The insurance ignorance that’s costing parents hundreds in smartphone repairs

 - Fewer than one in 20 (4%) Brits have insurance cover for their child’s smartphone
 - On average, parents spend £133 fixing or replacing their child’s phone
 - The average annual cost of insuring a premium device is £84*

Despite spending an average of £133 on repairs or replacements, and up to £425 in some cases, just 4% of parents say they have appropriate insurance cover for their child’s phone, according to research.

The findings from specialist insurance provider, Insurance2go, also reveal that almost one in ten (9%) parents spend £175 on fixing or replacing their child’s smartphone, while parents of 16-year-olds have spent the most on average at £158.

Interestingly, a smashed screen is the most likely damage to be caused to a child’s phone, with over half (53%) of parent’s admitting that their children’s smartphones have suffered a smashed screen.

Top five things that have happened to a child's phone:

1. Smashed screen (53%)
2. Damaged charger (30%)
3. Water damage (26%)
4. Damaged camera (18%)
5. Damaged battery (17%)

The research also revealed that parents said their children aged 6 to 17 years old have lost or broken 2.6 phones, on average, since getting their first smartphone.

Richard Gray, Head of Marketing and Digital at Insurance2go, comments: “It is surprising to see that only one in 20 parents have their child’s phone covered by an insurance policy when parents are spending so much money fixing and replacing their smartphones.

“With all the new tech innovations and smartphone releases, it can be overwhelming when you’re the parent of a tech savvy child. Protecting your tech shouldn’t be a chore, but as some insurance providers require you to be 18 or over in order to purchase mobile insurance, it often can be.

“At Insurance2go, if your child permanently resides with you and you purchased the device, you can make a claim so long as all other terms and conditions have been complied with. Other providers may have different requirements so be sure to check the age constraints when you first sign up to a new policy”.

For more information on tech insurance, please visit: https://www.insurance2go.co.uk/

Published: 16 April 2021