What's the best international iPad insurance?
May 9, 2011 9:57 PM Subscribe
What's the best international iPad insurance?
Hi all,
I'm taking a trip to Italy from the US in two weeks and would like to bring along my iPad 2. I'm a little bit wary of bringing it on the trip, though, due to the potential for theft/accidental damage/loss/etc. With that in mind, does anyone have any advice for an insurance policy that would cover my iPad while I travel? I'd like for it to last for at least a year, if possible. I purchased travel insurance for the trip but the per-item max reimbursement for loss or damage is $250, so I'd like a little bit more for my beloved tablet.
Thanks!
Hi all,
I'm taking a trip to Italy from the US in two weeks and would like to bring along my iPad 2. I'm a little bit wary of bringing it on the trip, though, due to the potential for theft/accidental damage/loss/etc. With that in mind, does anyone have any advice for an insurance policy that would cover my iPad while I travel? I'd like for it to last for at least a year, if possible. I purchased travel insurance for the trip but the per-item max reimbursement for loss or damage is $250, so I'd like a little bit more for my beloved tablet.
Thanks!
If you can afford a two-week trip to Italy, you can afford to repair/replace the tablet if it is stolen or broken.
What?? No. Personal articles insurance is the way to go. I get mine from State Farm; they charge me about $60/year these days for that policy which includes several expensive computers, a fancy camera and an iPad. Covers against loss, theft, and damage. I've had it for nearly a decade; the one time I had to use it I had a check in hand 48 hours after the theft.
posted by arnicae at 10:56 PM on May 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
What?? No. Personal articles insurance is the way to go. I get mine from State Farm; they charge me about $60/year these days for that policy which includes several expensive computers, a fancy camera and an iPad. Covers against loss, theft, and damage. I've had it for nearly a decade; the one time I had to use it I had a check in hand 48 hours after the theft.
posted by arnicae at 10:56 PM on May 9, 2011 [3 favorites]
Personal articles insurance is the way to go. I get mine from State Farm; they charge me about $60/year these days for that policy
I think you're referring to a homeowner's personal article insurance. Doesn't cover something you take overseas.
Honestly the cost and hassle of Loss, Theft and Damage travel insurance makes it of low use to anyone who isn't decked out in expensive jewelry- be willing and able to replace it, or leave it at home. I travel to the ends of the earth with quite a lot of expensive electronics and haven't lost anything to theft or damage or my own stupidity...yet.
If you do go with some form of personal article insurance, take care regarding the specifics: most do not pay out if there is no evidence of force.
posted by t_dubs at 11:06 PM on May 9, 2011
I think you're referring to a homeowner's personal article insurance. Doesn't cover something you take overseas.
Honestly the cost and hassle of Loss, Theft and Damage travel insurance makes it of low use to anyone who isn't decked out in expensive jewelry- be willing and able to replace it, or leave it at home. I travel to the ends of the earth with quite a lot of expensive electronics and haven't lost anything to theft or damage or my own stupidity...yet.
If you do go with some form of personal article insurance, take care regarding the specifics: most do not pay out if there is no evidence of force.
posted by t_dubs at 11:06 PM on May 9, 2011
Best answer: Well, I strongly disagree with the assumption that you're wealthy enough to replace your iPad simply because you have the opportunity to travel internationally, especially since your profile says you're a student. Perhaps you're not paying for the trip yourself, or you've saved for a long time to afford it, or you're planning to travel very frugally. More power to you! I recently traveled to Italy and spent less than the $950 you spent on your iPad as mentioned in your previous post.
You have a few options, including Safeware, homeowner's insurance, or State Farm's individual item insurance. I ran my details through Safeware and it quoted me about $80 with a $200 international deductible. The college/university student option gave me a higher quote, $120. Perhaps try to include it with your family's homeowner's insurance.
Even with insurance it's a hassle to lose your things so you should learn to protect yourself in other ways. Unfortunately, the best way to develop a really heightened sense of caution is to be mugged. After the bottom of my purse was knifed on a subway I learned to always keep a hand on my bag-- not just touching my bag, but lightly gripping the most important item inside. Be careful when your hands are busy, such as when you're on the phone or browsing a shop. I like cross-body bags which can be adjusted so that the bag hangs in front of you. Backpacks are a really bad idea. Keep your bag organized and clean so you can immediately notice if something goes missing. Think carefully about the zippers, pockets, etc.
It depends what you're doing in Italy but I'd say your biggest risk is with leaving your iPad unattended. Don't do that!!! Don't leave it on your tour bus and don't leave it in your hotel room (unless it's in your safe). Don't accept ANY unsolicited offers of help, ever. Don't help anyone and be especially wary of children or teenagers who get in your personal space. Generally I think it's much harder to steal an iPad than a wallet, as long as it is attached to your body.
posted by acidic at 11:20 PM on May 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
You have a few options, including Safeware, homeowner's insurance, or State Farm's individual item insurance. I ran my details through Safeware and it quoted me about $80 with a $200 international deductible. The college/university student option gave me a higher quote, $120. Perhaps try to include it with your family's homeowner's insurance.
Even with insurance it's a hassle to lose your things so you should learn to protect yourself in other ways. Unfortunately, the best way to develop a really heightened sense of caution is to be mugged. After the bottom of my purse was knifed on a subway I learned to always keep a hand on my bag-- not just touching my bag, but lightly gripping the most important item inside. Be careful when your hands are busy, such as when you're on the phone or browsing a shop. I like cross-body bags which can be adjusted so that the bag hangs in front of you. Backpacks are a really bad idea. Keep your bag organized and clean so you can immediately notice if something goes missing. Think carefully about the zippers, pockets, etc.
It depends what you're doing in Italy but I'd say your biggest risk is with leaving your iPad unattended. Don't do that!!! Don't leave it on your tour bus and don't leave it in your hotel room (unless it's in your safe). Don't accept ANY unsolicited offers of help, ever. Don't help anyone and be especially wary of children or teenagers who get in your personal space. Generally I think it's much harder to steal an iPad than a wallet, as long as it is attached to your body.
posted by acidic at 11:20 PM on May 9, 2011 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for your advice, acidic. I actually got the cheaper iPad in the end, and the trip to Italy is indeed extremely frugal :) Safeware does look like a good option, thanks for pointing it out.
Do you think there is any risk in leaving it buried inside a bunch of clothes in my suitcase in the hotel room if no safe is provided?
posted by orangeseed at 11:33 PM on May 9, 2011
Do you think there is any risk in leaving it buried inside a bunch of clothes in my suitcase in the hotel room if no safe is provided?
posted by orangeseed at 11:33 PM on May 9, 2011
Do you think there is any risk in leaving it buried inside a bunch of clothes in my suitcase in the hotel room if no safe is provided?
OK if you have a $5 TSA-safe combination lock.
posted by acidic at 11:48 PM on May 9, 2011
OK if you have a $5 TSA-safe combination lock.
posted by acidic at 11:48 PM on May 9, 2011
My State Farm Personal Articles Policy covers my items when I travel outside the US.
posted by birdherder at 12:03 AM on May 10, 2011
posted by birdherder at 12:03 AM on May 10, 2011
I'm not sure whether it's the same in the US, but here in the UK it's a little known fact that your home contents insurance will cover these gadgets. Depending on the insurance provider you may need to state the additional items you want covered but, in my experience, this has only been if the individual item is above a certain amount (eg. £1000).
If you're a student then you'll probably be covered by your parents home contents insurance - although you should double check the policy.
posted by mr_silver at 2:13 AM on May 10, 2011
If you're a student then you'll probably be covered by your parents home contents insurance - although you should double check the policy.
posted by mr_silver at 2:13 AM on May 10, 2011
birdherder has it: most homeowners' or renters' insurance policies cover your personal property anywhere in the world. The kicker is that you'll pay a deductible, and lowering your deductible much below $250 can be pretty expensive.
Here's what you do. Check your homeowners'/renters' policy* to see if there is coverage available.* Then check with your travel policy to see if the policies will coordinate, i.e. your travel policy paying all or part of the deductible and your main policy taking over from there. The insuring agreement--which you may have to ask for--will contain an "Other Insurance" section. Read it and discuss it with your agent. Odds are pretty good you can get coverage for the whole thing this way, as travel policies sometimes don't have deductibles, as the exposure is so low to begin with.
*And if you don't have one, shame on you. Renters' policies are ridiculously cheap, i.e. in the neighborhood of $100 a year.
posted by valkyryn at 6:07 AM on May 10, 2011
Here's what you do. Check your homeowners'/renters' policy* to see if there is coverage available.* Then check with your travel policy to see if the policies will coordinate, i.e. your travel policy paying all or part of the deductible and your main policy taking over from there. The insuring agreement--which you may have to ask for--will contain an "Other Insurance" section. Read it and discuss it with your agent. Odds are pretty good you can get coverage for the whole thing this way, as travel policies sometimes don't have deductibles, as the exposure is so low to begin with.
*And if you don't have one, shame on you. Renters' policies are ridiculously cheap, i.e. in the neighborhood of $100 a year.
posted by valkyryn at 6:07 AM on May 10, 2011
I think you're referring to a homeowner's personal article insurance. Doesn't cover something you take overseas.
I rent, and the item that was stolen was stolen while in SE Asia. State Farm's Personal Articles insurance can be used by a homeowner or a renter, and the policy I have covers my items at home or on the road, whether that is California or Ethiopia.
It is a great policy - in the past I've been on multi-year international trips and it provided me significant peace of mind, particularly after how swiftly and politely my loss was handled.
posted by arnicae at 11:27 AM on May 10, 2011
I rent, and the item that was stolen was stolen while in SE Asia. State Farm's Personal Articles insurance can be used by a homeowner or a renter, and the policy I have covers my items at home or on the road, whether that is California or Ethiopia.
It is a great policy - in the past I've been on multi-year international trips and it provided me significant peace of mind, particularly after how swiftly and politely my loss was handled.
posted by arnicae at 11:27 AM on May 10, 2011
Oh and I'll never forget how I was introduced to the policy. I was asking all sorts of suspicious questions, trying to figure out the catch, and the agent finally said,
"If you lose it in the States, at home, or on the road, we cover it. If you lose it anywhere abroad, we cover it. If you drop it off the balcony of your hotel into a pool, we cover it. If you drive over it with your rental car, we cover it. If you leave it on the table at a restaurant, we cover it. And of course if someone steals it, WE COVER IT!!"
posted by arnicae at 11:35 AM on May 10, 2011
"If you lose it in the States, at home, or on the road, we cover it. If you lose it anywhere abroad, we cover it. If you drop it off the balcony of your hotel into a pool, we cover it. If you drive over it with your rental car, we cover it. If you leave it on the table at a restaurant, we cover it. And of course if someone steals it, WE COVER IT!!"
posted by arnicae at 11:35 AM on May 10, 2011
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posted by saeculorum at 10:02 PM on May 9, 2011