Mobile phone insurance
Get cover for your mobile phone[1]
In one year, 325,000 of us are likely to have our mobiles stolen
According to the Office of National Statistics
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.
If your device is accidentally damaged by liquid, phone insurance can pay for the cost of repairs or replacement.
If your phone develops a mechanical fault outside of the manufacturer's warranty period.
Cover multiple phones in your household. Though some insurers may not include cover for children's devices.
Replacement of any accessories damaged, lost or stolen at the same time as the device.
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.
With some policies, you can't claim during the first two weeks of your policy. But with instant cover you can make a claim the same day the policy is bought.
Repayment of costs incurred due to unauthorised calls or eWallet payments.
Do you need to insure your phone?
Even if your phone gets damaged or stolen, your phone supplier will still expect you to pay the remainder of your contract.
Phone insurance can help pay for the cost of a replacement device, so you're not left paying for a phone and having to pay for a new one at the same time.
You should consider phone insurance if:
- Your phone is at risk of theft
- You have a history of broken phones
- You've taken out a new contract for an expensive phone
- You'd need an instant replacement phone
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[3]
| Device | Average Monthly Cost | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 Pro Max 128GB | £10.75 | £112.21 |
| iPhone 12 Pro 128GB | £9.29 | £96.91 |
| iPhone 12 64GB | £8.19 | £85.17 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB | £10.69 | £109.12 |
| iPhone 11 Pro 64GB | £10.11 | £102.46 |
| iPhone 11 64GB | £7.76 | £80.82 |
| iPhone 11 64GB | £10.11 | £101.32 |
| Huawei P40 Pro 128GB | £8.23 | £84.71 |
| iPhone SE (2020) 64GB | £6.75 | £69.86 |
| Samsung S20 128GB (5G) | £8.08 | £84.94 |
| Google Pixel 5 128GB | £8 | £85.51 |
| Samsung S21 5G 128GB | £8.59 | £93.82 |
What do you need to get a quote?
You'll need to have some basic information to hand including:
-
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
Choose to cover your phone for loss, accidental damage and/or theft
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Payment
Whether you want to pay annually or monthly
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Excess
The amount you want to pay towards a claim
Are mobile phones covered by home insurance?
Home contents insurance policies will cover your mobile phone for things like loss due to fire, flooding or home theft.
Arranging mobile phone cover through your home insurance can be a simple and cost-effective option. But there are some downsides to consider.
Cover won't be as extensive. Don't expect the bells and whistles you'd get with standalone cover. Things like cover abroad and fraudulent activity. And if you want cover away from home, you'll need to pay extra for it.
With home insurance, expect claims to be processed much slower too. Potentially leaving you without your phone for weeks.
Frequently asked questions
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Before you purchase insurance, you should check what your policy does and doesn't cover.
Some policies may not cover:
- Theft - If there are no signs of forced entry or you’ve left your phone unattended. You've got to report your phone as stolen to the police within 24 hours too
- Water damage
- Phones over a year old
- Older SIM cards
- Deliberate damage, or damage that's only cosmetic
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Most mobile devices have a warranty of between 24 to 48 months, but it won't offer the same type of cover as insurance would.
For instance, a warranty won't cover your device for things like accidental damage, smashed screens or water damage.
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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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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 risk to your data by backing it up regularly.
Other types of insurance that cover phones
Before taking out insurance for your phone, check that you're not already covered under a different policy.
Contents insurance
Your home contents insurance policy will cover items like phones up to a limited amount. This amount is known as the single article limit. And it's usually around £1,000.
Travel insurance
If you're looking to cover your phone while travelling abroad, you might find that your travel insurance already includes some form of gadget cover.
Packaged bank account
Some current accounts come with added benefits like mobile phone cover. It might be part of your policy as standard, but if not you should be able to purchase it as an optional extra. Cover tends to be pretty basic though.
References
[2] There are 14 active insurers on the panel at Comparison Creator. Last checked July 2020.
[3]Average mobile phone insurance costs are based on quotes from ProtectYourGadget.com, conducted on the 14 April 2021. All quotes are based on combined theft, loss and accidental damage cover. Retrieved 2021-04-15.