Broadband for streaming
Find out more
Find the right protection for your child's gadget[1]
We all love a gadget, and no one more than an easily distracted child in pursuit of entertainment.
The massive surge in popularity in gadget ownership for the under 18s is in no small part due to insistent little hands hijacking their parents' smartphones and tablets whenever they come into view.
On average, children get their first tablet when they're eight, and by 10 they've also added a smartphone to their gadget haul.
Throw in a games console and laptop, and our tech savvy kids can be using devices worth thousands of pounds.
Even a cheap smartphone can cost £200, and you might be looking at over £900 for a top of the range iPhone.
Hmm, let's think about this for a minute. Kids are really good at looking after their belongings aren't they? They never leave things on random shelves as they rampage through shops looking for the latest toys.
Nor do they casually throw their possessions out of the car window as you travel down the M4 on the way to visit the grandparents.
If you're going to let your children take their gadgets to school, or to their friends' houses, gadget insurance will cover you for any loss, accidental damage or theft of the devices.
Most insurance policies won't cover anyone under the age of 18 as a policyholder. The easiest way to insure your household's gadgets is through a multi-gadget policy for families.
Gadget insurance policies usually cover:
Each policy is different though, so check the policy wording to see which gadgets are covered.
That depends on what kind of policy you buy. A standard policy could pay out if your precious moppet drops their phone down the toilet, but not if they leave their tablet on the bus. You'll probably need a premium policy for that.
Includes cover for:
Will cover what's in a standard policy, plus:
Includes what's in a standard and mid-level policy, and:
Opting for a premium policy may be a money saver if the small people in your household are prone to leaving their belongings in random places.
You'll only have to pay the excess on a policy instead of the full price to replace their device, saving yourself not only money, but hours of being browbeaten into buying a new one.
Lots of policies have a 14-day exclusion period at the beginning of a policy term, which means you can't make a claim during that time
Insurance policies have a number of exclusions and limitations you need to know about before you take out a policy, otherwise you may end up buying one that doesn't cover what you need. Here are a few things to look out for:
Some insurers have an age limit on who can use the gadgets they'll cover. Check the small print to make sure there's no minimum age limit for your policy.
Not many policies allow you to insure an unlimited number of gadgets. Usually you'll have to tell an insurer the make, model, and serial number of the gadgets to be covered under a policy.
The policy documentation will state how many gadgets a policy covers.
A policy may stipulate only members of the family living at the same address are covered under it. If you have a child away at university for example, speak to your insurer to see if the policy covers their gadgets in their term-time residence.
If your policy only lets you claim once in a policy term, but you have three children and 17 gadgets, chances are it won't provide enough protection for you. Check the terms and conditions for info about claims and buy a policy that gives you adequate cover.
Lots of policies have a 14-day exclusion period at the beginning of a policy term, which means you can't make a claim during that time.
Our top tip is always read the policy documentation to make sure you've got the cover you need. If in doubt, give the insurance company a call. They may be able to add extras to the policy if you ask them.
If you make a claim on a policy, you are usually expected to make a contribution to the cost. The part you pay is called an excess.
Policies often stipulate different excess levels depending on the item, or the type of claim, for example theft or accidental damage. You can find information on the excesses applicable in the policy documentation.
Find out more
Find out more
[1]Gocompare.com introduces customers to Comparison Creator Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Authorised Representative of Moneyshake.com Limited. Gocompare.com's relationship with ComparisonCreator.com Limited is limited to that of business partnership, no common ownership or control rights exist between us. Please note, we cannot be held responsible for the content of external websites and by using the links stated to access these separate websites you will be subject to the terms of use applying to those sites.