Travelling with gadgets: what’s covered and what isn’t

If you travel with a phone, a laptop, a camera (and about 47 chargers you swear you need), it’s worth knowing this: travel insurance doesn’t always treat gadgets the same way it treats clothes and toiletries. That’s where gadget cover on travel insurance can make a big difference, as long as you understand the limits and the “don’t do this” list.

Travelling with tech? Check your gadget cover limits before you go.

What counts as a gadget when you travel?

Travel gadgets laid out including phone, laptop, camera, smartwatch and headphones

For most of us, “gadget” basically means “the stuff that would ruin my trip if it vanished”. In policy terms, gadget cover usually applies to portable electronic items you take with you, such as:

• Mobile phones
• Tablets
• Laptops
• Cameras
• Smartwatches
• Headphones and portable speakers
• Handheld games consoles
• E-readers

This guide is here to explain the practical bits. If you want the full policy details and limits, check your documents and the gadget cover page linked above.

If it’s electronic, portable, and you’d be deeply annoyed to replace it abroad, it probably sits in the gadget bucket. The key thing to remember is that gadget cover is often something you add on, so it’s worth checking your documents before you travel.

What’s usually covered and what’s excluded

Here’s the simplest way to think about it: gadget cover is generally built for sudden, specific incidents (a theft, a drop, a cracked screen). It’s less forgiving when the situation looks avoidable, vague, or hard to evidence.

Theft, accidental damage and loss

Most gadget cover focuses on three areas:

• Theft: If your gadget is stolen, it’s typically covered as long as you can show what happened and you’ve followed the right reporting steps.
• Accidental damage: Drops, cracks, impact damage, liquid spills and similar “oops” moments are often included, subject to terms and excess.
• Loss: This is where people get caught out. “Loss” usually isn’t the same as “I can’t find it”. You’ll normally need to be clear about when and where you last had it, and why it’s not recoverable.

Also worth a quick reality check: cover isn’t usually a blank cheque. There may be repair first, then replacement if repair isn’t possible, and limits apply.

Unattended items and reasonable care

Mobile phone left unattended on a café table while travelling

If there’s one phrase that decides a lot of gadget claims, it’s “unattended”. In plain terms, that means you weren’t in full view of the item and not in a position to stop someone interfering with it.

This matters because many policies exclude theft or loss when a gadget is left unattended, for example:

• Left on a table in a café, bar, or pool area while you step away
• Left in luggage during transit or stored without adequate security
• Left behind on transport (taxi, train, plane, coach)
• Left around other people when it isn’t concealed on or about your person

Most policies also expect reasonable care. That means you’re expected to take sensible precautions to prevent loss, damage or theft. If the situation looks careless, it can create problems for a claim.

Laptops and cameras: checking limits and proof of ownership

Traveller checking proof of ownership details for a phone before travelling

This is the bit that matters most for laptop travel insurance and camera travel insurance, especially if you’re travelling with expensive tech.

Before you assume “I’ve got gadget cover, I’m fine”, check three things:

• The overall gadget limit: The maximum amount payable for gadget claims.
• The single item limit: The maximum payable for any one gadget (this is crucial for pricier laptops and cameras).
• Proof of ownership: You’ll usually need to show the gadget belonged to you (receipts, order confirmations, network confirmation for phones, etc.).

If you’re travelling with expensive tech, boring wins: keep proof of ownership somewhere accessible (email/cloud), and note down key identifiers like serial numbers or IMEI (for phones).

Quick checklist before you travel

Travel checklist next to a passport, phone and power bank

A quick run-through that can save you a lot of pain later:

• Confirm gadget cover is included on your documents (and understand the limits)
• Check the single item limit if you’re taking a laptop or camera
• Know your excess so you’re not surprised if you claim
• Save proof of ownership and purchase details somewhere you can access abroad
• Back up photos and files (data loss isn’t the same as gadget loss)
• Set up security: passcodes, tracking apps, and a note of key device info
• Think through “unattended” moments (airports, taxis, hotel breakfast, beach bars)

If you want a clearer view of what’s included, what’s excluded, and how limits typically work, take a look at gadget cover options for travel before you go.

If something happens abroad: what to do first

Traveller making a call after their phone is lost or stolen abroad

If your gadget is stolen, lost or damaged abroad, speed and evidence matter. Here’s what to do first:

• Report it quickly: If it’s theft, report it to the local police as soon as possible and get written confirmation.
• Lock down your accounts: Change passwords, freeze cards if needed, and use tracking/remote wipe features where appropriate.
• If it’s a phone, contact your network provider: Bar/blacklist it and keep confirmation of the action taken.
• Keep documentation: Police reports, receipts, repair notes, booking info, and anything showing what happened and when.
• Notify your insurer promptly: Don’t leave it until you’re home and half the details are a blur.

And if you’re still deciding the right policy shape for your trip, start with the basics of travel insurance, then choose whether single trip cover or annual cover makes more sense for how often you travel.