What is mobile phone insurance?
Phone insurance is designed to cover the cost of repairing or replacing a phone if it’s damaged, misplaced or stolen. Phone insurance also covers potential faults after the manufacturer’s warranty has expired.
Apple and Samsung both offer their own insurance plans, as does telco Spark. In addition, mobile phone policies are offered by some insurance providers.
Below we break down the phone insurance options available in New Zealand:
What does Spark mobile insurance cover?
Accidental damage
Spark will repair or replace your phone, depending on how badly damaged it is. Your mobile is covered for physical damage, or destruction, by an unforeseen event.
Accidental loss or theft
Spark will provide cover for unauthorised usage on your mobile phone within New Zealand, up to cap shown in Policy Schedule. Other benefits include:
- Replacement of mobile phone
- Cover for temporary phones while you’re overseas
How much does Spark Mobile Insurance cost?
Spark offers two mobile insurance plans:
- Device Care: $8.95/month for phones that cost up to $799. An excess of $150 applies.
- Device Protect: $14.95/month for phones $800 and above. An excess of $250-350 applies.
What does AppleCare cover?
AppleCare+ provides mobile phone insurance for iPhones. Benefits include:
- 24/7 technical support
- Full cover for all accidental damage
- Same day service in most major urban centres
- Express replacement service
- Global repair coverage if you damage your iPhone while overseas
- Optional Theft & Loss cover
How much does AppleCare+ cost?
Depending on the model of your phone:
- AppleCare+: from $229 for two years, or $11.49 monthly.
- AppleCare+ with Theft & Loss: costs from $349 for two years, or $17.49 monthly.
Additional AppleCare+ services that incur a fee:
- $49 for screen or back glass damage
- $169 for other accidental damage repairs
- $279 for replacement with Theft & Loss cover (max twice in 12-month period)
AppleCare+ can be purchased at the same time as your iPhone, or within 60 days of the original purchase.
Samsung Care
Samsung Care is available for new S24, S25 and Z flip and fold models. It provides two years’ cover and protects against:
- Accidental damage, including water damage
- Broken screen glass
- Theft
How much does Samsung Care cost?
Samsung Care costs from $400. Claims are limited to two per 12-month period, and an excess is payable for each claim: $99 for screen damage, and $249 for other damage or theft.
Can I insure my phone another way?
If you have contents insurance, then it’s likely that you’ll have some level of cover for your phone. Here’s a quick rundown of the levels of cover offered by the contents insurers rated by Canstar. For full details, check insurers’ websites:
Tower Contents Insurance
Covers loss, theft and accidental damage for phones at home or carried by you:
- Premium: Up to $10,000 per phone
- Plus: Up to $1000 per phone
- Standard: Up to $500 per phone
AMI Insurance
Covers loss, theft and accidental damage for phones.
State
Covers loss, theft and accidental damage for phones.
AA Insurance
- Limited Contents: phone cover limited to loss by burglary, fire, storm, flood and natural hazard while phone is at home.
- Contents: phone covered for theft, accidental loss and damage anywhere within New Zealand.
AMP
- Flexi: phone cover limited to loss by burglary, malicious damage, fire, storm, flood and natural hazard while phone is at home.
- Maxi: phone covered for theft, accidental loss and damage anywhere within New Zealand, and Australia and Pacific Islands if on holiday and not covered by travel insurance. Also up to $500 cover for unauthorised billing on your phone.
ANZ
Covers loss, theft and accidental damage for phones, including up to $500 for unauthorised billing on your phone.
FMG
Contents Plus cover includes mobile phones up to $5000 anywhere in NZ, and for up to 30 days in Australia.
Initio
General phone cover under contents insurance policy for loss at home and while in your possession when out.
Kiwibank
Offers Tower’s three policies, so same phone cover as Tower.
Trade Me
Contents Plus cover includes mobile phones up to $1000, although you can specify a higher amount.
Westpac
- Full Cover: Up to $3000 for mobile phones, unless agreed other amount, at home and in Australia and Pacific Islands if on holiday up to three weeks.
- Renter’s Cover: Up to $1500 for mobile phones, unless agreed other amount.
Is phone insurance worth it?
Phone insurance can be a sensible option for those who own an expensive phone and have a history of losing or damaging their mobiles. However, if you own a less expensive model, the extra cost of purchasing standalone phone insurance might not be worth it.
And if you already have contents insurance with a low excess, then by purchasing standalone phone insurance you could end up paying twice for the same level of cover.
View Outstanding Value Home & Contents Insurance Awards
About the author of this page
Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery book 5 Minute Murder.
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