Gadget insurance

Most of us have experienced that heart stopping moment when you reach for your phone only to find it's not there.

Or if you're accident prone, knocking a cup of coffee over your laptop might have happened more than you'd like to admit.

So when disaster strikes, whether it's your fault or not, gadget insurance can help ease that sinking feeling.

We'll take you through everything you need to know.

What is gadget insurance?

Gadget insurance is cover for your tech. It can cover the cost of repairing or replacing electronic items. Think laptops, phones or tablets.

As more areas of our lives go digital, having a broken phone or laptop can make everything grind to a halt. On top of that, our electronics aren't cheap, so it makes sense to protect yourself financially.

Gadget insurance can come as a standalone product, or it can be included in the contents insurance side of your home insurance policy. We don't offer it as a standalone product.

What does it cover?

Gadget insurance can cover you for a variety of scenarios:

• Theft: Protect yourself against light-fingered thieves. Pick-pocketing can happen wherever you are, so gadget insurance can help reimburse the cost of a replacement.
• Loss: Left your phone on the bus or train? Gadget insurance can cover you if you lose your electronics.
• Accidental damage: If you're somewhat accident prone, it might be worth covering yourself against unintentional mishaps. You may need to add accidental damage insurance on to your contents policy for an extra fee.

What if I take my tech outside?

A lot of contents policies will cover your tech while it's away from home - within reason.

Portable tech like phones and laptops will generally be covered, but if you're taking your TV on an adventure - you might have to rethink your options.

This isn't always the case though. You may need to add away from home cover onto your policy for an additional fee. Always check your policy documents so you're clued up on what is and isn't covered.

Is there anything it won’t cover?

Contents insurance won't normally cover:

• Vandalism: If someone purposely damages your tech.
• Mechanical breakdown: If your tech breaks due to age or wear and tear
• Cosmetic damage: Superficial flaws like scratches, dents and scuffs.
• Negligence: If your phone is stolen because you left it unprotected on a table, for example, it may not be covered.

What if my tech just stops working?

This generally won’t be covered by your policy, but you have a number of other options.

• Claim on your item’s warranty: Most will come with a warranty of 12 to 24 months. You’ll usually get a free replacement or repair within this time frame.
• Claim through your bank: Many premium bank accounts will cover things like phones as standard, with more comprehensive levels of cover than what you may get through your home insurance.

What tech can gadget insurance cover?

Gadget insurance can cover anything tech related, like:

• Mobile phones
• Smartwatches
• Laptops and Macbooks
• Tablets
• E-readers
• Apple devices – iPhones, iPads etc.
• Camera and camcorders
• MP3 players
• Headphones (wired or wireless like AirPods)
• Fitness trackers
• Portable games consoles
• VR headsets
• Sat nav devices

For really expensive items like premium laptops, for example, you might need high value items cover. This is a contents insurance add-on for items above a certain value, usually over £1,000. Without this add-on, you may only be covered for items below this value.

How much is gadget insurance?

Contents insurance costs £5 a month*, on average. What you pay depends on a number of factors though.

It'll depend on the value of your items, your location, and your claims history. Insurers will also look at the type of security measures you have in your home, and the type of property.

*Confused.com data Q1 2025.

How do I make a claim?

To make a claim you'll need to have proof of purchase for the product. This might be a receipt or the contract agreement. You can sometimes use a bank statement as supporting evidence, but it may not be sufficient on its own.

You'll need to report any theft to the police. Once you've reported this, they'll give you a crime reference number. You'll usually need this to make a theft claim.

If your phone has been stolen, you should contact your network provider. They can block your phone so that thieves can't access your personal information.

If you have Apple or Google pay, or have banking apps on your phone, you might also want to contact your bank. They can cancel your cards and reissue you with new ones if necessary.

After you've completed all relevant steps, you're all set to contact your insurance provider and make a claim.