Are Gadgets Covered Under Home Insurance?

If you own valuable technology such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches or games consoles, it's worth understanding exactly what your home insurance covers and what it doesn't.

Does Home Insurance Cover Gadgets?

In many cases, yes.

Most home insurance policies cover personal belongings within the home, which can include:

• Mobile phones
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Smartwatches
• Cameras
• Games consoles
• Headphones

However, cover is typically provided under your home's contents insurance rather than through a dedicated gadget insurance policy.

What Does Home Insurance Usually Cover?

Depending on your policy, your gadgets may be covered against:

• Fire
• Flooding
• Theft following a break-in
• Storm damage
• Vandalism
• Certain accidental events

If your gadgets are damaged or stolen as part of an insured event within your home, you may be able to make a claim.

What Are the Common Limitations?

While home insurance can offer protection for gadgets, there are often restrictions.

These may include:

• High policy excesses
• Single-item value limits
• Limits on the total value of possessions
• Reduced cover for older devices
• Restrictions on accidental damage claims
• No cover for mechanical breakdown
• No cover for loss

As a result, a claim for a high-value smartphone or laptop may not always result in a full replacement cost being paid.

Are Gadgets Covered Outside the Home?

This is one of the biggest areas of confusion.

Many standard home insurance policies only cover possessions while they are inside your property.

If your phone is stolen while commuting, your laptop is damaged in a café, or your tablet is lost while travelling, you may not be covered unless you've added an optional personal possessions extension.

Home Insurance vs insurance2go Gadget Insurance

The Biggest Difference: Everyday Protection

Home insurance is designed primarily to protect your property and home contents.

Gadget insurance is designed specifically around the risks devices face every day, such as:

• Dropping your phone
• Cracking a screen
• Liquid damage
• Theft while out and about
• Device loss
• Mechanical failure

For people who regularly carry expensive technology, these risks are often more common than major home insurance events.

What About Mobile Phones?

Mobile phones are among the most frequently used and most frequently damaged gadgets.

While your contents insurance may cover your phone within the home, incidents that happen outside the property may require additional cover.

This is particularly important considering many modern smartphones cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds to replace.

What If You Own Multiple Gadgets?

The average household often owns several connected devices, including:

• Smartphones
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Smartwatches
• Wireless headphones
• Games consoles

While home insurance may cover these as household contents, dedicated gadget insurance can provide more focused protection for technology that is regularly carried, transported and used outside the home.

When Home Insurance May Be Enough

Home insurance alone may be suitable if:

• Your gadgets rarely leave the house.
• You only need protection against household risks.
• The value of your devices falls within policy limits.
• You are comfortable paying the policy excess.

For some households, this level of protection may be sufficient.

When Gadget Insurance May Be Worth Considering

Dedicated gadget insurance may be worth considering if:

• You carry your devices every day.
• You own expensive technology.
• You want protection outside the home.
• You need cover for accidental damage.
• You want cover for loss or theft.
• You rely heavily on your gadgets for work or daily life.
• You don’t want to affect your home insurance premium by making a claim. 

The more you use your devices, the more important it becomes to understand how and where they are protected.

Do You Need Both?

Not necessarily.

Before purchasing additional insurance, check:

• Whether accidental damage is included
• Your single-item limits
• Whether gadgets are covered outside the home
• Your excess amount
• Any exclusions relating to loss or breakdown

You may find your home insurance provides adequate protection, or you may decide that dedicated gadget insurance better reflects how you use your devices.

Key Takeaways

• Home insurance often covers gadgets as part of contents insurance.
• Cover is typically focused on incidents occurring within the home.
• Loss, accidental damage and mechanical breakdown may not be included.
• High-value gadgets can exceed policy limits.
• Dedicated gadget insurance often provides broader protection for everyday risks.

Protect Your Gadgets Beyond the Home

Your gadgets don't just stay in one place—they travel with you every day.

With insurance2go, you can protect devices such as:

• Mobile phones
• Laptops
• Tablets
• Smartwatches
• Headphones
• Games consoles

Giving you dedicated protection for the technology you rely on most, whether you're at home, at work or on the move.