Cheap laptop insurance sounds an attractive proposition – but a little caution might be a good idea.

Getting the priorities right

Nobody can tell you what your priorities are or should be as far as laptop cover is concerned.

If you really wish to select a policy purely on the fact it’s the very cheapest – then that is, of course, your right.

However, there may be some potential issues downstream if you decide to make cheaper insurance your major or only goal.

Meeting your needs

Not everybody will necessarily have the same view of what is required of laptop insurance.

If, for example, you have no intention of using your laptop outside of your private office then perhaps you consider the risks of theft to be small. By contrast, if you take it with you regularly when you travel, you may consider that it is at real risk of being destroyed by an accident.

Perhaps you consider your risks to be primarily:

· theft;

· breakdown outside of the manufacturer’s warranty period;

· accidental destruction.

If so, you’ll typically be looking for a insurance policy that covers those needs rather than one that is necessarily the cheapest.

The meaning of words

What exactly does cheap laptop insurance mean?

What is cheap for one person may not necessarily prove to be cheap for you.

For example, if someone has insurance that’s cheaper than yours, it may be because their policy does not provide something that yours does. That may suit their requirements and individual circumstances – but will it yours?

There are also a range of other issues to consider including perhaps:

· does their laptop insurance policy bring with it a far larger excess than yours (the amount of contribution required towards the costs of any claims);

· would their policy guarantee to replace their laptop within 48 hours of a claim being approved (as some policies may);

· does their policy also include cover if the laptop is taken with you outside of the UK?

These are all reasons why a policy described as being cheap may or may not be one that is suitable for your needs and situation.

And it important to remember that as with any insurance product, terms and conditions, exclusions and limitations will apply and you may wish to read these carefully to ensure you understand them.

So, when thinking about what is claimed to be cheap laptop insurance, try to keep an open mind!