Gadgets left uncovered by UK tourists
A new survey from Travel Insurance Explained (TIE) has found that UK travellers risk not having cover for the thousands of pounds worth of personal gadgets they take with them when they go abroad, as many travel insurance policies do not cover such items as standard or only offer low cover limits for them.
According to a survey by the company, UK families take on average around £2,300 worth of personal technology in their luggage, amounting to around five gadgets per family. Smartphones, smartwatches, laptops and digital cameras are all popular items that are carried abroad.
Of the 5,000 UK travellers surveyed, TIE found that 62 per cent will take a device on holiday, and usually travel with multiple devices when they do. Younger travellers tend to take more, but both men and women are unable to leave their devices at home.
“UK travellers are carrying more technology on holiday than ever before, so they need to ensure that there is adequate cover under their policy, as not all insurers provide gadget cover. Many policies specifically exclude mobile phones, while others may offer very low levels of cover, often £500 or less, and/or policies with a high excess,” Fiona Macrae, Head of TIE, explained. “Customers should also be aware that there may be limitations regarding the age of the gadget and some providers will only cover gadgets up to 24 months old, but others cover gadgets up to 48 months old.”
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