What does new for old boiler cover mean?
New for old boiler cover is the phrase people use for a policy that replaces an old boiler with a new one. It is not a formal term, and older boiler cover varies a lot between providers.
Which? does not use the phrase in its boiler cover guide. What it does say is that some policies will replace your boiler, or pay some money towards a replacement, if it is no longer economical to repair. Others will only ever pay for repairs.
That difference matters most with older boiler cover, when the boiler is getting on. This guide covers what older boiler cover usually involves, where the catches sit and what to read in the policy before you pay. Everything attributed to Which? comes from its guide, which we read on 5 November 2026.
Do boiler cover policies have an age limit?
Yes, some do. Which? says some policies set a maximum boiler age for taking out cover, usually 15 years. If your boiler is older than that, some providers will not accept you as a new customer.
Existing customers can hit the same wall. Which? warns that some providers will not renew cover once a boiler reaches a certain age, so an older boiler can lose its cover at renewal.
Age limits are the first thing to check with older boiler cover. That is the Do-Nothing Default catching out the people who need cover most. If you let a policy roll over for years, it is worth checking the age rules at each renewal, because the rules apply to the boiler and not to how long you have been a customer.
What should older boiler cover include?
An older boiler is more likely to need a bigger repair, so the small print on older boiler cover matters more. Which? points to a few things to read before you commit.
- Repair cost limit: some policies cap what they pay, with Which? giving £1,500 a year as an example, while others are unlimited. Which? recommends an unlimited claim cost, especially on an older boiler.
- Replacement: check whether the policy replaces the boiler, pays a contribution or only repairs it.
- Sludge and flushes: a full system flush can cost more than £400, according to Which?, and not every provider covers it.
- Annual service: many providers only cover you if you have an annual service, and some do not include one in the price, which can make a contract look cheaper than it is.
None of these tells you which policy is right. They are the questions to ask, and the answers sit in the terms and conditions rather than the headline price.
How much does older boiler cover cost?
Which? does not give a separate price for older boiler cover. It surveyed 10,064 homeowners in June 2025 and found people paid an average of £183 a year for a boiler cover package. In general, the more a policy includes, the more it costs.
Watch the introductory prices. When Which? checked in summer 2025, HomeServe’s basic boiler cover was shown at £150 for the first year, rising to £374.52 for the second. Those figures were correct when Which? checked and will have moved since, so use them as an example of the pattern, not a current price.
Which? says some companies quote only the first year. Check what the contract costs after the first 12 months and after any introductory discount ends. It also suggests haggling at renewal and shopping around, because some providers may offer a price as if you were a new customer.
An excess is a fee charged when an engineer is sent out, and Which? says it is usually £60. Its survey found 22% of people with boiler cover have a £0 excess, which Which? says is rarely worth paying for. A higher excess can bring the regular payments down, depending on the provider.
Key takeaways
- Older boiler cover can have a maximum boiler age, usually 15 years according to Which?
- Some providers will not renew cover once a boiler reaches a certain age.
- Replacement is not standard, so check what the policy pays towards one.
- Check the price after the first year, not just the first.
Is older boiler cover worth it?
Which? says that for most people boiler cover does not work out cheaper than paying for services and repairs as they come, based on its research. Over a number of years, it found pay as you go usually costs less.
That is a general finding, and older boiler cover may be the exception because a big repair is more likely. Some people also value having one number to ring when the heating fails in January. Which? says you need to weigh how much that peace of mind is worth to you.
It suggests asking whether you could pay for a repair or a replacement from savings, and some people set money aside each month instead of paying a provider. Another check is your home insurance. Which? says a standard policy will not usually cover repairing or replacing a broken boiler, but some insurers offer it as an extra called home emergency cover, so check you are not already paying for boiler cover twice.
Our boiler cover guide goes through the wider question of whether cover pays off, including what a repair or a replacement actually costs without it.
If you decide to look at replacing the boiler instead, our heat pump cost guide covers one alternative, and a quick radiator bleed is a free first check when the heating plays up.
Frequently asked questions about older boiler cover
- What is the maximum boiler age for boiler cover?
- Which? says some policies set a maximum age, usually 15 years. Limits vary by provider, so check the terms of the policy.
- Will boiler cover replace my old boiler?
- Which? says some policies will replace the boiler or pay towards a replacement if it is no longer economical to repair. Others only pay for repairs, so check your policy wording.
- Can a provider refuse to renew cover on an older boiler?
- Which? says some providers will not renew cover once a boiler reaches a certain age. Ask your provider what its limit is.
- Does home insurance cover a broken boiler?
- Which? says a standard home insurance policy will not usually cover repairing or replacing a broken boiler, though some insurers offer it as an extra called home emergency cover.
Sources
- Which?, How to choose the best boiler cover. Supports the maximum boiler age of usually 15 years, providers refusing to renew once a boiler reaches a certain age, the £1,500 a year repair limit example and the advice to choose an unlimited claim cost, the full system flush costing more than £400, the annual service requirement, the survey of 10,064 homeowners in June 2025 and the £183 average annual price, the HomeServe prices of £150 in year one and £374.52 in year two in summer 2025, the usual £60 excess and the 22% on a £0 excess, the finding that paying as you go is usually cheaper over several years, and what home insurance and home emergency cover do and do not include.
Checked 5 November 2026. Figures are as Which? reported them and policy terms change, so read the terms of the policy you are offered.
