buying cover for separate items like your phone, TV, laptop, and any other electrical items. You might not get the same level of cover though.

What if I’m a student?

The same applies if you're a student. Even if you live in a shared house, you can buy student contents insurance.

Each student can buy their own contents insurance policy. This could be the best option, as it stops one person's claims affecting the others' home insurance no-claims discount.

Unless you want to go back to paper and pen, you'll be using your laptop a lot while you're at uni. So it's well worth making sure it's covered.

What could contents insurance cover my laptop against?

Contents insurance covers your laptop against the following scenarios:

• Theft: If your laptop gets pinched, contents insurance can make sure you're not left out of pocket.
• Loss: If you've misplaced your laptop, contents insurance can reimburse or replace it.
• Accidental damage: A dropped laptop or spilled coffee might be included in some standard policies, but you may need to include accidental damage cover as an add on.

Will my laptop be covered outside my home?

Some policies will cover your laptop outside the home as standard, while others may only offer this as an add-on known as personal possessions cover.

Personal possessions insurance covers anything worth less than £1,000 against theft or damage when they're away from home.

Items that are worth over £1,000 don’t usually come under this definition. Instead, you list them as a ‘high-value’ or a ‘listed’ item. This may include expensive items of jewellery or bicycles, which need to be listed separately. So if your laptop is worth over £1,000, make sure it's listed.

What won’t contents insurance cover my computer for?

There are some things that contents insurance won't cover:

• Mechanical breakdown or manufacturer faults: These events are things you'll likely need to claim through your warranty.
• Wear and tear: The normal deterioration and damage that happens over time. You won't be able to claim for your computer's wear and tear.
• Cosmetic damage: Things like scratches, dents, and scuffs won't be covered.
• Software issues: Viruses and computer bugs won't be included in your policy. Manufacturer warranties often cover specific hardware or software issues, but usually for a limited time and only for their own software.
• Very expensive laptops: Think things like high end gaming laptops or brand new Mac books. You may need high value contents insurance for these as they’re likely to exceed your single item limit (the amount you can claim for a single item).
• Laptops you don’t own: You’ll typically need to provide proof of ownership to get cover.

How much is contents insurance?

Contents insurance costs an average of £5* a month, but you might need additional cover depending on the value of your laptop. If you add on accidental cover, for example, your insurance cost can get pricier.

It also depends if you choose to pay monthly or annually. It's usually cheaper to pay annually, if you can.

*Confused.co data Q1 2025.

What happens if I make a claim?

This all depends on your policy. Some insurers might give you money to buy a new laptop, while others may repair or refurbish yours.

Do I get a new laptop?

ome might give you a like-for-like replacement, though you may not get the exact model or colour. If these things matter to you, it's a good idea to check the policy documents beforehand.

Can I insure an older laptop?

It's generally possible to insure an old laptop, but your options may be limited. Very old laptops may not be covered, so if your laptop is more of an ancient relic, you might struggle to find a policy.

Some policies may put a limit on the age of your computer, so always check the policy wording.