Can You Get AppleCare On a Used iPhone?
If you’re looking to save money on buying an iPhone, then getting a used model might appeal to you.
You’ll still be spending a few hundred dollars, but that is a far cry from the cost of a new iPhone 13.
Let’s say you decide to buy an iPhone X that you found on eBay. It is listed for a reasonable price and seems to be in good condition.
Should you get it? And if you do buy it, can you still get AppleCare – Apple’s warranty coverage – on it?
What about if you were to buy a refurbished iPhone 11 from Apple? Would you be able to get AppleCare+ added to it in that scenario? Will you get the standard AppleCare? These are all good questions to turn over in your mind before you go out and buy a used iPhone.
Even when your iPhone is a used or refurbished one, this is still a big investment – one that you want to protect.
You can get AppleCare on certain older iPhones, going all the way back to the iPhone 8.
What you pay for coverage will depend on which model you buy.
And then, you will have to consider whether you want to spend a little more to get Theft and Loss protection with AppleCare+.
Will that extra cost be worth it for the peace of mind?
You do have to act in a somewhat timely fashion though.
You will have 60 days from the date of purchase to get AppleCare+ added to your iPhone.
And this applies whether you bought directly from Apple or from a third-party retailer.
Oh, and AppleCare+ starts on the day you bought your device, no matter what.
So, are you able to get AppleCare on your used or refurbished iPhone? Time to find out.
Can You Get AppleCare On a Used iPhone?
If you bought your refurbished iPhone from Apple or a third-party retailer, then you can get AppleCare+ added to it within 60 days of purchase. You won’t be able to put it on anything older than the iPhone 8, so don’t think of buying an old iPhone 7 and trying to put AppleCare on it.
And, just remember, AppleCare+ starts the day of purchase, even if that isn’t the day you added it on.
Which iPhones can you still put AppleCare+ onto?
Should you add Theft and Loss for an extra layer of protection?
Just how do you add AppleCare+ onto your iPhone anyway?
Read on to learn more about how to get AppleCare+ on your used or refurbished iPhone model.
What exactly is AppleCare+?
AppleCare is the standard, one-year warranty that comes with your iPhone when it is fresh out of the box.
It basically only covers manufacturer defects.
AppleCare+ is an optional extended warranty that lasts for two years and includes protection for accidental damage.
You can have two service incidences within each 12-month period.
Fees do apply, as do applicable sales taxes.
How much does AppleCare+ cost?
There are fees involved, on top of the $199 you will pay outright just for having AppleCare+.
For screen damage, you will pay $29 for repairs.
Any other type of damage will set you back $99.
Screen damage used to cost more, but elevating the other repair fees to $99 (from $79) meant that Apple could make the cost of repairing screen damage more justifiable and affordable.
How much is Theft and Loss coverage?
If you decide to tack Theft and Loss coverage onto your AppleCare+ warranty, you will get a larger fee at the outset.
This extra bit of coverage will require you to have the Find My app on your phone.
Here is a breakdown of the costs and deductibles that you can expect to incur based on the iPhone model you own:
iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $149 standard
– $219 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $7.99/mo. standard
– $11.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection
iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $199 standard
– $269 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $9.99/mo. standard
– $13.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $149 standard
– $219 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $7.99/mo. standard
– $11.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection
iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $199 standard
– $269 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $9.99/mo. standard
– $13.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection
iPhone 11
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $149 standard
– $219 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $7.99/mo. standard
– $11.49/mo. with theft and loss protection
iPhone SE
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $79 standard
– $149 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $3.99/mo. standard
– $7.49/mo. with theft and loss protection
iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $199 standard
– $299 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $9.99/mo. standard
– $14.99/mo. with theft and loss protection
iPhone XR
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $149 standard
– $249 with theft and lost protection
Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:
– $7.99/mo. standard
– $12.99/mo. with theft and loss protection
iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $199 standard
– $299 with theft and lost protection
iPhone 8 and iPhone 7
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $129 standard
– $199 with theft and lost protection
iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus
2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:
– $149 standard
– $249 with theft and lost protection
Deductibles paid for loss or theft depend on the model you own:
– $149.00 for the iPhone SE
– $199.00 for the iPhone 8, iPhone 7, and iPhone 6s
– $229.00 for the iPhone 11, iPhone XR, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 6s Plus
– $269.00 for the iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone X
How long do I have after my purchase to buy AppleCare+?
You have 60 days after the purchase of your iPhone to opt into AppleCare+. If you do not want it, you don’t have to do anything.
But if you decide you do want to invest in AppleCare+, you will have until Day 60 to add coverage.
Is it possible to get more than two years of coverage from AppleCare+?
There are rolling monthly subscription plans (as you can see above) that let you keep AppleCare+ going month by month after your two years are up.
Again, this is totally optional, but it does give you exponentially more coverage time if you want it.
And, yes, you can cancel it at any time.
How do I add AppleCare+ to my iPhone?
To add AppleCare+ to your phone from your iPhone, just:
- Go into the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on General.
- Tap on About.
- Tap on AppleCare+ Coverage Available.
- Follow the prompts to select and purchase AppleCare+.
If you are adding it online, you can simply do that by:
- Open your preferred browser and visit the AppleCare+ website.
- In product categories, select iPhone.
- Enter your iPhone’s serial number or sign in using your Apple ID.
- Follow the instructions to purchase AppleCare+. Take note that you will need to allow a remote diagnostic on your iPhone.
Closing Thoughts
Adding AppleCare+ to your refurbished iPhone might not be an expense you want to incur on a used phone.
However, it could be helpful if your device is still relatively new (and therefore still relatively expensive).
If you worry about accidental damage or theft and loss, then getting it added on might be a good idea.