Why you need washing machine insurance

A broken washing machine can be expensive to repair or replace, not to mention inconvenient. The good news is you can take out specialist washing machine insurance to protect you from unforeseen costs and get the expert help you need quickly.

What is washing machine insurance?

Washing machine insurance is a type of home appliance cover that usually covers the cost of call-out charges, repairs, parts or a replacement if your appliance breaks down. Unlike white goods insurance or kitchen appliance insurance, which will cover several appliances in your home like your fridge, freezer, oven and dishwasher, washing machine cover (as the name suggests) only applies to your washing machine.

Washing machine cover fills the gap between appliance warranty and contents insurance; providing cover if your appliance breaks down as a result of wear and tear, rather than accidental damage.

Benefits of washing machine cover

This type of cover could prove very beneficial when your washing machine warranty runs out. Washing machine warranty only tends to last for a year (unless you pay for an extended policy), after which you will not be able to benefit from free repairs or a replacement if your appliance breaks down.

Essentially, washing machine insurance takes over from the warranty. For a small, monthly fee you can benefit from cover for washing machine repairs, parts and in some cases a replacement. Rather than having to organise repairs yourself, you’ll be able to ring up your insurance provider and make a claim. They will then send out an expert contractor to fix your washing machine or provide a replacement if a repair isn’t possible. The costs of which should be covered by your policy.

It’s a great way to save money and benefit from expert help quickly, so you’re not left out of pocket or without a washing machine for long!

Do you need washing machine insurance?

Before you take out washing machine cover, you should check the following:

Are you covered elsewhere?

If your washing machine is under a year old or you have paid for an extended warranty (that is still valid) then you do not need to take out washing machine insurance.

If you already have home appliance cover, kitchen appliance cover or domestic appliance insurance, check your policy, as your washing machine is likely already covered by one of these.

Although unlikely, it may also be a good idea to check your contents insurance cover. Usually, contents insurance will only allow you to claim for accidental damage or theft, rather than a break down (as a result of general wear and tear) but double-check your policy just to be sure.

You don’t want to end up paying for the same cover twice!

Is it worth it?

If your appliance is relatively old and on its way out, you may be better off paying for a new appliance and benefiting from a free 1-year warranty, if something goes wrong. Some home appliance insurance companies will not cover older appliances as they’re likely to breakdown regularly and parts can be harder to source and, therefore, more expensive.

If your washing machine is relatively new but out-of-warranty, weigh up the cost of washing machine insurance against the typical cost of call-out charges and washing machine repairs – you’ll usually find it works out much cheaper.

How to find the best home appliance insurance for your washing machine

1. Consider your requirements

First things first, what do you need to get cover for? Is it just your washing machine? Or do you also require tumble dryer cover and insurance for other appliances in your home?

If it’s just a single appliance, washing machine cover will do the job. Some washing machine insurance policies will also include tumble dryer cover. You may even be able to secure a discount for insuring both appliances.

If you need cover for other appliances in your home, you may be better off purchasing domestic appliance insurance (which may also go by the name of kitchen appliance insurance or home appliance cover.) This will cover several appliances in your home such as your:

• Fridge
• Freezer
• Oven
• Microwave
• Washing machine
• Tumble Dryer
• Dishwasher

Like we said before, insurance companies will often give you a discount if you take out multi-appliance cover.

2. What’s included in the policy?

Make sure the washing machine cover or home appliance insurance ticks all of your boxes. Does it cover call-out charges, repair work and parts? All of these can be pretty expensive, so the costs must be covered by your policy. It’s also worth looking for washing machine insurance that includes a free replacement if your washing machine can’t be fixed.

Find out if you will be required to pay any excess and whether there is a limit on the amount you can claim or the number of claims you can make per year.

3. Compare prices

Thankfully, the internet makes it very easy to compare the cost of washing machine insurance online. There are several comparison websites you can use to check the prices of policies and make sure you get the best deal.

But remember, the cheapest insurance isn’t necessarily the best – which brings us nicely onto our next point.

4. Check reviews

Before purchasing washing machine cover, it’s important to check home appliance insurance companies’ customer reviews. Have they got a good reputation? Do they offer good customer service? Do they meet their obligations and stick to their policy promises?

If a washing machine insurance company has a lot of negative reviews then it’s best to take your business elsewhere.

5. Additional benefits

Look for a policy that offers additional benefits such as access to a 24/7 helpline and emergency call-outs included. This means you’ll be able to make a claim at any time of day or night and get an engineer out to your home quickly. The quicker you can get your washing machine repaired or replaced, the less chaos and disruption it’ll cause to your household!

Follow these tips and you’ll have no trouble securing the best washing machine insurance to meet your needs and budget requirements.