Our whole lives are pretty much in our phones. From banking to tickets to pictures of precious memories. So when they get lost, stolen or broken beyond repair, it can leave you feeling totally lost.
Contents insurance can help you get a replacement in a jiffy. But, this isn't your only option. You can get gadgets insurance to cover your mobile, or get insurance through your bank too.
Read on to see which one might be the best for your phone.
What's the best way to insure my mobile phone?
You've got a few options:
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Include your phone on your contents insurance: Add your mobile phone to your contents insurance policy. You can get this regardless of whether you're a homeowner or a renter. You'll need to make sure your policy includes 'cover away from home' though, otherwise, your phone is only covered for theft, damage or loss within your home.
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Insure your phone through your bank: Pay your bank a monthly fee to cover your phone against accidental damage, theft, or loss. Some even offer cover if your phone breaks down.
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Get standalone mobile phone insurance: Buy mobile insurance from a specialist gadget insurer. These are tailored specifically to mobiles and can offer wider protection, like international cover or screen repairs.
| Type of insurance | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
|
Contents insurance
|
It's one less policy to keep track of.
It covers damage, theft or loss within the home. Might be slightly cheaper than a standalone policy or insuring your device through your bank. |
Your phone isn't automatically covered outside the home.
Your phone might be over the single item limit. It's likely you'll have to pay an excess. Claiming might affect your no claims bonus. |
|
Insurance through your bank
|
Your bank might offer 'bundles' with other tech.
It's included with your current account. You don't have to remember an insurer, just call your bank if you need to make a claim. Most policies cover your phone outside the home. |
It could be more expensive, on average.
You could potentially have a higher excess than policies offered by an insurer. There might be more restrictions on cover, for example, the type of theft. |
|
Standalone mobile phone insurance
|
Often more comprehensive. For example, it might cover damage like a smashed screen.
Some policies cover your phone abroad. Most policies cover your phone when it's away from home as standard. |
It could be more expensive, on average.
It's another insurance policy to keep track of. Some of the policies don't cover lost data. |
How can I insure my phone through Confused.com?
We don't offer separate mobile phone policies here at Confused.com.
We do offer contents insurance though, so when you get a home insurance quote, you could add your phone then. Here's how you do it:
- When you get to the 'contents insurance' section, we'll ask you "Do you want to insure any other items worth over £1,000 each?" If your phone is over £1000, you'll need to declare it here and potentially get a high value listed item policy.
- We'll then ask you "Do you want to insure any other possessions when away from home?" Select 'yes' and choose how much cover you need. This ranges from £500 to £12,500. You can include any other gadgets that you'd like to insure away from home here too.
What will my phone be insured against?
If you do decide to go down the contents insurance route, this is what your policy will typically insure your mobile against:
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Theft of your phone: As long as your phone is covered away from home, your contents insurance policy should cover your phone for theft in the home and away from it.
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Loss of your phone: If you lose your phone, your contents insurance should cover you. Again, choose 'cover away from home' if you want to insure it against getting lost while you're out and about.
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Accidental damage: Accidental damage insurance also adds extra protection for your phone. This typically covers mishaps, like dropping it in the bath or cracking the screen. Maybe opt for this if you're a bit on the accident prone side, but keep in mind it could push your policy price up.
What won't it be insured for?
All types of home insurance comes with exclusions. Contents insurance won't typically cover your mobile against:
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Unforced theft: If you leave your phone in an unsecured place and someone pinches it, you typically won't be covered.
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Mechanical breakdown: Sometimes this is covered by your phone's warranty if it's within a certain time - usually 12 months to 2 years. If it's after this time though, your contents insurance can't help you.
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Cosmetic damage: Scratches, screen cracks and general wear and tear aren't usually covered by your contents insurance. Some standalone policies might cover screen damage though.
Will my phone be covered outside the house?
It depends on the home insurance policy. Some home insurers might offer this as standard, others might offer this as an add-on.
When you buy contents insurance with us, we'll ask you whether you want your belongings covered away from home when we're sorting your quote out.
When we've got your quotes ready, we'll show you insurers that should cover your mobile away from home. But make sure to check the exact coverage on your policy documents.
Buying this cover means your phone is covered if it's lost, damaged or stolen when you're out and about.
Sometimes this is known as personal possessions insurance. This is an add-on to your contents insurance policy though, you can't buy this type of cover on its own.
If you're off travelling, check your home insurance. It might cover your phone abroad. If not, travel insurance can step in. Travel insurance usually covers gadgets but make sure you check your travel insurance documents so you know what's covered.
What if my phone stops working?
Your warranty can save the day if your phone stops working within 12 months to 2 years after you've bought it.
Contents insurance can't really help here. But your bank's insurance and specialist gadget insurance might cover mechanical failure.
How much will it cost to insure my phone?
On average, contents insurance costs £5 a month*.
It provides cover up to a limit you set, for any items you want to insure, including your mobile phone.
*Confused.com data Q1 2025.
Is there anything else I need to think about when insuring my phone?
When you're getting insurance for your phone you'll need to think about:
The cost of your phone
Make sure you know how much your phone costs. If it's under £1,000 you can add it to your policy. If your phone is more expensive, for example, you have a top of the line iPhone, you might need to take out a policy add-on knows as high value items insurance to cover it.
Your excess
Your home insurance excess is the amount you pay when you make a claim, there's a compulsory and voluntary excess. Your home insurance provider sets the compulsory excess, but you can choose how much you want to pay for the voluntary excess.
Think about this with your phone. Set your excess at an amount you can pay if you ever needed to claim.
When you're setting it, if it's too high, it might not be worth claiming for your phone on your insurance. That's because it would probably cost about the same to replace it.
How do I make a claim?
Here's what to do if you need to make a claim on your home insurance for your mobile phone:
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Contact the police: If your phone has been stolen, contact the police as soon as you can. They'll give you a crime reference number that you'll need for your claim.
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Contact your network provider: If your phone's gone missing, contact your mobile phone network as soon as possible. They can block your SIM so the criminal can't make any calls, texts or zap your data.
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Check your accounts: Check your banking apps, social media and email for any suspicious activity if your phone has gone missing or been stolen. Changing your passwords as a precaution is a good idea.
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Speak to your insurer: If you bought your insurance through us, you should find your insurer in our directory. You've usually got about 6 months to make a claim, but this can vary. Your insurer can guide you through anything else, including any extra paperwork you need to do.
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