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Updated: Jul 3, 2023, 1:49pm
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The Apple MacBook is one of the most popular laptop brands in the world. But with starting prices of around £1,000 for a new model, if you’re a MacBook owner you might want to consider insurance.
While it’s possible to protect a laptop under the ‘personal possessions’ element of a home insurance policy, standalone gadget insurance can offer more comprehensive and tailored cover.
We carried out some research (July 2023) into gadget insurance that covers laptops – comparing deals on price, coverage, policy features and exclusions. You can find out more about how gadget insurance works, below.
£10
12 months
£250
£10
12 months
£250
Switched On gadget insurance tops our list with basic cover starting at £9.25 per month and cover against loss and theft for £10 per month. Policies include protection for cracked screens, £250’ worth of accessories cover and up to 12 months’ overseas cover.
£13.25
45 days
£150
£13.25
45 days
£150
Trusted brand Post Office offers a basic policy that includes protection against loss and theft, though it’s not as competitively priced as some of its competition. For £13.25 a month, you’ll get cover for accidental damage (including liquid damage and cracked screens) as well as 45 days’ overseas coverage.
£6.98
12 months
£150
£6.98
12 months
£150
Cover Cloud offers protection from accidental damage including cracked screen and water damage, plus year-round overseas cover, for £6.98 per month. Cover against loss is not available through Cover Cloud.
£6.99
12 months
£175
£6.99
12 months
£175
Love It Cover It will protect your laptop against theft, accidental damage including cracked screen and liquid damage, plus you’ll get unlimited overseas cover for just £6.99 per month. The downside is that you get no cover for loss.
£10.49
12 months
£0
£10.49
12 months
£0
Protect Your Bubble’s laptop insurance policy covers accidental damage and theft. It also offers year-round overseas cover. It does not, however, include cover against loss and is more expensive than its peers at £10.49 per month.
We compared quotes from a series of insurance providers for a 2022 Apple MacBook Pro 13″ M2 256GB, bought today, worth between £800 and £1,000.
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 £100 to £175.
Gadget insurance is specialist insurance that covers your valuable electronics, such as laptops, smart phones, smart watches, cameras and tablets, against theft, loss or damage.
Typically you can cover a number of gadgets under the same policy, but in some cases there will be a limit on the number of claims. There will usually be an excess to pay on any claims – this is the first part of any claim that the insurer will deduct from your payout.
While home insurance policies will cover gadgets for theft from the home and for accidental damage and some level of cover away from the home (if you add this cover), gadget insurance can offer more robust protection.
Also by claiming on a standalone gadget policy instead of your home contents insurance, you won’t run the risk of seeing a big increase to your home insurance policy on renewal due to the claim.
While this varies from one policy to the next, it’s possible to protect your phone, laptop, digital camera, smart watch or other gadgets from:
Be aware not every policy will include this kind of coverage as standard, but it’s available if you’re willing to pay for it.
Gadget insurance is likely to turn down any claim that comes as a result of the policyholder not taking reasonable care of a gadget to prevent the damage or theft from happening in the first place.
For example, if you left your iPhone unattended on the top of a bar and it was stolen, the insurer is likely to reject your claim.
Every insurers’ exclusions are different, which means some will provide more comprehensive levels of cover than others. It’s important to read policy wording documents carefully to understand what you’re signing up for.
Like most electronics retailers, Apple will offer its own insurance cover when you buy one of its products.
Always check what cover is being offered for the price and compare it to standalone gadget insurance before making a decision.
Keep in mind that many gadget insurance policies cover a number of devices – not just one.
This will depend on the policy. Many gadget insurers will provide cover for refurbished gadgets as long as you bought them within the last two months and they came with a 12-month warranty.
Yes, your gadget cover offers protection for your gadgets wherever you are. Each provider in our list offers worldwide coverage, so your gadgets will be protected wherever you take them.
Manufacturers’ warranties typically only cover mechanical failure. They provide no level of protection against theft, loss or accidental damage and so they can’t be solely relied on.
I am passionate about personal finance issues and helping consumers navigate the world of insurance, credit, savings and pensions. I have been a money journalist for almost two decades, including ten years on the award-winning personal finance desk at the Mail on Sunday.