Protecting your gadgets wherever you are

Why gadget protection matters

Gadgets are a big part of our lives. Most of us need to use them every day, whether for work or keeping in touch with family and friends. And they’re important to us. They store a lot of personal information, plus they’re expensive too. So if they’re lost, stolen or damaged, it can be stressful and expensive to repair or replace them.

That’s why having the right insurance policy in place can give you peace of mind if something goes wrong, whether you’re at home, on the move or on your travels.

Here’s a breakdown of gadget insurance, home insurance and travel insurance with optional gadget cover to help you decide what’s best for you.

What cover options are available? 

Gadget insurance 

Spilled coffee on your laptop in a cafe or left your phone on the bus? Gadget insurance could help protect your devices while you’re out and about, as well as when you’re at home. 

Gadget insurance is a specific policy that’s designed just for your devices. You can usually choose to cover single items or multiple gadgets under one policy.  

This type of insurance often covers: 

• Accidental damage 

• Theft 

• Loss (depending on the policy) 

• Mechanical breakdown outside of warranty 

Things to check: 

• Are refurbished gadgets covered? 

• Is there a limit on how many claims you can make? 

• Are accessories like headphones or chargers included?  

What about Post Office Gadget Insurance? 

Post Office Gadget Insurance is designed to protect the tech you rely on every day. It covers gadgets like phones, laptops, tablets and smartwatches against accidental damage, breakdown, theft and loss, whether you're at home or out and about. 

You can insure multiple devices under one policy and choose the level of cover that suits your needs. 

We also provide cover for the whole family’s gadgets, including devices belonging to children, for extra peace of mind. And you can even opt for pay-as-you-go policies, so there’s no long-term contract or commitment. 

Home insurance

Home insurance comes in two types: buildings insurance and contents insurance. 

• Buildings insurance protects the structure of your home, like the walls, roof, windows and doors. It helps if something big happens, like a fire, storm or break-in 

• Contents insurance protects the things inside your home. This includes furniture, clothes and gadgets. It usually covers damage or loss caused by theft, fire or accidents inside your home 

Depending on your policy, contents insurance may extend to items taken outside the home. If it doesn’t, you may be able to add extra cover for an additional cost. 

Things to check:  

• The maximum amount you can claim for each item 

• If accidental damage is included or costs extra  

• Whether you need to list expensive items separately 

• If gadgets are covered outside the home or if this needs to be added 

What about Post Office Home Insurance? 

If you're looking to protect your gadgets at home, Post Office Home Insurance could help. Our contents insurance covers many everyday items, including gadgets like laptops and tablets, against theft, fire and flood.  

But standard contents cover won’t cover you for personal belongings and gadgets you take out of the home when you’re and about. You can add optional cover for accidental damage or away from home cover, which will protect items you take out of the house. This may cost more but it’s a simple way to give you extra peace of mind for your tech, wherever it is. Please note that gadgets used for business purposes are not covered. 

Always check the maximum amount you’re insured for, both inside and outside the home. 

Travel insurance add-ons 

Jetting off on holiday? Be it a relaxing beach break or an action-packed adventure, travelling can put your devices at extra risk of being lost, stolen or damaged. So, it’s a good idea to make sure your gadgets are covered while you’re away. 

Generally speaking, standard travel insurance sometimes covers gadgets, but the claim limit can be low. If that's the case, your insurer may offer an optional gadget cover add-on. You can pay a little extra for this to increase the device protection on your policy.

Things to check: 

• The claim limit for gadgets and whether this is per device or per claim 

• If proof of purchase is needed if you make a claim 

• Whether cover applies worldwide or only in certain countries 

What about Post Office Travel Insurance with Gadget Cover add-on? 

Standard travel insurance only offers limited cover for gadgets: 

• Economy cover: up to £150 

• Standard cover: up to £250 

• Premier cover: up to £400 

You can add optional gadget cover to your Post Office Travel Insurance for extra protection. It helps cover your devices, like phones, tablets or laptops, while you’re away. 

This lets you increase the protection in your policy and can cover other tech too, with up to £2,000 per person per policy for items like camera, audio or video equipment, e-readers, sat navs and more.