Gadget insurance that covers older devices

NoamChomsky

Hi everyone, hope things are going well. I need some help from some insurance-savvy types.

My Macbook Pro was built in 2009, but is still very valuable (£1200-£1500 valuable), and I need to get it insured, pronto. I'd like to get my Samsung Galaxy S3 insured too, which was bought on eBay. The problem is that despite the fact that these devices are in very good condition (I take their welfare very seriously, as I can't earn a living without them!), the fact that the Mac is 4 years old disqualifies it from a lot of insurance policies, and the fact that the S3 was bought on eBay seems to be an issue too. If both of these broke I will lose up to £2000 replacing them, so I really need to insure the little guys - does anyone know a good insurance provider that will cover them? I've found one site that seems like it will do the Mac (laptopguard.co.uk), but not sure how good they are. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

NoamChomsky

PS, long time lurker, first time poster. Hello!

Quentin

If you are wanting insurance against accidental breakage, then normal house contents with accident cover will usually cover laptops of any age.

Though if you use these for business you will need special business insurance cover.

InsideInsurance

The policy you link to is an indemnity policy for anything over 18 months old so if you had a total loss of your laptop then they only have to give you the secondhand value of it not the price of buying a new one (and your excess obviously comes off of it).

They also have a fair number of exclusions, such as theft from your home when your not at home.

This policy also doesnt give you breakdown cover unless the breakdown immediately causes a fire

Home Insurance with Personal Possessions cover will cover your laptop more comprehensively for theft, accidental damage etc and will almost certainly be new for old. The problem with Home is that it wont cover it for breakdown and this appears to be a peril you want covered.

NoamChomsky

Thanks for the responses guys - unfortunately I live on a boat, so I think home insurance is going to be ridiculously difficult to get. My boat insurance covers break-ins, so the laptop and phone should be alright if that happens, but what I really need cover for is theft when I'm out and about and accidental damage (water, fire, drop etc.) Breakdown cover would be good, but as the Mac has lasted this long it's unlikely to die from manufacturing defect now. Is it the case that older laptops are just uninsurable? I'm open to any solution really, I'll look into business insurance, but as I'm a freelancer and not a limited company that may be difficult too.

Thanks again.