Is Phone Insurance Worth It?

Table of contents:

What are the benefits of phone insurance?

Phone insurance can provide several benefits, including coverage for damage caused by accidents and theft. It could also help you avoid paying the full price of a replacement and cover your device from accidents related to water damage and smashed screens. Some policies also cover lost or stolen devices. Replacing a mobile phone can be expensive; a new iPhone 15 will set you back a minimum of £799.00* from Apple, depending on the model. As the price of handsets increases so does the cost to repair. Therefore phone insurance could be a way to protect your investment. Given the cost of devices and our dependence on them, mobile phone insurance is almost definitely worth considering, particularly if you are prone to a mobile phone mishap!

What types of phone insurance are available?

There are a few different ways you can insure your phone, including policies from the device manufacturer, network provider or a specialist gadget insurer like Protect Your Bubble. Polices from these different providers will vary in coverage, cost and benefits therefore it is important to compare plans and providers to make sure you purchase the best option for your budget and needs.

Some policies will cover for loss and theft but others may only protect you in the event of accidental damage such as a smashed screen or water damage. Terms and conditions such as eligibility and excesses will also vary by provider, so make sure you read the small print!

Smashed phone on floor with person standing over it

What am I covered for through phone insurance?

With Protect Your Bubble phone insurance you are covered against accidental damage including a smashed or cracked screen that affects the functionality of your device. Cosmetic damage such as small scratches and dents are not covered.  Liquid damage is also covered as standard by our phone insurance policy. You can also customise our cover removing theft and adding loss cover as required. Loss can be added as an optional extra for £1.50 per month per device.
Once the manufacturer's warranty has runs out on the phone, mechanical breakdowns are covered under the Protect Your Bubble policy.

Protect Your Bubble customers also benefit from cover against unauthorised network charges up to a maximum of £10,000. Plus coverage worldwide, so you can have peace of mind when making a trip aboard. Do bear in mind replacements and repaired items can only be sent to UK addresses. Terms, conditions and excesses apply to any claim made.

How soon can I claim on phone insurance?

With Protect Your Bubble you are covered immediately after purchase, unlike some other provider's policies which may have a 7 or 14-day restriction. 
If a claim is made soon after the policy purchase date you may be subject to more stringent checks, these are in place to protect all our customers against the consequences of fraud. 
If your phone is already damaged it cannot be insured, you could look to repair or replace it with our approved retailers iSmash or Pocket Geek Tech Repair.

What to say when claiming on phone insurance?

The easiest way to make a claim on your Protect Your Bubble phone insurance is to call customer services and advise them you need to make a claim; they will then talk you through the process and ask you for a description of what happened to your phone. When claiming on phone insurance it is important to be completely honest and describe the account of the claim incident exactly as it happened. You will need to provide all the required documentation. This may include, but is not limited to, proof of purchase, IEMI number, and if you have filed a police report any supporting documents pertaining to the incident. Providing inaccurate information or failure to provide required documentation can slow down the process or may even result in the claim being unsuccessful. 

What to tell your insurance company during a claim after losing your phone?

If you have a lost phone and you have insurance, as with any type of claim, it is important to give a detailed and accurate account of what happened. Speak truthfully about how the loss occurred. The customer service agent will ask you questions, you should provide genuine answers. Failure to do so and inconsistent answers could mean your claim is rejected.

What is the cost of phone insurance? 

The cost of phone insurance varies depending on the provider, the value of the phone, and the level of coverage. Here are some examples of phone insurance costs from Protect Your Bubble. All these prices are including accidental damage, mechanical breakdown and theft but without loss cover. Prices were correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Insure an iPhone 15 128GB for £6.99p/m
Insure a Samsung Galaxy S24 128GB for £6.99p/m
Insure a Google Pixel 8 256GB for £7.99p/m
You can get a quote online for your exact phone model in under 30 seconds. No personal details are required for a quote with no longwinded forms to fill out. Simply provide the make and model of the phone you wish to insure, and the date you purchased the phone and a quote will be supplied.

Also, with Protect Your Bubble you’ll save 20% on the premium when insuring a phone that was purchased in the last 30 days. This discount is only valid when insuring 2 items or less.  In the event of any claim, you will also be required to pay an excess payment. The amount varies depending on several things including the device, the type of claim and the insurance provider. Take a look at our Gadget Excesses table to view the excess amounts when claiming on your Protect Your Bubble policy.

How does phone insurance work?

Phone insurance is coverage against future mobile phone mishaps. In essence, it allows you to spread some of the cost of a new phone into monthly payments rather than having to fork out for an unexpected cost all at once.
First, you need to choose a phone insurance provider, not forgetting to read all the terms and conditions of the policy to make sure it suits your needs. Once you have chosen a provider and a policy that’s the right price and coverage for you, simply purchase the cover and the provider will set up the monthly instalments or take a one-off payment.
If you do have a phone mishap, you can contact your provider to make a claim. If your claim is successful, you will need to pay an excess. Protect Your Bubble excesses are displayed at the checkout before purchase, or you can see a list on the excesses page.
Different providers have different processes but Protect Your Bubble will try to repair your phone, and if we are unable to repair it, we will try and source a replacement. With Protect Your Bubble, there is no limit on how many times you can claim for repair but the is a limit of two replacements per year, per device.

*Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change.

Underwriter Assurant General Insurance Limited. Gadget age restrictions, T&Cs and excesses apply. Customer UK 18+. 

FAQ's

Protect Your Bubble phone insurance covers accidental damage as standard, including screen damage. Cosmetic damage that doesn't affect the functionality of your device, like surface scratches and dents, are not covered. 

Protect Your Bubble expects you to take reasonable care of your phone. Failure to look after your device may result in your claim being declined. We expect you to take reasonable precautions to keep your phone safe from theft, loss, and damage.
Mechanical breakdown within the manufacturer's warranty is not covered. The manufacturer can help you with phone issues when it is under warranty.
We do not send replacement or repaired phones beyond the UK. Replacements and repaired items can only be sent to UK addresses.
Cosmetic damage, like scratches and dents which do not affect the functionality of your phone, are not covered by the Protect Your Bubble policy.

Protect Your Bubble does not cover customers for more than 2 replacements in a 12-month period for each insured item. Ours is NOT a new-for-old policy, it is a like-for-like replacement that may come from refurbished or remanufactured stock, we will attempt to replace gadgets with one of the same colour but it is not guaranteed. 

These are the main exclusions but be sure to read the full terms and conditions and the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID) for further information

 

Phone insurance usually covers damage, theft, and breakdown but coverage varies by provider. Some providers have various levels of coverage (e.g. Bronze, Silver, Gold) usually with the entry-level covering just accidental damage.
Different providers will also have different exclusions, conditions, and excess amounts; it is vital you read the full terms and conditions of any policy to make sure it is right for you.
Protect Your Bubbles phone insurance covers accidental damage, theft (optional) and breakdown outside of the manufacturer's warranty. Worldwide cover is standard. Loss cover is an optional extra for £1.50 per month per device.
With Protect Your Bubble, unauthorised network charges up to a maximum of £10,000 are also covered.
With all coverage, terms, conditions, and excess apply. You can view Protect Your Bubbles Insurance Product Information Document and full terms and conditions for more information.