Mobile phone insurance
Get cover for your mobile phone with ProtectYourGadget.com[1]
What's mobile phone insurance?
High quality smartphones can be expensive and you may have locked yourself into a long-term contract to pay for one - a contract you'll have to keep paying, even if you no longer have the phone.
Mobile phone insurance will reimburse you for the cost of repairing your handset if it's lost, stolen or damaged.
Exact cover will vary from policy to policy, so make sure you know what you’re buying and that your insurance has the cover features you need.
Arranging mobile phone cover through your home insurance can be a simple and cost-effective option, but remember there are some downsides to consider.
For instance, a claim is likely to take some time to process, potentially leaving you mobile-less for some weeks. You may also not be covered for specialist things like unauthorised calls and data downloads.
What does phone insurance cover?
A standard mobile phone insurance policy may include cover for loss, theft and accidental damage.
This means if you have unintentionally cracked your screen, your insurer will pay for repairs or replacement. Some insurers will give you an ‘instant’ replacement phone or repair yours if it’s out of action.
You might also have protection for:
- Water damage - If your device is accidentally damaged by liquid, phone insurance can pay for the cost of repairs or replacement.
- Multi phone cover - Cover multiple phones in your household with a multi mobile phone policy. Some insurers may not include cover for children's devices.
- Overseas travel - Standard phone insurance may become invalid if you leave the country. If you're planning to go abroad, worldwide phone insurance will cover your gadgets for a limited number of days.
- Phone accessories
- Music or apps
- Replacement battery
- Fraudulent activity
How much is mobile phone insurance?
The cost of your premium will depend on the brand and model of phone, the level of cover required, excess amount and whether the policy is paid in full or monthly.
Find the average cost of insurance for popular phone models below[2]
| Device | Average Monthly Cost | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone XR 64GB | £8.14 | £86.09 |
| Sony Xperia 5 128GB | £8.19 | £86.53 |
| iPhone 11 64GB | £8.20 | £86.13 |
| iPhone 7 32GB | £6.85 | £68.25 |
| iPhone 6s 32GB | £6.80 | £66.71 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB | £10.54 | £109 |
| iPhone 11 Pro 64GB | £10.11 | £101.32 |
| Samsung Galaxy S10 128GB | £8.47 | £88.12 |
| Huawei P30 Pro 128GB | £8.80 | £89.90 |
| Google Pixel 4 128GB | £8.59 | £89.68 |
Protect your phone in five simple steps
It’s a good idea to get mobile phone insurance, just in case your phone gets damaged or stolen, so you won’t have to worry about paying the replacement or repair costs.
When you buy your phone you might be offered insurance to go with it. This is usually expensive though, so it’s better to compare policies to find the right cover for a good price.
To get your quote, you'll need the following information:
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Your phone
Device brand, make and model
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Your details
Things like your name, your date of birth and your address
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Level of cover
Whether you'd like to cover your phone for loss, accidental damage or theft
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Payment
Whether you want to pay annually or monthly
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Excess
The amount of voluntary excess you want to pay
According to the Office of National Statistics, an estimated 329,000 people had their mobile stolen between April 2018 and March 2019[3].Ryan Fulthorpe - GoCompare home insurance expert
Even though you no longer have the phone, your phone supplier will still expect you to pay the remainder of your contract.
Phone insurance can get help pay for the cost of a replacement device, so that you're not without a phone whilst paying for your contract.
How to cut the cost of your mobile phone insurance
Don't pay more than you should on your phone insurance. Try these tips for cheaper insurance:
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Be careful
Take good care of your phone to avoid accidents, claims and raising your premium
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Watch the excess
Your premiums might be cheaper if you can pay a higher amount of excess but make sure you’d be able to afford it if you need to make a claim
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Only pay for what you need
If you don’t want loss cover, for example, don’t include it
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Don’t pay twice
Check whether your mobile phone is already covered under a different policy, like your home insurance or a packaged bank account
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Compare mobile phone insurance policies
Shop around to find a great policy that suits you
Frequently asked questions
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Is my mobile covered under my home insurance?
Before taking out mobile phone insurance, check that you aren’t already covered through your packaged bank account, a premium credit card or your home insurance. Your mobile phone could be covered as standard or you might be able to add it as an extra.
If you include it on your home insurance policy, it could take a long time for claims to be processed, potentially leaving you without your phone for weeks. There might also be some specialist exclusions, like cover for unauthorised calls. If you have to claim on your home insurance for a stolen or damaged mobile phone, your policy premiums will increase the following year.
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What doesn’t mobile phone insurance cover?
You might not be covered for theft if there are no signs of forced entry or if you’ve left your phone unattended. That means if your phone’s stolen from your pocket or you leave it in the back of a taxi, you won’t be insured. There could also be exclusions for water damage and restrictions on how old your phone can be. Older SIM cards might not be covered either.
If the damage caused to your device is deliberate, or only cosmetic, you might find yourself having to shell out the money to fix it yourself.
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How do I claim for theft, damage or loss?
Call your insurer - the number will be on your policy document. Explain what's happened to your phone and provide your details. Fill out any paperwork they send your way and provide supporting documents when requested.
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What is digital download cover?
Digital download cover will help with the cost of replacing music, movies, eBooks and other valuable data that is stored on your phone. You can minimise the risks to your data by backing it up regularly.
More from home insurance
References
[1]Gocompare.com introduces customers to ProtectYourGadget.com, a trading name of 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.
[2]Average mobile phone insurance costs are based on quotes from ProtectYourGadget.com, conducted on the 27 April 2020. All quotes are based on combined theft, loss and accidental damage cover. Retrieved 2020-04-27.
[3]Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). Office of National Statistics.
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