Backpacker laptop insurance?

Techn

This may have been in the wrong forum before, so i'll try here.

In a few weeks i plan on taking out backpacker insurance with 'direct-travel' as its fairly well priced for my needs.
However, most travel insurance says they offer say £1500 baggage cover but individual items are only covered up to £150 each. This is a problem for my £350 laptop and £250 ipod.

Is there a similarly competitively priced insurance company that would include the laptop? or a seperate company?

I noticed 'protectyourbubble' looked good, but i dont think they allow cover for only 6 months (which is what i need), they seem to require continuous payment for the full year.

Should also add that home insurance would only cover for 60 days abroad, plus they say they cant just offer the initial 60 days of the 6 month trip.


Any pointers are much appreciated.

coecon

Hi, the limit on VALUABLES is standard to all travel insurance policies, even Short Stays and Annuals. It is impossible to prove that you have taken these items so in advance it is going to be difficult to prove a claim. You need specialist cover outside travel insurance but it ain't easy - this is an area of high fraudulent claims. There are some insurers who will cover Valuables for longer stays under Home Contents and you need to surf and find an outlet so you actually register the items you are taking. Backpackers schemes will often have an alternative wording to (say) a Comprehensive cover so read that small print. Good luck

Techn

i've had a look at a number of specific gadget insurance companies (including that already mentioned) and they all claim to offer 'worldwide coverage'.
However reading the fine print shows that they all only offer 60 days worldwide coverage. this seems rather odd.

i'm yet to find anyone offering more than 60 days but i'll keep looking

Techn

a slightly more expensive columbus direct policy covers valuables up to £300, whether this includes laptops i dont know, i will enquire.

ILW

I would just buy a cheap netbook and MP4 player. Backpacking and expensive consumer electronics are not a good mix.

Techn

A small update on my findings, which might help others.

Two companies (possibly with similar backgrounds) offer to cover a laptop of my price for £30 for one year. They are:

Insureandgo,
Worldwide insure

I have read bad things about insureandgo on these forums, especially when paying up for stolen or lost items, so this puts me off. However, worldwide insure seem promising, even responding to my query very quickly.

They claim to cover acidental and malicious damage, theft and even accessory cover. The excess is £25 when claiming in the UK and £75 abroad. Should also mention the laptop must be no more than 6 months old.

I was dubious of hidden limits of coverage abroad (60 days etc) so i emailed them saying that within that years coverage i plan on visiting here for 1 month, there for two months etc. And this was their reply:

"If you are looking at the Computer cover policy the laptop would be covered should you travel outside of the UK . You must be intending on returning to the UK at the end of the trip"

So no claims of limited days coverage, and for only £30, it seems too good to be true no?

shopaholicleo

I'm in a similar situation, I need to take my laptop away for 4 days to America, can anyone help?
Thanks

backpackermatt

Not sure if this will help anyone but if you are going away you can try world nomads - they are not the cheapest but they allow you to cover single expensive items you want cover for so you get the full amount in case you need to claim.