How do I insure a laptop?

[bigdaddy]

I just bought a MacBook Pro and I want it insured in case someone steals the thing, or wherever it is burns to the ground.

The issue is I don't have an appartment, I'm couch hoping at the moment. A friend of mine said to stick it on my mom's home owner's insurance. I asked how that works (In case it's stolen from somewhere other than the house) and he went "Ask you mom! Just do it!". I asked her and she was her typical clueless.

So I'll be getting the laptop hopefully on Tuesday, and I will be travaling to the next couch on Thurday which is far away and I'd like to have some protection on it by then.

 

[Dream]

I don't know why people buy computer insurance. Computers/laptops are so cheap nowadays that it is just so much easier to buy another one.

 

[Joker]

The £120 aftersales cover I've taken on all my Dells paid for itself several times over when things go kaput.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I don't know why people buy computer insurance. Computers/laptops are so cheap nowadays that it is just so much easier to buy another one.

You must've never bought a Mac then

Nothing cheap about them. Price-wise at least.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I don't know why people buy computer insurance. Computers/laptops are so cheap nowadays that it is just so much easier to buy another one.

You must've never bought a Mac then

Nothing cheap about them. Price-wise at least.

Yeah, seriously. I wouldn't insure my $300 laptop, but a $1000+ Mac? You bet!

(That is purely hypothetical since I don't see myself buying one.)

 

[Starbreaker]

www.safeware.com

 

[ngc7293]

I have always heard that if you ever by anything above $300 in electronics, you should get the insurance for it.

 

[doubleohfive]

http://www.apple.com/support/products/

 

[Trekker4747]

Have your mom stick it on her home owner's insurance under a rider.

 

[stoneroses]

In the UK it probably comes in with you home insurance.

 

[bigdaddy]

http://www.apple.com/support/products/

That's completely different. If it's stolen or there is a fire there is nothing they do.

Have your mom stick it on her home owner's insurance under a rider.

I told her that and she looked like me like I was nuts. I think I'm on my own on this.

 

[doubleohfive]

http://www.apple.com/support/products/

That's completely different. If it's stolen or there is a fire there is nothing they do.

Don't leave it out where it can be stolen. Don't leave it in a place susceptible to catching fire. Problem solved.

 

[propita]

Yes, the rider on her insurance should be okay. It would probably be similar as if you were at college.

If you bought it with certain credit cards (like Amex), they include that for at least a year I think. You'd have to check. Handy thing about Amex. (We have the no-annual-fee card. We're cheap that way.)

 

[Trekker4747]

http://www.apple.com/support/products/

That's completely different. If it's stolen or there is a fire there is nothing they do.

Have your mom stick it on her home owner's insurance under a rider.

I told her that and she looked like me like I was nuts. I think I'm on my own on this.

Nuts because she didn't want the laptop on her insurance or because she didn't know you could/what that was?

A rider is just "extra insurance" on top of the stuff that home owner's insurance wouldn't normally cover. Sometimes you can learn about things like this the hard way. My brother had his car broken into once and had his after-market radio and CD book stolen. Car insurance didn't cover either since it wasn't considered "part of the car" as they were either additions made to the car afterwards or not part of the car at all. (Nor did either really meet the deductible.)

A rider is "additional insurance" that covers what the primary insurance policy doesn't. It also usually has a separate, lower, deductible. Getting a laptop on a rider is certainly viable and the way to go. I, for example, have my DVD collection on a rider on my renter's insurance. Re-approach your mom (assuming she doesn't know what a rider is) with this information and simply offer to pay the difference for the rider -which only costs like $20 or so for a year-long policy.

 

[Amaris]

I have a $50 tablet, and I bought the insurance for it (though that was only $5). If it's worth it to you, it's worth insuring.