What Is Gadget Insurance?

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Gadget Insurance Ireland

Laptops, tablets, smart watches and other electronic devices have become an important part of everyday life. You probably use one or more of these devices for work, study, banking, entertainment or gaming. 

With many devices costing hundreds or even thousands of euros, you may want to weigh up your options and explore whether gadget insurance is worth it.

What Is Gadget Insurance?

Gadget insurance protects your gadgets, such as laptops, tablets or headphones against loss, theft and damage.

While mobile phones can sometimes be covered under specialist mobile phone insurance, gadget insurance is typically designed to protect multiple electronic devices under one policy.

Gadget insurance in Ireland may also protect your belongings if something goes wrong when you’re out and about.

So if your laptop is damaged at work, gadget insurance makes these situations that bit easier as you know you’ll be able to replace or repair them.

Gadget Insurance vs Mobile Phone Insurance

Mobile Phone Insurance is generally made for mobile handsets and has many additional benefits, including screen repairs and SIM card related claims. Gadget Insurance generally covers all of your electronic gadgets in a single policy and could be ideal for you if you are looking to insure multiple items rather than just a mobile phone.

What Does Gadget Insurance Cover?

Gadget insurance usually covers many scenarios, from theft to damage. Your gadget insurance policy may cover:

If you misplace or leave your gadget behind in a public place, your insurance may cover you so that you can buy a new one. This may not be included automatically in your insurance policy, and premiums with lost gadget cover may be more expensive as it’s harder to prove than theft or damage.

Devices such laptops are among the most commonly stolen items in the world because of their resale value. Gadget theft cover protects you if your gadget is stolen. If you are the victim of theft and wish to make a claim, you will need to present a Garda report to your insurer, which can serve as evidence that your gadget was stolen.

The most common reason that people take out gadget insurance is because accidental damage happens so often. Impact damage and liquid spills are among the damage that can be covered under your insurance policy if it includes accidental damage cover. Most policies will include accidental damage as standard.

Electronics such as laptops, tablets, headphones and watches are prone to hardware issues. If your device is faulty and starts to malfunction , your insurance provider may pay the repair costs if mechanical malfunction cover is included in your policy.

If you often travel overseas for work or holidays, international gadget cover protects you if your gadget is lost, stolen or damaged when travelling outside of Ireland. Countries, days and other conditions may vary between providers and policies, so you should check that you are fully covered before you travel with your devices.

Common Gadgets Covered

Irish gadget insurers offer a range of cover options, including:

Laptop Cover Insurance

Laptops are more likely to have mechanical faults than phones or tablets. They can also cost significantly more to repair. Laptop insurance in Ireland is popular among students and those who take their laptop to work. But loss cover is not offered by some providers, which means you won’t be covered if you misplace your laptop.

Tablet
Insurance

Tablets can be insured with specific gadget insurance cover. Because they are smaller and more portable than laptops, people often take their tablets to parks, cafes and on public transport, where they can be damaged or stolen. Like other devices, mechanical faults can also occur, which can be covered with tablet or iPad insurance.

Smart Watch Insurance

Smart watches have exploded in popularity in recent years, with watches now able to carry out many functions that were previously only available on phones or laptops. These watches can be expensive to replace, which is why many people take out watch insurance.

How Does Gadget Insurance Work?

Gadget insurance is straightforward: you pay a monthly or yearly premium to a gadget insurance provider, who will pay you if something goes wrong with any device which is covered in your policy. The best gadget insurance policies in Ireland will cover you in various scenarios, and many providers offer multiple gadget insurance which protects more than one in the same policy.

Cost Of Gadget Insurance

Gadget insurance in Ireland can vary widely, with basic gadget cover policies starting from around €4 per month. 

The actual cost of gadget insurance will depend on:

  • Which devices you want to insure.
  • The value and age of each gadget.
  • What scenarios you wish to be protected against.
  • How and where you use your gadget (i.e. for work).
  • Whether your gadgets are an add-on to another insurance policy.

  • If you need international cover.

Compare the Cost of Gadget Insurance

Cost is one of the most important factors to consider when you compare gadget insurance in Ireland. However, cheaper premiums may provide less coverage or stricter terms and conditions. 

You should also check the terms of each policy (as well as its cost), which will ensure that you aren’t under-insured if you have a problem with one of your devices.

Gadget Insurance Providers in Ireland

There are various gadget insurance providers who offer cover in Ireland, such as:

Common Gadget Claim Rejections

As with all types of insurance, not all claims are successful, and providers will only pay out for issues that are specifically included in the terms of your policy.

Some of the most common reasons that gadget insurance claims are rejected include:

  • Not providing a garda report on theft claims.
  • Leaving your device unattended.
  • Damage due to wear and tear.
  • Deliberate damage to a device’s hardware.
  • Claims made within a short period of taking out a policy.
  • Devices are not included in the policy.

Gadget Insurance FAQ

If your second hand gadget is in good working order, then you will generally be able to get it insured. You may be asked for proof of ownership for second-hand gadgets or proof of its value before insurers will offer cover.

Yes, several Irish gadget insurance providers offer policies to cover multiple electronic devices under one plan. This includes, but isn’t limited to, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and headphones.

You might save money by getting multi-gadget insurance. This covers all your gadgets at once, instead of paying for each one separately. However, some policies may limit how many devices you are allowed to insure and/or the total amount of money you will be able to claim if all of your devices were to be damaged or stolen.

There’s usually a waiting period before you make a claim after taking out insurance for your gadgets, to protect insurers against fraud. Insurance providers will likely include a waiting period of 14 to 30 days.

Excess, which is the amount that you pay towards a claim, is available for gadget insurance in Ireland. Higher excesses will lower your premium, but this will also mean that you will receive less when you make a successful claim.

You don’t always need a receipt to get insurance if you can prove that you are the owner of the gadget. You may also need to get the value of your gadget evaluated if you don’t have a receipt.