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Best Boiler Cover for Old Boilers (10, 15 & 20+ Years)
Got an older boiler and worried it's "too old" for cover? You have more options than most guides admit. Here's which UK providers on our panel take older boilers in 2026, what it typically costs, the fine print that gets claims refused, and when replacing is the smarter move. This is general information, not financial or gas-safety advice — always confirm current terms on the provider's own page.
Quick answer
Yes, you can usually get boiler cover on an old boiler — even at 15 or 20+ years — but the choice of provider narrows and the conditions tighten. A handful of UK providers we feature (such as Hometree, YourRepair, CORGI HomePlan and 247 Home Rescue) take boilers of any age as long as the boiler is in safe working order with no existing faults. British Gas HomeCare also covers repairs on any age of boiler.
The catch: nearly all older-boiler cover requires proof of a recent service, an initial inspection that can reject the boiler, and a free replacement only if your boiler is under 7 years old (10 if the provider installed it). We feature a selected panel of providers, not the whole market, and may earn a commission if you buy through us. Prices are indicative "from" figures, last checked 2026 — always confirm on the provider's own page.
Can you get boiler cover on an old boiler?
Yes — in most cases you can, even on a 15 or 20-year-old boiler. The idea that old boilers are uninsurable is a myth that thin guides keep repeating.
What changes with age is which providers will take you and on what terms. Many mainstream insurers cap brand-new policies at around 7 to 15 years, and most struggle past 12. But a smaller group of providers have no firm upper age limit at all.
The two conditions that apply almost everywhere: your boiler must be in safe working order with no existing faults, and you'll usually need proof it's been serviced in the last 12 months. Get those right and age alone rarely stops you.
The key point: old boilers can almost always get repair cover — what they lose is the free replacement benefit. That's normally limited to boilers under 7 years old (or under 10 if the provider installed it). For a 15+ year boiler, you're buying repair protection, not a route to a free new boiler.
Insurance vs service/care plan — and why it matters. Some "boiler cover" is an FCA-regulated insurance product (for example, British Gas HomeCare is underwritten by British Gas Insurance Limited, and Hometree's boiler cover is FCA-regulated insurance), which gives you Financial Conduct Authority protections and access to the Financial Ombudsman. Other plans are sold as unregulated service or care/maintenance plans rather than insurance. Neither is automatically "better", but you should check each provider's status on its own page before buying — a service plan should never be described to you as "insurance".
The age limits explained: why providers care about boiler age
Boiler cover providers aren't being awkward. Older boilers genuinely cost them more, for three concrete reasons.
Parts become obsolete. Once a manufacturer stops making spares for a discontinued model, an engineer may not be able to source the part at all — so the claim can't be fixed even when it's valid.
Older boilers break down more often. Seals, pumps, diverter valves and heat exchangers wear out. More breakdowns means more call-outs, which is the provider's main cost.
Efficiency and write-off risk. An old boiler is more likely to be declared "beyond economical repair", which is why free replacements are reserved for newer units. We explain how the underlying product works in our guide to how gas boiler insurance works.
Boiler cover by age band — 10 years / 15 years / 20+ years
What's realistic depends heavily on exactly how old your boiler is. Here's the honest picture at each band.
Around 10 years old
You're in comfortable territory. Most providers will still cover a 10-year-old boiler, though the free-replacement perk has usually expired (that typically ends at 7 years). Expect to provide a recent service record and pass an initial inspection. Shop around — you still have plenty of choice.
Around 15 years old
Choice narrows. Many mainstream insurers won't write a new policy at 15+, but the flexible providers (Hometree, YourRepair, CORGI HomePlan, 247 Home Rescue) generally will, provided the boiler works and is fault-free. This is also the age where replacement starts to make financial sense, so weigh cover against a new install.
20+ years old
Cover is still possible with the any-age providers, but two things matter more than ever. First, the initial inspection is stricter. Second, the provider may warn it can't guarantee sourcing spare parts — meaning a covered fault could still go unrepaired. At this age, honestly, deciding whether to repair or replace your boiler often points toward replacement.
Boiler cover providers for old boilers in 2026 (our panel)
This is the comparison most guides won't give you: a provider-by-provider look at age limits and old-boiler acceptance. We feature a selected panel of providers, not the whole market, and we may earn a commission if you take out cover through us — that never changes the facts below.
Figures are indicative "from" prices last checked in 2026 and vary by postcode, plan and excess. Always confirm current terms on the provider's own page before buying.
| Provider | Max age for NEW cover | Takes any age? | Free annual service? | Free replacement? | Typical from £/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hometree (FCA-regulated insurance) | No firm limit | Yes (if working & safe) | Yes, on core plans | Free if boiler <7 yrs; 15% off a new A-rated boiler if older & BER | from ~£12.95 |
| YourRepair | No firm limit | Yes (natural gas, working) | Yes (service included) | Up to £2,500 if <7 yrs; discounted/contribution if older | from ~£9 |
| CORGI HomePlan | Flexible on age | Yes (working & safe) | Yes, on most plans | £2,500 if <7 yrs; £400 contribution 7–10 yrs | from ~£10 |
| 247 Home Rescue | Flexible on age | Yes (working & safe) | Yes (free annual service) | Free replacement only if BER in first 10 yrs (Stay Warm plan) | from ~£8.99 |
| British Gas HomeCare (FCA-regulated insurance) | Any age for repairs | Yes for repairs (inspection if >7 yrs) | Yes (annual service in most plans) | Only if <7 yrs (<10 if BG installed) | typically ~£24–£60+ |
The British Gas distinction trips a lot of people up, so it's worth spelling out clearly.
British Gas HomeCare, plainly: it covers repairs on a boiler of any age — as long as the boiler passes an initial service/inspection (required if it's over 7 years old), is on their approved spares list, and has no pre-existing faults. But a free replacement is only offered if your boiler is under 7 years old, or under 10 if British Gas installed it. So "any age" applies to repairs, not new boilers. As an indication in 2026, HomeCare 1 starts from around £24/month and the top HomeCare tier from around £45/month, varying by postcode and excess.
For the full picture on British Gas, see our guide to British Gas HomeCare plans and prices. To see how these sit against the wider market, browse our pick of the best boiler cover plans for 2026.
The fine print that catches old-boiler owners out
Most refused old-boiler claims trace back to a handful of clauses. Read these before you buy.
- Service-history proof. Many policies require evidence your boiler was serviced within the last 12 months. No proof, no payout. Keep every service certificate.
- The initial inspection. Older boilers often face a pre-cover inspection. If the engineer finds it's unsafe or unfit, the provider can refuse to cover it — and you've effectively been declined.
- Approved-parts list. Some providers (British Gas among them) only cover boilers whose spares they can still obtain. An old model off that list may be rejected.
- Pre-existing faults are excluded. A fault that already exists when you take out cover won't be paid for. Cover is for future breakdowns, not a fix for something already broken.
- "We may not be able to source parts." Even on a valid policy, if the part is obsolete the repair can't happen. Cover doesn't manufacture spares that no longer exist.
- No free replacement on old units. As above — beyond roughly 7 years, you're paying for repairs, not a new boiler.
None of these make cover pointless. They just mean an older boiler needs you to keep good records and fix any niggles before you apply.
How much does cover for an old boiler cost?
Old-boiler-friendly plans are surprisingly affordable at the budget end. Premiums rise with age because the provider expects more call-outs — that's the whole driver. The figures below are indicative 2026 ranges; your quote depends on postcode, plan, excess and boiler.
| Plan type | Typical UK cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Budget breakdown-only cover | from ~£3.50–£13 / month |
| Mid-range boiler + controls cover | ~£12–£20 / month |
| British Gas HomeCare | typically ~£24–£60+ / month |
An older boiler can push you toward the higher end of each band, and a higher excess will lower the monthly price. For a fuller breakdown see our guide to how much boiler cover costs per month.
Is boiler cover worth it for an old boiler?
Here's the honest maths most affiliate pages skip — this is general information to help you weigh it up, not personalised financial advice. Boiler cover is essentially a way to swap an unpredictable repair bill for a steady premium.
Take a worked example. A British Gas-style HomeCare plan at around £40/month costs £480 a year. The self-insure alternative is paying for an annual boiler service (around £80–£120) plus the occasional repair as it crops up.
If your old boiler has one breakdown every couple of years and parts are still available, paying as you go can work out cheaper. If it's a frequent offender, fixed-price cover buys budget certainty and saves you the hassle of finding an engineer.
For older boilers specifically, the deciding factor is often peace of mind plus the included annual service, not pure cost savings. We weigh this up in full in our guide to whether boiler cover is worth it.
Repair, cover, or replace? A decision framework
For an older boiler, the right answer is rarely just "buy cover". Use this simple framework as a starting point.
The 50% rule. A common rule of thumb: if a single repair would cost more than about half the price of a new install, replacement usually wins. With a new combi boiler typically costing roughly £2,000–£3,500 to install in 2026, that puts the repair "tipping point" somewhere around £1,000–£1,750.
Efficiency savings. Old non-condensing boilers can run at around 60–70% efficiency; a modern A-rated condensing boiler is rated at roughly 92–94%. Upgrading can cut heating bills — figures of £300–£500 a year are commonly cited, though real-world savings depend on your home, controls and how well the system is set up — which offsets some of the replacement cost over time.
By age band:
- 10 years: repair or cover. Plenty of life left; replacement usually isn't urgent.
- 15 years: the crossover zone. Keep covering it if it's reliable; start pricing a replacement if repairs are creeping up. See boiler replacement costs.
- 20+ years: replacement is usually the honest endgame. Parts get scarce, efficiency is poor, and a big repair tips the maths. You may also qualify for help via the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant (up to £7,500 in England and Wales) if you switch to a heat pump.
How to get (and keep) cover on an older boiler
A few practical steps dramatically improve your odds of getting cover — and keeping a future claim valid.
- Get it serviced first. A current service certificate satisfies the "serviced within 12 months" condition and helps it pass the initial inspection.
- Keep all your records. Hold on to every service certificate and any repair receipts. They're your evidence if a claim is questioned.
- Fix existing faults before you apply. Pre-existing faults are excluded anyway, so sort them first — otherwise you're paying premiums for something that won't be covered.
- Go straight to the flexible providers. If your boiler is 15+ years old, don't waste time with insurers that cap at 12. Start with the any-age providers in the table above.
- Be honest on the application. Misstating the boiler's condition or age can void the policy when you need it most.
Gas safety bright line: anything touching the gas supply, burner, flue, sealed combustion circuit, gas valve, PCB or pressure-relief valve must be handled by a Gas Safe registered engineer — never DIY, it's illegal and dangerous. If you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide, leave the property, open doors and windows, and call the National Gas Emergency line on 0800 111 999.
Can you get boiler cover on a 15 or 20 year old boiler?
Usually yes. Several UK providers — including Hometree, YourRepair, CORGI HomePlan and 247 Home Rescue — have no firm upper age limit and will cover a 15 or 20-year-old boiler as long as it's in safe working order with no existing faults. British Gas HomeCare also covers repairs on any age of boiler. At 20+ years, expect a stricter initial inspection and a warning that some spare parts may no longer be available. This is general information — confirm current terms on the provider's own page.
What is the age limit for boiler cover?
There's no single industry limit — it varies by provider. Many mainstream insurers cap new policies at around 7 to 15 years and struggle past 12. But a group of more flexible providers have no firm upper age limit at all, so the "limit" depends entirely on who you apply to.
Is boiler cover worth it for an old boiler?
It depends on your boiler's reliability. If it breaks down rarely, paying for an annual service plus occasional repairs can be cheaper than a monthly premium. If it's a frequent offender, fixed-price cover buys budget certainty and includes an annual service. For most older-boiler owners the main value is peace of mind rather than guaranteed savings. This is general information, not financial advice.
Will boiler cover replace my old boiler?
Almost certainly not for free. Free or contribution-based replacements are normally limited to boilers under 7 years old (or under 10 if the provider installed it). On an older boiler you're buying repair cover, not a route to a free new boiler. If your old boiler is declared beyond economical repair, you'd typically pay for a replacement yourself, though some providers offer a discount toward a new one.
Do I need a boiler service to get cover?
Often, yes. Many providers require proof your boiler was serviced within the last 12 months, and older boilers frequently face an initial inspection before cover starts. A recent service helps the boiler pass that inspection and keeps any future claim valid. Keep every service certificate.
Why won't some insurers cover old boilers?
Three reasons: spare parts for discontinued models become obsolete and can't be sourced, older boilers break down more often (driving up call-out costs), and they're more likely to be written off as beyond economical repair. That's why stricter insurers cap by age — though the more flexible providers still take older boilers on a repair-only basis.
How much does cover for an old boiler cost?
Budget breakdown-only plans start from around £3.50–£13 a month, mid-range cover runs roughly £12–£20, and British Gas HomeCare is typically around £24–£60+ a month depending on the tier, postcode and excess. An older boiler tends to push you toward the higher end of each band. These are indicative 2026 figures — confirm current pricing on the provider's own page.
Is boiler cover the same as insurance?
Not always. Some products are FCA-regulated insurance (for example British Gas HomeCare and Hometree's boiler cover), which gives you Financial Conduct Authority protections and access to the Financial Ombudsman. Others are sold as service or care/maintenance plans, which are not regulated insurance. Check each provider's status on its own page — a service plan should never be marketed to you as "insurance".
Compare boiler cover the easy way
Compare boiler & central heating cover from a selected panel of UK providers and find a plan that fits your boiler and budget. Information, not advice — we show a chosen panel, not the whole market.
Compare boiler coverThis article is general information, not financial or gas-safety advice. We compare a selected panel of providers, not the whole market, and may earn a commission if you buy through our links. Always have gas appliances checked and repaired by a Gas Safe registered engineer; in a gas emergency call 0800 111 999. Prices are indicative UK guides for 2026 — confirm current prices on the provider's own site.