Gadget cover with travel insurance

COMPARE TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH GADGET COVER

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Choose from a policy add-on or stand-alone gadget cover

A standard travel insurance policy won’t cover all your gadgets.

You can usually cover one or two gadgets, up to a value set by the insurer. But check policies because there’ll be exclusions.

There'll be a single item limit too. That means you'll only be covered up to a certain value for each gadget. Generally, the more premium the policy the higher the item limit.

If you’re taking a camera, phone, tablet and a laptop, it's unlikely you'll have enough cover to protect them all without buying additional cover.

Extra gadget cover

Optional policy upgrades can usually be added onto your cover. If you have any concerns or questions just give the insurer a call to see exactly what's covered, and to find out whether you need the upgrade.

Stand-alone cover

You can buy a separate policy specifically to cover.

gadget cover with travel insurance

Do I need gadget cover?

If you’re going to be taking expensive tech abroad, like a camera, laptop or smartphone, there’s a chance they could get damaged or stolen while you’re away.

Most travel insurance policies won’t pay out enough to cover the cost of gadgets, and you’ll have to pay your excess to claim, so it could be worth adding on gadget cover or getting a stand-alone policy.

What's covered

Gadget cover on your holiday insurance will protect you for accidental damage, theft, unauthorised use, breakdown and liquid damage for the following devices:

  • Laptops
  • Mobiles
  • Tablets
  • Cameras
  • Portable game consoles
  • Smartwatches
  • Headphones

It might be possible to get cover for other devices, but you’d have to contact your insurer to find out.

If you lose something, it's generally not covered. But this varies between insurers and depends on the circumstances.

Cover levels

Standard travel insurance will have a valuables limit, which may only cover you for around £100. Read your policy wording to see what basic protection you have.

We checked Defaqto and of 952 annual travel insurance policies, 49% covered valuables worth between £250 and £499. Only 25% protected valuables worth £500 or more.[2]

Check with your insurer that all your gadgets are covered under ‘valuables’.

Gadget travel policies offer different levels of cover for a set number of devices.

There’s usually a maximum number of gadgets allowed per claim. That means if a bag containing lots of tech gets damaged or stolen, you might not be able to recoup the costs to repair or replace all your kit.

Expect the excess you'd have to pay to vary between cover levels.

Cover levels can depend on the type of travel insurance policy you have too - single versus multi-trip, for example.

If you’re travelling in the UK, your gadgets might be covered by your home insurance - check before getting extra cover you don't need

Exclusions and limitations

All travel insurance policies will have a list of exclusions. Here are some of the typical ones for gadget cover:

  1. The number of gadgets insured

    Any additional gadgets you take over the number your insurer covers won’t be protected

  2. Number of claims

    Most policies have a maximum amount of claims you can make in a certain time period

  3. UK purchase only

    You might not be covered for gadgets bought outside of the UK

  4. Age of equipment

    Less than five years old for example

  5. Old for new, sliding scale or depreciation

    Your insurer might deduct a certain percentage from the cost of a new gadget depending on the age of your old one

  6. Wear and tear

    You won’t be able to claim for general wear and tear, or damage due to lack of maintenance

  7. Manufacturer defects

    If your devices goes wrong because of a manufacturer’s fault it’s up to them to sort it out, not your insurer

  8. Loss or damage to data

    Gadget cover doesn’t cover data issues, so back up your information before travelling

  9. Viruses

    Insurers don’t cover virus damage either, so make sure you’ve got good anti-virus protection

  10. Travelling to restricted countries

    If you go somewhere the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against, your travel insurance won’t cover you or your gadget

  11. Cosmetic damage

    You won’t be able to claim for scrapes or scratches through your travel insurance

Tips for travelling with gadgets

  1. Protect your kit

    Get your device a sturdy cover and screen protector

  2. Back everything up

    Make sure you back up your data before you leave for your trip

  3. Leave devices in your hotel

    If you don’t need to carry them around with you, keep your gadgets in the hotel safe or a locked suitcase

  4. Don’t forget your chargers

    Bring all the chargers and accessories you’ll need for your gadgets while on holiday. You might also need to pack an adapter plug

  5. Turn off data roaming

    Data roaming means your phone uses your mobile data to connect to the internet. If you don’t plan to use it then turn it off as you could be charged for it

  6. Security measures

    You can register your devices’ serial numbers with a site like Immobilise to make your gadgets easier to recover if stolen

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[2]Last checked 18 August 2022