Travel Insurance Cover for Camera Gear, Smartphones and Other Electronics
Protect your expensive tech items while you’re travelling
In today’s hyperconnected world, it’s hard to imagine travelling without several electronic items in tow. Not only do our smartphones, laptops and tablets keep us entertained during flights, they can also act as a GPS, translator, and tour guide once we’re on the ground.
Many of us also can’t hit the road without a drone, camera, and photography gear to ensure we’re capturing the memories we make along the way, and smartwatches and e-readers also find their way into our suitcases.
If you want to protect your tech items while you’re travelling away from home, it’s important to find a travel insurance plan that protects your camera and camera gear, mobile phone, and more.
Keep reading to discover how the right travel insurance cover for gadgets can help protect you, and how our Cover-More plans include a luggage benefit for protection against lost, stolen, or damaged electronics.
Skip ahead to read:
- Why do I need travel insurance for camera gear and electronic items?
- Does Cover-More travel insurance include cover for electronic items?
- What are Cover-More’s coverage limits for electronic items?
- What is the definition of an “item”?
- Can I increase my coverage levels if I’m travelling with expensive tech items?
- How do I make a claim for tech items?
- Do I need to report lost or stolen tech items?
- What isn’t covered under my Cover-More travel insurance policy?
Why do I need travel insurance for camera gear and electronics?
Whether you want to snap special moments on your smartphone or DSLR camera, check emails on your laptop, or capture incredible aerial views on your drone, there are many reasons to take valuable electronics with you on your travels.
However, electronics can easily be lost, stolen or damaged while you’re on the road, causing both emotional and financial turmoil. Travel insurance for photography equipment, electronics and other high-value tech gear may offer support should something happen to your gear on your trip.
Most travel insurance plans offer some coverage for high value tech items – you just need to find the one that best suits you and your gadgets.
Does Cover-More travel insurance include electronics and camera cover?
We offer cover for electronic items like smartphones, cameras, drones, and more under our luggage and travel documents benefit.
This cover is available on our following plans: International/Domestic Comprehensive+ and Comprehensive, International Basic, and Inbound. It is not available on our Domestic Basic Plan.
Luggage limits do apply and coverage levels vary between plans, so it’s important to check the PDS and compare our plans when considering the right level of tech items cover for you.
Our luggage benefit – which includes cover for valuable tech items – helps protect your luggage or personal effects in the event they are lost, stolen or damaged during the period of insurance.
After deducting reasonable depreciation (applicable to items 25 months of age or more), we will replace, provide a replacement voucher, repair, or pay you the monetary value of the luggage or personal items. Please note it is our choice which of these we do*.
For more information on our luggage benefits and when depreciation applies, visit our luggage cover page.
What are Cover-More’s travel insurance coverage limits for electronic items?
All our Cover-More plans with luggage and travel documents cover have item limits that apply to the benefit. These coverage limits apply to tech items such as smartphones, laptops, and drones, too.
To ensure you have the best coverage levels for your needs, we recommend you review the item limits and how they vary across our plans before you consider purchasing our travel insurance.
Compare our travel insurance item limits for tech items:
| Items and Limits | International Basic Plan | International and Domestic Comprehensive Plans, and Inbound Plan | International and Domestic Comprehensive+ Plans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Smart Watch | $1,000 | $1,500 | $2,500 |
| Camera | $3,500 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Video Camera | $3,500 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Drone (With or Without Camera) | $1,000 | $1,200 | $2,000 |
| Laptop Computer | $3,000 | $4,000 | $5,000 |
| Tablet Computer | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Any Other Item | $1,000 | $1,200 | $1,500 |
There is no luggage cover on our Domestic Basic Plan.
For full details on what our luggage benefit covers – and what it doesn’t – please read the PDS.
What does Cover-More travel insurance mean by “item”?
When we refer to the word “item” in our item limits, we mean: any one item, set or pair of items, including attached and unattached accessories.
Using the above definition, one tech item would be considered to be a:
- camera and its lenses, tripod, and accessories (attached or not)
- smart phone and its cover/case
- laptop and its mouse pad, mouse, and cover/case
For more information on item limits or what they mean, you can consult the PDS or call us on 1300 72 88 22.
Can I increase my Cover-More travel insurance coverage if I’m travelling with expensive tech gear?
If you’re travelling with a valuable drone or wondering if you may need additional camera insurance cover for your treasured DSLR camera, we can help.
If you’re covered by a Cover-More travel insurance plan that includes cover for luggage and travel documents (all plans except Domestic Basic), you may be able to increase your luggage cover’s item limit by paying an additional premium. To do this, generate a quote online and follow the prompts.
If you opt to increase your luggage item limit across multiple items, the overall increase in limits cannot exceed $7,000.
Please note: if you need to make a luggage claim for any of the tech items, receipts or valuations (less than 24 months old) must be available if requested by our team.
How do I make a claim for tech items with Cover-More?
The easiest way to lodge a claim with Cover-More – whether it’s for a tech item or not – is via our online claims tool. You can access this tool and complete a travel insurance claim (including submitting any required supporting documentation) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For full instructions and information to guide you, visit our claims page now.
If you need to make a claim for an electronic device that was lost, stolen or damaged while travelling under a Cover-More travel insurance policy, we will consider many aspects when assessing a claim and deciding on the outcome.
We look at the age of the item, its original purchase price, the replacement cost or repair cost (if applicable), your policy excess, the maximum benefit limit and sub-limits of your policy, reasonable depreciation if the item is 25+ months of age (as determined by us), and the terms and conditions of your policy.
Note: our payment will not exceed the original purchase price of the item or the item limit. An “item” is considered any one item, set or pair of items (including attached and unattached accessories).
We recommend you read the Product Disclosure Statement before purchasing a Cover-More travel insurance policy so you are aware of the conditions, exclusions, limits, and sub-limits that apply.
Do I need to report lost or stolen tech items?
If you’re a Cover-More policyholder, you must report any loss or theft of luggage, personal effects, travel documents, or money to the police, the transport provider, or accommodation provider within seven days of first becoming aware of the loss or theft**.
If your items were lost or stolen while travelling with an airline, you will need to speak to the airline (usually at the airport directly after the flight where the incident occurred) to obtain an Airline Property Irregularity Report (P.I.R.).
Once you have obtained the relevant report confirming the incident, you will then need to submit the report to us as part of your claim lodgement.
If you are unable to provide us with a copy of the relevant report, you must provide us with a reasonable explanation and details of the time and place you made the report, including their contact details.
What isn’t covered under Cover-More's luggage and travel documents benefit?
Our travel insurance is designed to protect you and your tech items from unforeseen incidents, but it can’t provide cover for absolutely everything.
If you’re considering protecting your trip – and your camera, smartphone, or laptop – with one of our Cover-More travel insurance plans, there are several conditions and exclusions you need to be aware of.
This includes when and how we apply depreciation to electronics, how we don’t provide cover for valuables stolen while they’re left unattended in a public space, and more.
For the full details on what we won’t cover, please refer to our PDS.
Want us to protect your electronics while you’re travelling?
Find out how our travel insurance can provide cover for your tech gear.
* It is our choice which of these we do. Reasonable depreciation will be deducted from the amount we pay you.
**Report any loss or theft to the police within seven days and obtain an original written report. Additionally, we require the relevant report from the related party. For example, an Airline Property Irregularity Report (P.I.R.) is also required if your items are lost or stolen when travelling with an airline. If you are unable to provide us with a copy of the relevant report, you must provide us with a reasonable explanation and details of the time and place you made the report, including their contact details.