| Laptop Insurance - The Vital Elements | | | | with a Hydrological Consultant (who might be |
| Imagine if, for whatever reason, you were | | | | planning river system controls). The latter would |
| without your laptop. You need to do some work | | | | obviously seem more at risk of water damage |
| on it, or maybe some planning - you know why | | | | than theft. |
| you need it. | | | | Let's look at each in turn ... |
| But you cannot. It is incredibly frustrating. Many | | | | Extended Warranty: |
| people have been in this situation. | | | | Bizarrely, very few companies offer Extended |
| Your laptop might be lost, stolen, damaged or just | | | | Warranties as part of Laptop Insurance. The only |
| plain not working. How soon would it be before | | | | main provider that does is . If you want to be |
| you are back with a functioning laptop, and how | | | | covered for your laptop simply going wrong or |
| much is it going to cost you to get there? | | | | breaking down, you need to be covered for this. |
| Laptop Insurance is recognised as the necessary | | | | Loss Cover: |
| tool to help you through this, but how do you | | | | It would appear that almost no provider offers |
| know if you are getting good cover at a price | | | | loss cover. It is most likely deemed to be too |
| that represents good value to you? | | | | risky to insure. |
| To answer that, first you need to define exactly | | | | International Cover: |
| what is important to you. What are your likely | | | | Many providers will protect you for up to 60 days |
| risks? | | | | per year outside of the UK. |
| For example, if you never travel with your laptop | | | | Water Damage: |
| - maybe you just use it at home, sometimes in | | | | This is not a common element of cover in many |
| the lounge, sometimes in the study - then you | | | | laptop insurance company's policies, but it IS a |
| are probably not going to need international cover | | | | common killer of laptops! How many times has |
| as part of your laptop insurance. In this instance | | | | that cup of tea or class of orange juice been |
| you are probably not going to need loss cover | | | | dangerously close to spilling over your laptop |
| either (a laptop is not something you are likely to | | | | keyboard? |
| lose down the back of the sofa). | | | | Accidental Damage Cover: |
| What if you just drop your laptop? You need | | | | Again, this is a common need for laptop insurance. |
| your laptop insurance to be able to protect you | | | | You are walking along, maybe in a crown, and |
| for this. You do NOT want to have to commit | | | | your laptop bag gets knocked out of you hand ... |
| insurance fraud (and thereby break the law) by | | | | and smacks down on the concrete. This is a |
| lying in your claims process, you would want to | | | | relatively common element of laptop insurance. |
| make sure that you are covered for accidental | | | | Theft Cover: |
| damage. | | | | This is the most obvious risk for your laptop. You |
| So outline what elements of cover you think you | | | | laptop is a very portable, high value item. Anything |
| will need. For example ... | | | | that is worth a lot and can be carried while |
| * Will you need Extended Warranty in case it just | | | | running away is a prime target for thieves. |
| breaks down? | | | | Consequently, this is the most common element |
| * Will you need loss cover? | | | | of most laptop insurance policies. |
| * Will you need international cover? | | | | On analysis of the market, if you need all of the |
| * Will you need water damage cover? | | | | different elements of cover, then the 2U Laptop |
| * Will you need accidental damage cover? | | | | Insurance is, to the knowledge of this author, the |
| * Will you need theft cover? | | | | only laptop insurance policy available on the |
| It may seem obvious to you that you need | | | | market that will meet all of your wants and |
| certain elements of cover, and maybe not others, | | | | needs. |
| but just consider the list above. Some people | | | | If you do not need to protect yourself for all of |
| might feel more at risk of theft than water | | | | these eventualities, you can find slimmed down |
| damage, while others might be the other way | | | | levels of protection for your laptop with your local |
| around. | | | | insurance broker, or in your search engine. |
| For example, compare a travelling businessman | | | | |