Home appliance insurance

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What is home appliance insurance?

Home appliance insurance provides cover for appliances such as your oven, fridge, washing machine and dishwasher. Also known as white goods insurance, it provides extra protection for appliances that most home insurance policies may not include. It acts as an extended warranty, making the replacement and repair of your home appliances much easier, and can often be cheaper than extended warranties offered to you by appliance manufacturers.

Home appliance insurance can provide you with peace of mind if your goods are expensive to repair or replace.

Why might you need home appliance insurance?

When people consider their valuables, most people will think about their computer, laptop, phone, jewellery or television. However, the most expensive goods in your home will often be home appliances such as your fridge or washing machine. Home contents insurance rarely covers these goods for anything other than accidental damage. Most warranties also only last for one year and extending them can be expensive.

Standalone home appliance insurance can work out as the most effective and cheapest cover for your home appliances. Consider the total cost of insurance against the cost of a new appliance. If you think you’d be able to cover the cost of a new product when your old one breaks, then you may not need home appliance insurance.

What is covered?

The goods that are covered will vary depending on the insurance provider and policy that you choose, but generally the following items are covered:

• Fridges, freezers and fridge freezers
• Washing machines, tumble dryers and washer-driers
• Dishwashers
• Ovens and microwaves
• Music systems
• Games systems
• Televisions and television systems

You’ll be covered on these items for things such as:

• Mechanical breakdown due to faulty parts or installation
• Cost of repairs, labour and call out charges
• Cost of appliance parts
• Emergency repair or replacement

Remember to always check the terms and conditions of the insurance policy to check what items are covered and what the extent of the coverage is, as policies will differ.

What is not covered?

Different policies may vary in what they class as a home appliance, so make sure to always check before you purchase a policy. Items such as mobiles and laptops you may need to insure by different means, such as through gadget insurance.

Many policies won’t cover the following potential situations:

• Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the functionality of the product
• General wear and tear
• Malicious damage or damage caused by misuse or abuse of the good
• Appliances that are too old
• Goods that were damaged before you took out the policy

How much will home appliance insurance cost?

The cost of home appliance insurance will vary depending upon the insurer and the policy that you choose. There may be other factors such as the total cost of the goods you are trying to insure, your credit rating, and the size of your home. Monthly premiums can start extremely low at just £1.49.

To get the best policy for you make sure you compare home appliance insurance policies online. There are plenty of domestic appliance insurance policies to choose from, so use our home insurance comparison tool to find the right deal for you!

FAQs

Do I need home appliance insurance if I’m a tenant?

If you are renting a home in which the domestic appliances have been supplied by a landlord, you shouldn’t have to take out cover for them as it is the landlord’s responsibility to replace or repair these goods.

Do I need home appliance cover as a landlord?

As a landlord it is worth considering getting home appliance cover as it may help you avoid any potential disputes with your tenants if an appliance breaks down. Be sure to purchase a policy that covers landlords.

Will my appliances be replaced with brand new ones if they aren’t repairable?

This will depend on the policy you purchase. Many insurance providers offer ‘new for old’ cover, but sometimes they will only purchase a new appliance if it costs less than the repair of an old one.