The Digital Traveler’s Guide to Insuring Gadgets Abroad

Modern travelers rely on electronics every day. Smartphones, laptops, tablets… and fancier ones, like drones and photography cameras. These are expensive and essential assets. If they break or get stolen, it could ruin the entire trip.

Gadget insurance for traveling internationally has its pros and cons. Depending on your gadget value, normal travel insurance may suffice. Let’s go over how insurance covers electronics, exclusions, and how to protect your gear on the go.

Why Gadget Insurance Matters for Travelers

Phones: $200 to $2000. Laptops: $300 to $3000. Drones: $500 to over $9,000. If you damage or lose your gadgets during a trip, it can be financially catastrophic. If your drone usage gets property or people hurt, liability could even fall on you and cost you over a million dollars.

Travel insurance doesn’t usually cover expensive gadgets, or if it does, it only covers up to a low coverage limit. Travelers who rely greatly on their electronic devices may wish to obtain proper coverage through a gadget insurance add-on. Receiving a fast insurance payout can help you quickly replace or repair your gadget while on the go.

What’s Usually Covered Under Travel Insurance

Lost or stolen electronics

Travel insurance can cover electronics that get stolen. This includes theft from a hotel or luggage while you’re traveling. Mobile phones and other common electronics are generally covered by travel insurance. Read your insurance policy to see what the requirements are. For example, you might be required to file a police report for your stolen mobile phone within 24 hours of the theft. You also can’t have lost it while leaving it unattended in a public place (pickpockets are different).

Damage during transport

Airlines focus on passenger safety, but unfortunately, luggage isn’t always safely transported. Equipment and electronics can easily get scratched or dented during transport due to airline mishandling or accidents. Travel insurance can provide you with baggage protection. Baggage insurance is useful for travelers carrying more valuable items than usual.

Device loss under the care of a common carrier

Common carriers include airlines, buses, and cruise ships. If your electronics get lost or damaged while being handled by your common carrier, you can file a claim to receive a payout from your insurance company. Note that you should check to see what reimbursement the common carrier can provide you first, and confirm if it will clash with a insurance claim.

Some accidental damage

Depending on the policy, travel insurance may also cover accidental damage. This means the policy would cover spilling coffee on your laptop or cracking your screen because you dropped it on the pavement. Accidental damage protection usually means the insurance policy will charge slightly higher premiums.

Tip: Read the coverage limits and per-item caps. Usually, items are only covered up to a certain amount.

What’s Usually Not Covered

Read the fine print of any insurance policy to find out what is excluded from coverage. Common exclusions include:

Self-inflicted damage

If you break your phone with a hammer, it won’t be covered. Don’t purposefully break your gadgets because it will not be covered by insurance.

You’re probably wondering, how can the travel insurance company tell if damage was on purpose? The insurer performs a thorough claims investigation. Through close inspection, experts can tell if damage was inflicted on purpose or by accident. Insurers also review metadata and diagnostics of electronic devices, which can reveal suspicious activity leading up to the incident. Plus, there may be witnesses or surveillance cameras.

Insurance fraud isn’t worth it when it can also lead to legal consequences and blacklisting from future insurance coverage. It’s better to be honest when filing a claim and avoid fabricating details.

Negligence

Travelers need to show a reasonable amount of caution when carrying valuable electronics and gadgets. Negligence can void your insurance.

High-risk activity damage

Are you traveling with a drone or video camera to capture your thrilling adventure? You might not have sufficient adventure sports insurance. High-risk activities are not covered under standard travel insurance. This includes extreme sports like skydiving, scuba diving, and bungee jumping. Surprisingly, it also includes regular sports like basketball and soccer.

If you don’t have an adventure sports add-on or sport-specific policy, your gear and gadgets will likely not be covered if they get damaged during your high-risk activity.

Lack of documentation

When filing an insurance claim for a broken or lost gadget, you will need to provide ample documentation to prove that 1) you owned the gadget and 2) it has been genuinely stolen or damaged. Supporting evidence may come in the form of:

• Police report
• Proof of ownership
• Receipts and certificates

Cosmetic or gradual wear-and-tear

Travelers should know that gadget insurance won't cover cosmetic damage or wear sustained over time. Item warranties typically exclude natural deterioration and cosmetic damage as well.

Devices purchased abroad

If you buy any new gadgets while abroad, your policy will outline whether these new purchases will be covered by insurance.

Note: Specialized insurance or add-ons may be able to bridge one or more of these gaps in coverage. If you require substantial insurance or greater coverage limits, talk to an insurance agent to see what upgrades will fit your needs.

Coverage Options Beyond Standard Travel Insurance

Standalone gadget insurance

Insurance for a specific brand may be more useful if you only want to insure a particular gadget. For example:

• Worth Ave Group for phone and laptop insurance
• AKKO for new and used device insurance
• AppleCare+ for Apple protection and technical support

Specialized insurance usually comes with more specific benefits, such as device replacement and repair. If you don’t plan on upgrading or replacing the device, standalone insurance may be preferable to an annual travel insurance policy. Compare policy details to find out.

Credit card travel protections

Everyone should learn about credit card travel rewards and benefits. Many travel credit cards have perks once you use them sufficiently, such as protections for purchases that are made with the card. Check your card benefits and travel program to see how to use them.

Note that using credit card travel rewards or protection may prevent insurance from protecting the same item.

Homeowners or renters insurance extensions

Some homeowners insurance policies will cover your assets when you travel. Granted, this coverage typically requires an insurance extension or add-on. Check your homeowners insurance provider to see if an upgrade is worth it for you.

Drone-specific insurance

Are you using drones on your travels? Drone insurance might be better than travel insurance. Commercial drone insurance is even more important if it suits your situation. Drone insurance comes in many forms: unmanned aircraft systems insurance policies, drone photography insurance policies, and more.

Drone liability is a serious matter. You don’t want to pay out of pocket in case your drone causes property or bodily injuries. If you want a $1 million coverage for drone liability, you can expect to pay around $1000 a year.

Tips for a Smooth Gadget Insurance Claim

Filing a gadget insurance claim can be time-consuming or challenging if you have no proof of your electronics. Preparing before your trip can help you greatly. Here are some tips for the gadget insurance claim process.

1. Document your gear

Any gear or electronics that you plan on bringing with you should be thoroughly documented. Note down the serial numbers of each object. Save any electronic or physical receipts you have, since they’ll help prove the value of your gadget for a claim. Taking photos of their current condition is also a good idea.

Generally, the more documentation you have, the greater your chances of a successful gadget insurance claim.

2. Report theft or loss immediately

Gadget missing or damaged? Don’t delay the report. Tell your airline or hotel immediately. Filing a police report can also be crucial since it provides further proof that your possessions have been genuinely stolen or damaged by someone else. Insurance companies want to avoid accepting fraudulent claims, so treating your gadget’s loss seriously is important.

3. File claims quickly and with full documentation

Travel insurance policies have a deadline for how late you can file a claim after an incident. The timely filing limit is usually 90 days. Because of this time limit, it is always recommended to file as soon as possible.

4. Use tracking software

If you activated tracking software, like Find My iPhone, the tracking software’s GPS can prove to the insurance company where the thief brought the device. Many travelers are aghast to see their phones stolen and shipped to the other side of the world.

How to Prevent Damage or Theft While Traveling

Preventing the damage or theft of your electronics is crucial. It can save you a lot of stress, time, and money.

Use anti-theft bags and hard-shell cases

Anti-theft measures, like special bags, can be useful if your gadgets fit. Bags that are secured by locks and straps can also protect your gadgets from thieves.

Hard-shell cases can also be a good idea. Anti-theft bags use tough, slash-resistant material to prevent pickpockets from easily accessing what’s inside.

Don’t flash expensive gear in high-risk areas

Tourist hot spots are almost always high-risk areas, with tourists being the prime target for theft and scams. Avoid revealing or talking about expensive gear that you have when you’re in high-risk areas. Strangers who seem friendly may take advantage of this intel and mark you for theft later on.

To keep valuables out of sight, we recommend storing your phone and other valuable electronics in pockets or hidden pouches. Use discreet wallets and bags, nothing that looks too expensive.

Consider travel locks and safes in accommodations

Travel locks and safes might be useful if you’re staying in a hotel, Airbnb, or other secure location. They can provide peace of mind if you are staying for a while and can benefit from the extra security.

Know local laws (especially for drones)

You should always research local laws and regulations before traveling with gadgets, especially if you’re carrying a drone with you. A lot of countries ban drones, so be careful. You could get into serious trouble if you take your drone to the wrong country, since it may be seen as a threat. In a country where drones are banned, if they get damaged or lost, insurance will also proably reject your claim.

Examples of countries where drones will likely be confiscated at customs:

• Antarctica
• Cuba
• Egypt (they require you to get special permission)
• India
• Iran
• Iraq
• Morocco
• Saudi Arabia

Secure your data and information

Back. Up. Everything! The great thing about electronic devices is that they are easier to track in this day and age. Expensive gadgets are likely to come with tracking and cloud backup options. You can even back up your data with a USB if you dislike cloud storage systems. That way, you won’t lose your thesis paper or photographs even if you lose the laptop or camera.

Remember to make manual updates of your backups as needed so you don’t have to revert to a save file from 2 years ago.

Conclusion

If you’re carrying expensive tech and gadgets with you, gadget insurance could be just as essential as travel health insurance. Device protection insurance could save you thousands of dollars, and it usually comes as a fairly inexpensive add-on.

Travelers should review their policy details and shop for specialized insurance based on their devices and travel plans. Compare the best travel insurance companies to see which policies suit you best.