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Laptop Insurance: How to get coverage for your laptop with Contents Insurance

A woman on her laptop

Jessica Taylor Yates

Posted March 06, 2024

Laptops were made to be portable, but they have a high replacement cost. Find out about insuring your laptop at home and on the move. 

Laptops are indispensable tools in our modern lives, enabling us to work, study, and stay connected wherever we go. However, their portability, importance, and high replacement costs make laptops susceptible to theft and damage. 

Not only are laptops high on the list of what thieves want most from your home, but accidental damage or loss can you leave you without a valuable asset that you may need frequently. 

Whether you are at home or on the move, insuring your laptop becomes a crucial consideration to safeguard your investment.

Consider safeguarding your laptop with the right insurance coverage, for added peace of mind, whether you're at home or on the go. 

Insuring your laptop: A comprehensive guide

How can I insure my laptop? Is it covered under my home and contents insurance policy?

With RACV Contents Insurance, RACV Renters Insurance or combined RACV Home and Contents Insurance, your laptop may be covered for certain insured events while it is inside your home.

Regardless of the brand or model of your laptop, whether it's a sleek MacBook or a powerful Windows device, laptops are covered inside the home. Should you need to make a claim, you will require proof of purchase, so make sure to keep your receipts and any other documentation. 

You also have the option to add ‘Accidental Damage inside the home’ cover as an extra, providing protection for instances like accidentally dropping your laptop within your home.

However, if the cover on your policy doesn't suit your needs, there are alternative methods to protect your laptop, such as subscribing to a manufacturer's 'care' program, seeing if your credit card covers the purchase, or what is covered by the laptop’s product disclosure statement.

To ensure coverage beyond your home, you can consider Portable Items Cover as an optional extra.

How much should I insure my laptop for? 

Laptops can be one of the most common household items people forget to insure. 

Refer to your policy to check if it offers 'new for old' cover. This type of coverage means your laptop may be insured for the full amount it would cost to repair or replace with a new one if an insured item is stolen, damaged or destroyed by an event listed in your policy, minus your excess.

Use a calculator to determine the total coverage amount you need, considering the replacement cost of your laptop. Underinsuring your laptop might leave you financially exposed in case of repairs or replacements after a covered event.

RACV Contents Insurance doesn't impose a limit on computers and laptops within general contents inside the home. 

Laptops can also be included in optional Portable Items Cover up to a value of $10,000, unless listed separately on your policy for more.

What is my laptop covered for?

Review your policy's Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand the types of damage your laptop may be covered for.

RACV Contents Insurance can cover laptops for listed unexpected events inside your home, including fire, flood, storm, and theft. 

You also have the option to add ‘Accidental Damage inside the home’ cover as an extra, providing protection for instances like accidentally dropping your laptop within your home.

‘Accidental Damage’ provides cover for damage to General Contents or valuable items that is caused unintentionally and happens in the home or at the site. A $300 excess applies.

 

man typing on his laptop

Optional Accidental Damage Cover can insure your laptop if it is accidentally damaged within your home. Image: Getty

Is my laptop covered when I take it out of my house? 

Given the mobile nature of laptops, it would be a good idea to check whether your policy covers theft or damage outside your home or when you travel.

To extend coverage beyond your residence, you can consider Portable Items Cover as an optional extra. This can safeguard your laptop when you take it out to work or school, or even if it is damaged in an open-air area on your property (like the yard) during a storm.

Is my laptop covered in another state or country? 

If you have RACV Portable Items Cover, your laptop may be insured for the full new-for-old amount (up to a specified limit) regardless of your location globally. 

Additionally, adopting safety measures while traveling can further protect your laptop from potential risks.

Is my laptop covered for work or business purposes?

For those using laptops as part of their business, specialised Business Insurance is available. This can assist with covering laptops used as business equipment against listed events such as accidental fire or theft.

RACV Business Insurance caters to a variety of business professions, including trades, consultants, professionals, retail and hospitality store owners, domestic services, and repairs.

How do I update my policy for my laptop cover? 

Regularly review your insurance coverage, especially after purchasing new and valuable items like laptops, to avoid underinsuring.

You can update your RACV Contents Insurance policy at any time to include new purchases and add Portable Items Cover. 

While Accidental Damage Cover can be added at any time, changes to your policy may impact your premium. 

Please note: Accidental Damage Cover cannot be added after the event has occurred. 

How do I make an insurance claim for my laptop with RACV?

In the event you need to make a home insurance claim, RACV Insurance allows you to make online submissions 24/7.

You can also contact the helpline at 13 19 03, requiring proof of ownership and value.

 

Help protect your laptop
Discover more about RACV Contents Insurance →

The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor and/or referrer, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. RACV Contents Insurance issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678. RACV Business Insurance issued by Insurance Australia Ltd, ABN 11 000 016 722, AFS Licence No. 227681.