Robot insurance: does home insurance cover a robot?

Illustration of a home robot and a family living room sheltered under a big umbrella — Illustration by The Robot Radar

Updated 3 November 2026

Good news first: the robot you already own is probably insured. Most UK home insurance treats robot vacuums and robot mowers like any other appliance. As robots get bigger and pricier, and start arriving on monthly subscriptions, a few details start to matter. This guide explains what your policy is likely to cover, where the gaps are, and what to ask before a robot moves in.

The quick answer

Small robots such as robot vacuums and mowers are usually covered as contents. Husqvarna says many home insurance policies cover robotic mowers as standard.
Pricier robots can go over your policy's single item limit, which is often around £1,500 to £2,000. Tell your insurer and list the robot by name so it is covered for its full value.
Breakdowns are normally excluded from home insurance. That is the warranty's job.
Leased or subscription robots belong to the robot company. Who insures them depends on the agreement, so ask before you sign.
New: humanoid robot cover. Since 30 October 2026, the UK has its first home insurance built for domestic humanoid robots. Details below.

New: the UK's first home insurance for humanoid robots

The insurers got here before the robots did. On 30 October 2026, broker Adrian Flux and insurer Tokio Marine HCC International launched what they describe as the UK's first home insurance policy covering domestic humanoid robots. It is sold as part of Adrian Flux home insurance and underwritten by Tokio Marine HCC International. It covers:

Damage to, and theft of, the robot
Sudden damage the robot causes to your home or belongings
Personal liability if the robot injures someone or damages someone else's property
Emergency recovery or safe disablement of the robot after a sudden, unforeseen malfunction

Prices, limits, excesses and which robot models qualify have not been published yet, and early reports say the cover does not spell out hacking or privacy risks. Adrian Flux says it will update the policy as the technology changes, as it did with its driverless car policy in 2016. It is a big step: when home humanoids such as 1X NEO reach the UK, there is already a way to insure one. Ask Adrian Flux for a quote and the policy wording, and compare it with what your current insurer offers.

What your home insurance may cover

What happens	Usually covered by	Check
The robot is stolen from your home	Contents cover	Check the single item limit. Robots worth more than it usually need to be listed on your policy by name.
You drop it, or it falls down the stairs	Accidental damage, usually an optional extra on contents	Without the add-on, this is often not covered.
It simply stops working	Usually not home insurance	Mechanical and electrical breakdown is a common exclusion. This is what the maker's warranty is for.
It knocks over a vase or scratches the floor	Accidental damage on contents (and buildings, for floors and walls)	Again, often only with the add-on.
It injures a visitor or damages a neighbour's property	Personal liability, part of most contents policies	Limits of about £2 million are common. Ask whether a robot acting on its own counts.
It works in the garden	Contents, with a lower limit for items kept outside	Garden limits can be much lower than the main contents limit. Lock up at night.
You take it out of the house	Personal possessions cover, if you have it	Some policies exclude motorised items away from home.

Typical cover, not a promise: every policy is different, so read your schedule and policy booklet.

If the robot is faulty

When a robot causes injury or damage because it was defective, the maker can be responsible. Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, the producer of a defective product is liable for the damage it causes, without you having to prove they were careless. Damage to property worth less than £275 is excluded, claims must usually be made within three years of finding the damage, and there is a ten year long stop from when the product was put on the market.

That sits alongside the warranty. For example, 1X sells its NEO home humanoid outright with a 3 year warranty and premium support; its monthly subscription page does not yet spell out warranty or insurance terms.

Leased and subscription robots: who insures it?

With a leased car, the finance company owns it and you arrange the insurance. Home robot subscriptions are brand new, so there is no standard yet. Some may build cover into the monthly price, others may expect you to add the robot to your home insurance. The things to pin down are who owns it, who insures it, what you pay if it is damaged or stolen, and what counts as fair wear and tear when you hand it back. Our robot leasing guide tracks every monthly offer, the robot leasing glossary explains terms like fair wear and tear, damage charges and service levels, and robot leasing rules in the UK covers your rights to cancel, end early and get a faulty robot fixed.

Questions to ask your insurer

Is a robot covered as contents, and up to what value for a single item?
Do I need to list it by name, and does that change my premium?
Is accidental damage by the robot, and to the robot, covered?
Does my personal liability cover injury or damage caused by a robot that moves on its own?
Is it covered in the garden, in an outbuilding, or away from home?
Does it matter if the robot is leased or on subscription rather than owned by me?
Is anything excluded because the robot can be controlled remotely or connects to the internet?

Questions to ask the robot company

How long is the warranty, and does it cover parts, labour and collection?
On a subscription or lease, who owns the robot and who must insure it?
If it is damaged or stolen, what do I pay, and is there an excess?
What counts as fair wear and tear when I hand it back?
If the robot causes damage, does your company carry insurance for that?

Hiring a robot for an event

If you hire a robot for a day, the operator brings it, runs it and takes it home. Ask for proof of their public liability insurance and check what happens if a guest damages the robot. Our hire form sends your request to up to three UK operators, so you can ask them all at once.

Thinking of buying?

A robot's value decides how much the insurance details matter. See what robots really cost in UK shops in the UK Robot Price Index, or start small with our best robot vacuums guide.

Questions people ask

Does home insurance cover a robot?

Often, yes, as contents. Many UK policies cover robot vacuums and robotic lawn mowers as standard, and Husqvarna says many home insurance policies cover robotic mowers. Bigger, pricier robots may go over your single item limit, which is often around £1,500 to £2,000, so tell your insurer and list the robot on your policy.

Is accidental damage by a robot covered?

Usually only if you have accidental damage cover, which is an optional extra on most contents policies. Breakdowns are a different thing and are normally excluded, so a warranty matters too.

Who pays if a robot injures someone?

If you are responsible, the personal liability section of your contents insurance may pay, often up to about £2 million. If the robot was faulty, the maker can be liable under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Check with your insurer how a robot that moves on its own is treated.

Do I need to insure a leased or subscription robot?

It depends on the agreement. With a car lease you arrange the insurance, but robot subscriptions are new and terms vary. Ask the robot company who owns it, who insures it, and what you pay if it is damaged or stolen.

Is there special robot insurance in the UK?

Yes, since 30 October 2026. Adrian Flux and Tokio Marine HCC International launched what they call the UK's first home insurance covering domestic humanoid robots, sold as part of Adrian Flux home insurance. It covers damage to and theft of the robot, damage it causes to your home, personal liability, and emergency recovery or safe disablement after a malfunction. Prices and limits have not been published.

What about a robot I hire for an event?

The operator brings and runs the robot, so ask them for proof of their public liability insurance, and check what happens if a guest damages the robot.

Sources

General information, checked 3 November 2026. Not financial or legal advice. We do not sell or arrange insurance and have no commercial link with any insurer named here: always read your policy and ask your insurer. How we make money.