Will liability insurance pay for a borrowed school iPad?

Whether your personal liability insurance pays for a borrowed school iPad usually cannot be answered in general terms. It usually comes down to three things: who owns the iPad, what the school’s loan agreement says and what your insurance terms say about borrowed items. Here you can read how to clarify this and whom to contact.

What you should do right after the damage is covered in School iPad broken – what now?. The general question of who pays is covered in School iPad broken – who pays for the repair?. This article only looks at whether liability insurance may pay, depending on your policy.

Borrowed or bought: why it matters so much

Personal liability insurance is usually meant for damage you cause to others. So here, too, the question of who owns the iPad is the starting point.

• The iPad belongs to the school. Then it is someone else’s item that you have borrowed. Whether liability insurance covers such damage depends on your policy, in particular on whether borrowed items are included.
• The iPad belongs to you. Liability insurance usually does not cover damage to your own device. Here, device insurance or, depending on your contract, household contents insurance are more likely to apply.

How the iPad is classified in your case is usually stated in the documents from when the device was handed out. If in doubt, ask the school or the school authority.

What your insurance terms may say

The decisive rules are usually in the terms of your policy, not in the advertising brochure. Many insurers list borrowed items under terms such as “borrowed items”, “borrowed or rented items” or “third-party movable property”. Look out for these points when reading:

• Are borrowed items covered? Some policies exclude them, others include them, sometimes only as an add-on.
• Is there an upper limit? Borrowed items often have their own, lower sum insured than other damage.
• Is there an excess? Then, depending on your contract, you pay part of the damage yourself.
• Who is covered? Children are often covered under family policies; the exact rules are in the terms.

If you cannot find the answer, ask the insurer directly, ideally in writing. That way you also have the information to hand later.

If a classmate damaged the iPad

If your child’s iPad was broken by someone else, for example in a crowd or while playing during break, the other family’s liability insurance may be responsible, depending on the case. Whether and how much it pays is assessed by their insurer case by case. The children’s age and the circumstances can also play a role.

In such a case, exchange contact details as early as possible and report the damage to the school. A short, factual description of when and how it happened usually makes things easier to clarify.

What you need for the claim

Which documents are needed is set by each insurer, depending on the policy. These details are often requested:

• Device details. Model and serial number. You can find both under Settings › General › About.
• How the damage happened. When, where and how the damage occurred, in a few sentences.
• Loan agreement. For school iPads, often a copy of the loan agreement, so it is clear who owns the device.
• Proof of costs. Some insurers accept the invoice after the repair, others want a written cost estimate in advance.

You book the written cost estimate with us as a fixed fee paid in advance. If you then have the repair done with us, the fee is credited. If no repair follows, the fee remains payable. When you send in via the website, you do not need a cost estimate. You can find the current fee and everything else on our school iPad repair page.

Whom to contact

There are different contacts for the individual questions:

• Your insurer tells you whether and to what extent it pays, depending on your policy, and which proof it needs.
• The school or school authority clarifies who owns the iPad, whether it may be repaired privately and how the damage is reported.
• The Verbraucherzentrale (German consumer advice centre) can help if there is a dispute about the contract or a rejection. A repair shop may not and cannot give you legal advice on this.

Once it is clear who pays, you can see the price for your model in the iPad repair section. You can send the iPad in: within Germany, shipping for repairs is free both ways; from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria, you pay a one-time shipping fee for the outbound trip, and return shipping is free. Or you bring it to our shop at Blondelstraße 10 in Aachen. You get a 12-month warranty on the part and the work carried out.

Frequently asked questions

Can my liability insurance pay if my child drops the school iPad?

That depends on your policy. If the iPad belongs to the school, it is a borrowed item for you. Some liability insurers exclude borrowed items, others cover them, often with their own upper limit or an excess. Check your insurance terms for wording such as “borrowed items” and, if in doubt, ask your insurer directly.

Can liability insurance also pay for a privately bought school iPad?

Usually not. Personal liability insurance is usually meant for damage you cause to others, not for damage to your own device. If the iPad belongs to you, device insurance or, depending on your contract, household contents insurance are more likely to apply. What exactly is covered is set out in the respective terms, and your insurer can tell you.

What if a classmate damaged the iPad?

Then, depending on the case, the other family’s liability insurance may be responsible. Whether it pays is assessed by their insurer case by case, and the children’s age and the circumstances can also play a role. Exchange contact details early, report the damage to the school and write down briefly how it happened.

Do I need a cost estimate, depending on my insurer?

Not always. Some insurers accept the invoice after the repair, others require a written cost estimate in advance. You book it with us as a fixed fee paid in advance. If the repair is then done with us, the fee is credited; otherwise it remains payable. Ask your insurer beforehand which proof is enough.

Conclusion

Whether liability insurance pays for a borrowed school iPad is set out in your insurance terms and often depends on whether borrowed items are covered. First clarify with the school who owns the device, then ask your insurer. You can see the price for your model at any time in the repair configurator.