Gadget travel insurance

When travelling abroad, you’re likely to have a number of gadgets with you. Knowing you’re covered if something were to go wrong while on holiday gives you a valuable peace of mind and the freedom to enjoy your break. Whether it’s having a camera stolen or damaging your laptop, gadget cover would ease the financial pressure of replacing them when you come home.

There are two main options when taking out cover for your gadgets:

• Adding gadget cover to your travel insurance: Some travel insurance policies allow you to buy additional cover for high value items such as laptops, phones and high-spec cameras.
• Taking out a separate travel gadget policy: If you have a large number of gadgets, or the gadgets you have are particularly valuable, then opting for separate gadget insurance can reassure you that all your gadgets are protected while you’re on holiday.
• Listing the items as part of your contents insurance: Listing your gadget as an ‘all risk’ item as part of your contents insurance should cover it worldwide.
• Insuring with a general gadget insurance policy: Insuring your gadgets in their own right is another option, and it’s become more popular since people have started to carry phones that cost hundreds of pounds.

Whichever you go for, it’s important to check your policy paperwork for details of the cover provided.

For example, there will probably be a single item claim limit - the maximum you can claim for any given gadget.

Also check the excess. This is the amount you have to pay towards any claim you make. So if, for example, you claim for a £400 phone and the excess is £50, you’d only get £350 back. Normal travel insurance policies probably have a higher excess than a dedicated gadgets policy.

Do I need gadget cover?

According to a MoneySuperMarket survey taken in July 2017, up to 68% of Brits travel abroad with a gadget – a figure which rises to 81% among the 18 to 34 age group. Despite this, there are lots of misconceptions surrounding gadget cover for travel insurance, including the fact that many travel insurance policies don’t provide gadget coverage as standard.

• 40% of those Brits who travel with gadgets don’t purchase gadget insurance
• 35% of Brits believe that their gadgets are automatically covered by a standard travel insurance policy. This is often not the case, and even if it is, there’s usually a single item pay-out – meaning that the amount paid is less than actual the value of the lost item
• 43% of Brits think that specific item insurance isn’t valid if the items are lost, damaged or stolen

MoneySuperMarket Survey Data. Correct as of July 2017

What does gadget insurance cover?

Travel gadget insurance provides protection against:

• Accidental Damage:  If your gadget has been damaged accidentally then your travel and gadget insurance will cover costs of repair
• Theft: Tales of pickpockets targeting tourists are legendary. So if your piece of tech has been stolen your travel insurance with gadget cover will replace it, or the parts that have been swiped
• Liquid Damage: The thing about modern technology is that our gadgets aren’t usually waterproof. So if you knock a drink over your electronic device, your gadget cover will replace it. This may not be the case with travel insurance, which often excludes liquid damage

MoneySuperMarket Survey Data. Correct as of July 2017

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