Loss
If you lose your phone or leave it somewhere you can't retrieve it from, your insurance will help you cover the cost of replacing it
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Mobile phone insurance is a type of gadget insurance that will cover your phone in case it is damaged, stolen or lost. Mobile phone insurance is a lifeline for when things go wrong – and given how important smartphones are, it’s always worth having protection in place.
If anything does happen to your phone, your insurance will help you cover the cost of repairing or replacing it and can protect your phone even after your warranty expires. With this insurance, you don't have to worry about being out of touch if anything happens to your phone.
It may not always be necessary to take out mobile phone insurance if you have a warranty that has yet to expire, but a mobile phone insurance policy might be useful if:
You tend to be a little clumsy, or if you have a history of losing or breaking your phone
You have a very valuable smartphone that would be expensive to replace
You’re in a long-term contract with your network provider
You’re reliant on your phone and would need a replacement immediately (not all policies offer this)
You have an expensive model that you'd like to insure such as the latest iPhone handset
The level of protection your mobile phone insurance policy provides varies between insurers and their products, but you’ll generally be able to find cover for:
If you lose your phone or leave it somewhere you can't retrieve it from, your insurance will help you cover the cost of replacing it
Your insurance can help you replace your phone if it is stolen, but you will need to report the theft to the police within 24 hours of it happening
If you accidentally damage your phone, a mobile phone insurance policy will help you cover the cost of repairs or a replacement
As well as basic protection against loss, theft and accidental damage, you’ll also be able to add extra coverage to your insurance, which will increase the protection but also your premiums. You can choose the following features for your policy:
If you accidentally get your phone wet
Worldwide cover for when you take your phone on holiday
To insure more than one device on a single policy
For things like your case and headphones
Which covers losses incurred as a result of fraud
If your phone breaks as a result of a mechanical fault
Phone thefts rose by 20% last year across England and Wales. The Met Police recorded 8,730 recorded thefts in January 2023 alone. Having your phone insured can provide some stress relief some the big financial strain of having to buy a new phone after yours gets stolen.
Saarrah Mussa Insurance expert
Your mobile phone insurance premiums will depend on the make and model, such as an iPhone or Samsung, as well as how you pay. It will also depend on the level of cover you take out and any extra features included in your policy.
Device | Average monthly cost† | Average annual cost† | Savings made by paying annually† |
|---|---|---|---|
iPhone 11 64GB | £8.20 | £86.13 | £12.27 |
Samsung S10 128GB | £8.47 | £88.12 | £13.52 |
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 128GB 5G | £9.44 | £100.96 | £12.32 |
iPhone X 64GB | £8.19 | £84.41 | £13.87 |
†According to data provided by Comparison Creator, accurate as of April 2024
CoverCloud gadget insurance
Elite 125
Monthly Price
£5.43
Accidental Damage
Included
Mechanical Breakdown
Included
Theft Cover
Included
Loss Cover
Included
Great for
But be aware that
This is for illustrative purposes only. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example.
Learn more about our full methodology here.
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Home insurance may offer some cover for mobile phones but it is usually limited compared to insurance specifically for your phone.
Contents insurance is designed to cover your belongings while they are in the home. This usually means that your mobile phone will be covered if anything happens to it while in the home. Depending on your contents insurance cover, you will usually be covered for damage or theft while accidental damage is given as an optional cover that needs to be added to your policy.
Outside of the home, however, contents insurance typically won't cover your phone if anything happens to it. To get cover for your mobile phone outside of the home, you will need gadget insurance.
You may already have cover in place for your handset through your home insurance contents policy, or as an add-on with your current account. These policies are be covered by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), offering extra protection.
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, even if your devices are refurbished. 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 for mobile phones, tablets, and laptops.
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
Moneysupermarket have teamed up with protectyourgadget.com who offer an external gadget insurance comparison service. ProtectYourGadget.com is a trading name of Comparison Creator Limited, a company registered in England and Wales (Registration Number 07336373). Comparison Creator Limited is an Appointed Representative of Moneyshake.com Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Firm Reference Number 522581).
