Key Takeaways:
- Most homeowners insurance plans will offer coverage for laptops and computers, as they are considered personal property.
- The coverage will kick in upon theft, vandalism, and some natural disasters.
- Accidental damage is not typically covered, nor are some other natural disasters.
Buying and owning a home can be a frustrating, yet rewarding, process. One of the most common questions new homeowners ask is if a homeowners insurance plan will offer coverage to their favorite computers, laptops, and related electronic devices.
Are Computers and Laptops Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Good news. Most homeowners insurance policies, and renters insurance, do offer coverage for laptops, computers, and the top monitors for eyes, as these items fall into a category known as personal property.
Protecting Your Devices with Homeowners Insurance
Though your laptop and computer will receive some coverage from a homeowners insurance policy, the benefits will only be activated under certain circumstances. Let’s take a look at how homeowners insurance breaks down when it comes to personal property.
Theft
Your laptop or computer will be covered if someone breaks into your home and steals it. A homeowners insurance plan will typically send you a check and allow you to buy a new computer on your own, whereas a dedicated insurance plan specifically aimed at a computer will usually replace the unit. Keep in mind, you will have to pay the deductible before receiving any benefits after a burglary. A homeowners insurance deductible is typically around one percent of the overall value of the home. It is also important to remember that every homeowner’s insurance policy has a benefits cap, which can add up in the case of a severe burglary.
Tip: Your laptop or computer will be covered if someone breaks into your home and steals it
Warning: Keep in mind, you will have to pay the deductible before receiving any benefits after a burglary
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Vandalization
If someone breaks into your home and vandalizes or otherwise damages your laptop, computer, or similar device, the insurance plan will kick in and help to pay for whatever damages have occurred. These benefits face the same restrictions as what you’ll face with a burglary. In other words, you will still need to meet the plan’s deductible before receiving any benefits and these benefits will be capped at whatever amount your individual plan indicates.
Tip: If someone breaks into your home and vandalizes or otherwise damages your laptop, computer, or similar device, the insurance plan will kick in and help to pay for whatever damages have occurred
Warning: you will still need to meet the plan’s deductible before receiving any benefits and these benefits will be capped at whatever amount your individual plan indicates
Damage Due to Natural Disaster
Most homeowner’s insurance policies will offer coverage in the event of a natural disaster. These benefits are typically used to help fix whatever damage was caused by said disaster, but can technically also be used if a laptop or computer has been damaged. Most policies offer coverage for windstorms, hail, fires, and blizzards. Many policies, however, will not allow coverage for floods, earthquakes, and mudslides. In other words, read the fine print of your policy thoroughly.
Warning: Many policies, however, will not allow coverage for floods, earthquakes, and mudslides
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STAT:
A standard homeowners policy has a deductible that’s typically 1% of the home’s value. (Source) The value may be diminished based on the look of it, so make sure you know how to clean your computer monitor without leaving streaks or dirt.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_insurance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_insurance
https://www.asurion.com/
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.464.604&rep=rep1&type=pdf
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.0022-4367.2004.00094.x
