Mobile phone insurance

That depends on your financial situation and how likely you are to lose or damage your phone. If you’re careful with your iPhone and invest in a good-quality protective case, you may find insurance is an unnecessary expense. However, if you simply couldn't afford to replace or repair your phone if it was lost or damaged, iPhone insurance could be a worthwhile investment.

Some mobile phone insurance providers require you to insure each device separately, while others offer multi-device cover, including family bundles, which is usually cheaper.

If you damage your phone, some insurance providers will prefer to repair it. If that’s the case, you may be without your phone while repairs are carried out. Other insurance providers may offer you a refurbished equivalent, rather than a brand-new handset.

If your phone is lost or stolen, you should either be offered a new phone or one of equivalent value. It's important to understand how this works in practice. If you bought a top of the range phone a few years ago but the technology has overtaken you, you'll only get the equivalent to your old phone – you won't get a new current top of the range phone that's a higher spec than yours. For details, check your policy terms and conditions.

Most mobile phone insurance providers typically charge an excess of at least £50, although how much you pay will depend on your phone and your policy. If you have a very inexpensive phone, the excess could be as little as £10. You’ll need to pay the excess when you make a claim.

Yes, most insurance providers will only cover you within six months of buying the phone, although some offer cover up to one year from the purchase date. You’ll need proof of purchase when making a claim, so keep hold of any receipts or card statements.

For second-hand phones, you may have to get specialist insurance. And if you bought your phone on eBay, or a similar auction site, you could find it hard to get cover, even if it’s brand new.  

To get a quote, you’ll need to provide:

• Your phone’s brand, make, and model
• Your name, address and date of birth
• Where and when you bought the device
• The IMEI number (normally found on the box)
• Details of any existing damage
• Information about how much cover you want, and the excess you’re willing to pay. 

If you need to make a claim, the first thing to do is to call your insurance provider – you’ll find a helpline number on your policy documents. You’ll usually need to make your claim within a certain time period. If your phone has been stolen, you’ll need to contact the police and get a crime reference number.

You should also contact your network so they can put a bar on your SIM card to prevent unauthorised calls and texts as soon as you realise your phone is missing. Don't forget to change any passwords on your banking, email, or social media accounts straight away too. 

Your insurance provider should walk you through next steps, including what paperwork you’ll need to complete.

If your claim is rejected, take a look at your policy documents. Check your details are correct and find any wording that can prove you should be covered. You may need to call your insurance provider’s complaints department and send evidence to support your argument.

If you’re still unhappy after going through the formal complaints procedure, you can take your claim to the Financial Ombudsman – a free, independent service that will investigate.

For more information read our guide to rejected claims. 

You should check the age restrictions on any policy to make sure your children’s mobile phones will be covered. Many insurance providers won’t cover children under 16, or in some cases under 18. You may have to add extra cover to ensure your child’s mobile is covered or look for a specialist policy.

In some cases, yes. Your home insurance policy may well cover you if your phone is stolen from your house. You may also be able to extend the cover for accidental damage or when you’re carrying your mobile outside the home. And if you claim, you could face higher premiums in the future.

Digital download cover offers you financial protection if something happens to your phone and you lose your paid-for downloads. This is sometimes included in standalone mobile phone insurance and home insurance. You won’t be covered if you delete your downloads by mistake, and only downloads you bought legally will be covered.

You can’t currently compare standalone mobile phone and smartphone insurance with Comparethemarket. But if you’re considering adding your phone to your home insurance policy, or want to add on personal possessions insurance, we can help. We’ll find you quotes from a range of UK insurance providers in minutes, so you can choose cover that’s right for you.