Insuring your mobile phone and electronic devices

After a day of sightseeing, you hop out of the car and hear a sound that makes your stomach drop. It’s the dreaded crunch of your smartphone hitting the pavement. Even before you pick it up, you know the screen has shattered. If only you’d zipped your pocket. If only you’d had it insured. 

Portable contents insurance is about protecting your valuables while you’re out and about, and there are all sorts of reasons why it can come in handy, especially when it comes to everyday accidents. Let’s break it down with a few scenarios. 

For drops and breaks: A smartphone slipping from your pocket and breaking isn’t the only example of why portable contents insurance can come in handy. Taking a photo from a scenic viewpoint is all fun and games until another tourist bumps into you, accidentally knocking your camera from your hands. Not only is your best sunset shot lost to the depths of the ocean, your prized SLR is too! 

For water damage: Consider your little one at school, bag packed with a lunch box, iPad and books. One day, he forgets to tighten the lid of his water bottle, and when he goes to pull out his iPad, the whole thing is waterlogged and won’t turn on. Not only that, but his older sister made a similar error just a week before with her laptop, resulting in two pricey appliances that are no longer usable, but desperately needed for school.  

For theft and loss: A smartphone left behind at a coffee shop or stolen from the pocket of an unsuspecting train commuter are things that happen every day. 

Portable contents insurance is an optional extra you can add on to a combined home buildings and contents policy or standalone home contents insurance policy. With the option added, valuable items you take outside of your home will be covered if they’re accidentally lost, stolen or damaged. All sorts of portable electronic devices can be covered, including:

• cameras
• smartphones
• audio visual equipment
• laptop computers
• tablets and e-book readers
• smart watches and fitness bands.

Portable contents insurance isn’t just for electronics, of course. There are other categories too, like sporting and recreational items, glasses and medical items, clothing and luggage, and more. 

When adding portable items to your policy, you’ll need to base the sum insured (the value your items are covered for) on how much it would cost to replace the item at today’s prices.

There are a few scenarios that aren’t covered. Things like scratches and dents (where the item is still very much operational) won’t be covered. Items being cleaned, repaired or restored are also off the table.

Pretty much! When you add portable contents cover, your listed valuables will be covered if they’re lost, stolen or accidentally damaged anywhere in the world (up to the limits specified by your policy). Super handy if you need to travel for work, visit friends or family living interstate, or plan on taking a trip overseas. Just remember, always read the PDS for all the ins and outs of what’s covered by your policy. 

All content on the NRMA Insurance Blog is intended to be general in nature and does not constitute and is not intended to be professional advice.