Mobile phone insurance

You may already have cover in place for your mobile phone through your home contents insurance policy, or as an add-on with your current account.

Most mobile phone insurance providers will have clauses written into their policy documents which say that they won’t offer cover for things like:

• A phone that’s been stolen from your car if it was in clear view and hadn’t been properly concealed
• If the phone was stolen from a building or premise where there were no signs of forced entry
• Any intentional damage to the phone that was caused by you and not a third party
• Non-manufacturer-approved accessory repairs and damage that was caused by not following manufacturer instructions
• Manufacturer’s defects or recall of the device
• Cosmetic damage like scratches that doesn’t affect the device’s performance or safety
• A lost sim card
• Any damage claims where the damaged phone isn’t handed in for repair
• You should always read the policy wording and policy summary documents carefully before taking out cover with a phone insurance provider so you know what won’t be covered.

You can also get your phone insured as part of a bundle with gadget insurance. If you have a mobile phone plus a laptop and tablet, you might want to insure all of your gadgets under one umbrella policy and get a multi-gadget discount.

You’ll get a claims allowance that’s broken down per gadget, and policies should cover each device for accidental damage, mechanical breakdown and theft as standard.

Warranties generally last between 12 and 24 months, and will cover the cost of phone repairs as long as the damage wasn’t your fault. But this might not apply to all types of repairs – for example, your warranty may only cover battery replacement for half the time.

Some policies have instant cover, which means you’ll get your replacement within standard delivery times – three to five working days usually. However you might not be able to make a claim straight away, as some policies have a deferral period that won’t allow you to claim for a set time after taking out cover.

If you need to make a claim on your phone insurance, you can either do it through the insurance provider’s website or over the phone. Your provider will be able to tell you what to do next, including any evidence required and how long it’ll need your phone for repairs.

Most providers say you need to let them know within 48 hours of discovering there’s a problem with your device. 

If your phone is lost or stolen, it’s better to let your insurance provider know within 24 hours of discovery. You’ll also need to tell your network provider so it can block any fraudulent phone activity.

Mobile phone insurance can sometimes be a bit finicky to claim on. So before you buy insurance, there are a few wise moves to make sure you’ll be eligible:

• Buy phones directly from certified retailers, your network provider or the manufacturer. Some insurers won’t insure second-hand phones, or those bought from less reputable websites
• Make sure your phone isn’t already damaged when you buy insurance
• Check how old the phone is; many insurers have maximum age limits on phones they will insure
• Keep your proof of purchase in a safe place

Phone insurance covers a lot of things that can go wrong with your phone, but there are exemptions.

Most mobile phone insurance providers will have clauses written into their policy documents which say that they won’t offer cover for things like:

• A phone that’s been stolen from your car if it hadn’t been properly concealed
• A phone stolen from a building where there are no signs of forced entry
• Any intentional damage to the phone that was caused by you and not someone else
• Accessory repairs and damage caused by not following manufacturer instructions
• Manufacturer’s defects or recall of the device
• Cosmetic damage like scratches that doesn’t affect the device’s performance or safety
• A lost SIM card
• Any damage claims where the damaged phone isn’t handed in for repair