What Is TV Insurance, and Is It Worth It?

You don’t typically carry your TV around like your phone or laptop, but it can still be at risk for damage. For example, you could drop it while moving. And TVs can fail over time due to wear and tear.

TV insurance can provide financial protection to repair or replace your TV. It can be especially useful for situations that a manufacturer’s warranty won’t cover, like a moving mishap.

A TV protection plan can sometimes be worth buying, but that isn’t always the case. We’ll explain what TV insurance is, what it covers, and whether you should consider buying it.

What is TV insurance?

TV insurance is an insurance policy that protects TVs against accidental damage and wear and tear. It’s different from a manufacturer’s warranty. A TV manufacturer’s warranty typically covers specific types of product failures for a limited time period. TV insurance often provides more comprehensive coverage and a longer coverage period.

For example, a TV policy may provide coverage against unexpected electrical or mechanical breakdowns, drops, spills, and theft. Some plans let you insure your TV along with other devices in your home.

TV insurance may also be available from retailers, warranty companies, and insurance companies, so check multiple plans before buying.

Types of TV protection plans

You have multiple options for protecting your TV, including manufacturer warranties, extended warranties, and whole-home warranties. Your homeowners or renters insurance may even cover your TV if a covered event damages it.

Here are some TV protection plan options to consider:

• Manufacturer warranty: A manufacturer warranty generally lasts a limited time (typically 90 days) and covers manufacturing defects and other product issues. It may cover all parts and labor or, more commonly, specific components or types of defects.^[2]

• Extended warranties: These plans often work like service contracts and may pay to repair or replace your TV. It’s important to understand all the terms and conditions of your plan so you know what it covers and what it won’t. You can often buy extended warranties from manufacturers, retailers, or third parties, and deductibles vary.

• Whole-home warranties: These warranties cover many devices, including TVs, laptops, game consoles, and appliances.

• Home insurance: Your homeowners or renters insurance policy may also pay to replace your TV, but only if a covered event damages it. For example, if you drop your TV while moving, your homeowners coverage won’t apply. But if a house fire destroys your television, your homeowners insurance would cover the TV — along with any other personal property lost in the fire.

Type of TV Insurance	What It Covers	Duration	Estimated Cost
Manufacturer warranty	Manufacturing defects	Limited: Usually 90 days to 12 months	Typically included with purchase
Extended warranty	Service and repair costs	2 or 5 years	Varies, but typically $100–$600
Whole-home warranty	Normal wear and tear	Ongoing	Starting at around $20/month
Home or renters insurance	Personal possessions lost or damaged in a covered event	Ongoing	$3,259 (average annual cost of homeowners insurance); $240 (average annual cost of renters insurance )

What kind of damage does TV insurance cover?

TV insurance coverage varies based on the provider and the type of protection plan you choose. But protection plans usually cover:

• Accidental damage: TV insurance covers your TV against incidents like drops, spills, and screen damage.

• Screen failure: A TV insurance policy may cover parts and labor for a covered hardware failure.

• Humidity: Some third-party TV warranties may cover damage due to heat or humidity.

• Breakdown: TV insurance often covers you against mechanical or electrical breakdown. For example, if the TV’s speaker stops working, or something damages the power cord, your TV insurance will likely cover it.

Despite the added cost, TV insurance often protects you against things manufacturer warranties won’t. This can make it worth buying, especially for pricier TVs.

What won’t TV insurance cover?

Just as a manufacturer’s warranty won’t cover accidental damage, your TV insurance policy doesn’t cover everything that might happen. For example, it likely won’t cover normal wear and tear, misuse and abuse, cosmetic damage, or burn-in.

Remember that the specifics of what a policy does and doesn’t cover may vary depending on the coverage type and the insurance company. It’s important to review your protection plan’s details to know exactly what it covers.

Is TV insurance worth it?

Deciding whether TV protection coverage is worth it depends on the cost of the policy and the potential cost without it.

For example, suppose you buy a $1,000 TV and an insurance policy for $25 per month. After three years, you would have spent $900 on the policy. That slightly beats the cost of completely replacing the TV, but after three years and four months, you’d pay more for insurance than the cost of the TV.

But if you bought a more expensive model for $5,000, the cost of the protection plan would be less than the price to replace it.

You should also consider risk exposure. If you move frequently, your TV may be more susceptible to damage during transit. If you have pets and children, accidental spills and bumps may be more likely. But if you have a quiet, uneventful household and never move your TV around, TV insurance may not be necessary.

Pros and cons of TV insurance

TV insurance can be worthwhile, especially if your TV is often subject to risks. But insurance can cost more than the TV after a few years, so it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a protection plan.

TV insurance vs. homeowners or renters insurance

Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover your possessions against perils like fire, theft, and vandalism, but not accidents, wear and tear, or breakdowns.^[3]

Using homeowners or renters insurance for a TV may not be practical if your deductible exceeds the TV’s value. And filing a claim could lead to higher premiums when your policy renews.

Filing a claim with your homeowners or renters insurance usually makes sense for larger claims, and less so for isolated incidents with your TV.

How to file a claim with your TV insurance provider

The claims process for a TV insurance provider varies, but these are the general steps:

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  1. Contact your provider

  Call or file online as soon as you notice the damage, informing customer service of the issue.

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  2. Provide documentation

  You’ll probably need to provide proof of purchase, photos of the damage, and a description of what happened.

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  3. Schedule service or replacement

  Depending on the damage, the provider might send a technician, ship a replacement, or allow a repair.

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  4. Track your claim

  Some protection plan companies allow you to track your claim online. It’s a good idea to stay on top of the process so you can get your TV repaired or replaced quickly.

TV insurance FAQs