Compare travel insurance with gadget cover

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Why would I need travel insurance with gadget cover? 

What if your smartphone fell in the swimming pool, or your e-reader was stolen while you were away? To make sure they’re protected, you may want to consider travel insurance with gadget cover.

You might assume that mobile phones and other gadgets are covered by your travel insurance as standard. But not all travel insurance policies include cover specifically for gadgets. And the amounts travel insurance will pay out for valuables are often low – in some cases as little as £200 for a single item, or around £500 in total.  
 
If you’re taking a high-spec smartphone, laptop and fitness tracker with you, this won’t be nearly enough to cover their value if you have to replace them.  
 
Gadget travel insurance offers higher limits for expensive tech items. This could be between £1,000 and £3,000 depending on the insurance provider and level of cover you choose. When you compare with Compare the Market, you can choose to add gadget cover for up to £1,000 per item to your policy for an extra cost.

What types of gadget travel insurance are available?

There are a few choices open to you. You can: 

Buy separate standalone gadget-only travel insurance. This might be the best option for you if you want to cover valuable pieces of kit 
Add gadget insurance as an optional extra to your standard travel insurance policy for an extra cost
Insure your tech with a dedicated gadget insurance policy – just make sure it covers you abroad
Find home contents insurance with cover for personal possessions abroad.

Specific gadgets covered may vary for each insurance provider and will be listed in your policy document.

Items covered can include your smartphone, tablet/iPad, laptop, camera, games console, e-reader, wearables such as fitness trackers, GPS sat nav, Bluetooth headsets/earphones, accessories such as chargers, and even drones. 

There may be a limit on the number of gadgets covered by the policy, and there will be a limit on the total amount it will pay out.

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What cover does mobile phone and gadget travel insurance provide?

Cover may vary between insurance providers, but a good policy can include: 

Accidental damage, loss or theft 
Water damage 
Unauthorised web data use 
Unauthorised phone calls

Higher total limit and single item limit – the most a policy will pay out for one item.

What isn’t included in travel insurance with gadget cover?

You typically won’t be covered if:

You don’t report the loss or theft of a gadget to the police within a specified amount of time
The damage happened because of wear and tear or misuse
The damage isn’t affecting the functioning of your device
You left your gadget unattended.

What else should I check before buying mobile phone and gadget travel insurance?

There are a few things to think about before you take out gadget travel insurance to make sure you get the policy that’s right for you.  

Check to see if your mobile phone and gadgets are already covered under any other policies. For example, check any personal possessions cover included in your home insurance. And check your insurance through your bank account, or insurance you bought when you took out your mobile phone contract.

Also look at the excess amount, as this will be deducted from the pay-out if you have to make a claim.  

Many policies don’t include ‘new for old’ cover. If your gadget isn’t brand new, your insurance provider might only offer a refurbished replacement of a similar age.

Always read the policy wording carefully before buying insurance, so you know exactly what items are covered and what the excesses, limits and exclusions are.