If you’re one of the thousands of music fans heading to Glastonbury Festival this week, make sure any expensive technology you’re bringing with you is protected by insurance.
According to research from Go Compare, festival-goers carry an average of three pieces of equipment with them, but four in 10 may attend the event without insurance. The comparison site also found that one in six people have no insurance and one in 10 have never even considered getting insurance for a music festival.
But not insuring your devices can be a costly mistake, so whether you’re heading to Worthy Farm or any other festival over the summer, Which? tells you what insurance you need to be prepared should the worst happen.
Do I need insurance for my festival?
There’s a lot to think about when attending a festival, from waterproof clothing and camping gear to planning how to get to the venue and which band to see first, so the idea of taking out insurance to protect your gadgets might be low on the priority list for many festival-goers.
But as is often the case when attending a crowded event, accidents can and do happen: your phone falling into a muddy puddle, your wallet lost in the mosh pit. According to the Glastonbury Festival website, more than 700 items were delivered to organisers at last year’s event, including 250 wallets and card holders, 118 mobile phones and 38 cameras.
Festivals are also great fun for thieves, who often target people who are busy chatting with friends or dancing the night away. The most common crime reported at Glastonbury Festival is theft from tents, or the tents themselves.
Insurance can protect you from such accidents that could ruin your festival experience.
What cover options are available?
While there’s no such thing as “festival insurance,” there are several types of insurance that can adequately protect your gadgets and props while you’re attending an event. Luckily, if you already have one or more of these insurance products, you’re likely already covered.
Personal property coverage
Most home insurance policies don’t automatically cover belongings outside the home, so you’ll need to get additional coverage to protect your belongings from loss, damage, or theft.
Personal property insurance covers you for the items you take with you and is usually sold as an add-on to your home insurance. You can purchase it after you’ve got your insurance for an extra fee, so you don’t have to worry if you forget something. This type of insurance should cover everything from your cell phone and laptop to clothes and jewelry.
But be aware that adding more expensive items could increase your home contents insurance premiums when it comes time to renew. Also, double-check your single item limit – this is the maximum amount the insurer will pay out for an item, regardless of its value. For example, if your limit is £1,000 and your electronics are worth £1,500, this is the maximum amount you can claim.
It’s also definitely worth comparing the deductible you pay on your home and personal possessions insurance with the deductible you’d pay if you insured otherwise (for example, separate gadgets or mobile phone cover) – if your mobile phone is worth £600 and your home contents deductible is £500, it may not be worth the cost of insuring it.
- Click here for details: Home Insurance Claims
Gadget and mobile phone insurance
If you only want to cover your electronics, standalone gadget insurance is another option. Separate mobile phone insurance is also available, which will cover you if your equipment is lost, damaged or stolen during the festival.
Every policy is different, so be sure to read the fine print before you buy. Typical coverage includes repairs or replacements for broken devices and fraudulent calls after your phone is stolen. Some policies even cover you while you’re in certain countries.
Travel Insurance
While most people associate travel insurance with international travel, travel insurance can provide much of the coverage you need when attending festivals at home or abroad.
But as always, check the fine print: not all travel insurance policies include coverage for gadgets and mobile phones, and even if they do, they might not cover sleeping in a tent.
Travel insurance payouts for valuables are also often low – around £200 per item and £500 in total, according to data from Compare The Market. If you’re travelling to a festival overseas and bringing expensive tech products with you, it may be worth paying extra to add gadget cover to your existing travel insurance.
- Click here for details: Travel insurance explained
What is not covered?
As always, it’s a good idea to read the fine print for any caveats that may affect your ability to claim.
For example, if stolen items are left unattended or in a place that is not properly secured, a theft claim is likely to fail.
Worryingly, Go Compare research found that 13% of festival-goers would hide valuables in their car, and 13% would admit to leaving valuable tech in their tents.
Also, if you are not sure about the time or place of loss, you may not be covered for accidental loss. Furthermore, some insurance policies may not accept claims within 14 days of the start of your policy or within 14 days of a change to your policy.
You’ll need to provide proof of purchase to make a claim, and if your device is stolen you should report it as soon as possible and obtain a police reference number.
How to keep your gadgets safe at festivals
To minimise your risk, think carefully about how many gadgets and valuables you take to the festival.
If you need to bring expensive laptops or mobile phones, check if the event venue has lockers where you can store them during the party.
If you do carry one, make sure it’s out of sight — for example, your phone shouldn’t be sticking out of your back pocket for everyone to see — consider using a waist bag or money belt instead.
To prevent thieves from sneaking into your tent and stealing your valuables while you sleep at night, pack any expensive belongings in the bottom of your sleeping bag, and if you keep gadgets in your car, try to hide them in the trunk or glove compartment.
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