Insure your phone or not: what's actually the smart move?
Phone insurance, warranty or a repair fund: which gives you the most for your money? We put all the options side by side so you can make the smartest choice.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-08-05
You've just got a new phone — or a refurbished iPhone that looks brand new. Then comes the question almost everyone skips: what do you do if it drops, gets wet or simply stops working? Whether to insure your phone or not is something more people think about than you might expect. And the answer is less obvious than your insurance provider would have you believe.
Quick summary: For most people, phone insurance costs more than they'll ever claim back. A repair fund or warranty on a refurbished device is the smarter move in most cases — unless you have a proven track record of being hard on your phones.
What does phone insurance actually cost?
A lot of people don't know exactly what they're paying. Insurance through your carrier or a standalone provider quickly runs between €8 and €15 a month. That sounds like nothing, but over two years you're paying €192 to €360 — on top of the excess you'll still owe when you make a claim, which is often another €50 to €150.
Add that to the purchase price of your device and you'll soon realise you're spending nearly as much as a replacement would cost outright. In our workshop in Nijverdal, we regularly see customers who've paid two years of premiums, finally make a claim — and still hand over €100 excess for a screen repair that would have cost them €79 with us.
What does phone insurance actually cover (and what doesn't it)?
This is where it gets surprising. Many people assume insurance covers everything. The reality is a lot more sobering:
- Drop damage: Usually covered, but often with an excess.
- Water damage: Far from always — read the fine print carefully.
- Theft: Sometimes covered, but almost always requires proof of a police report.
- Wear and tear and battery degradation: Almost never covered.
- Software errors or manufacturing defects: Falls under warranty, not insurance.
- Damage caused by someone else: May be covered by their liability insurance.
That last point is worth knowing: if someone else drops your phone, their third-party liability insurance covers the damage. Most people have no idea.
When does insuring your phone actually make sense?
To be fair — there are situations where insurance genuinely makes sense. The question isn't whether you can insure your phone, but whether it pays off in your specific situation. Consider insurance if:
- You have a device with a purchase price above €800 and losing that value would be a serious hit.
- You're demonstrably clumsy — you've broken phones regularly in the past.
- Your job puts your phone at risk (construction, field care work, hospitality).
- Your kids have an expensive device — the odds of damage are significantly higher.
- Your employer covers the premium.
In all other cases, it's worth doing an honest calculation. Write down what you'd expect to pay in repairs, add up the total premium over two years, and compare.
The repair fund: simple and effective
The alternative we recommend most often? Set aside €5 to €8 yourself each month. After a year you'll have saved €60 to €96. After two years you're looking at €120 to €192 — more than enough to cover the most common repairs:
| Repair |
Average cost at The Phone Shopper |
Duration |
| iPhone screen repair |
From €59 |
30–60 minutes |
| iPhone battery replacement |
From €39 |
30 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy screen repair |
From €49 |
30–60 minutes |
| Charging port repair |
From €45 |
45 minutes |
| Water damage treatment |
From €49 |
Same day |
Most repairs at our shop are — no weeks of waiting for an insurance payout or a replacement device that never arrives on time.
Warranty on refurbished devices: the underrated protection
When people think about whether to insure their phone or not, they almost always think of commercial insurance. But there's a form of protection they consistently overlook: the warranty that comes with a refurbished device.
At The Phone Shopper, every refurbished device comes with a 2-year warranty. That's a legal requirement for consumers in the Netherlands, and it's something we genuinely stand behind. Every device that leaves our workshop has been thoroughly tested: screen, camera, microphone, speaker, battery — a 50-point check. And the battery? It always has at least 85% capacity. If it falls below that, we replace it before the device goes on sale.
With that warranty in place, you're already well covered for manufacturing defects and technical faults — without paying a single extra premium. Browse our range of refurbished iPhones or refurbished Samsung Galaxy devices and see the conditions for yourself.
Our conditions are: New, As good as new, Lightly used and Used. Clear, honest and without confusing grades.
What does your liability insurance actually cover?
Another overlooked point: your contents or personal liability insurance (AVP) sometimes covers electronic devices, including your phone. This varies a lot between providers and policies, but it's well worth checking before you take out a separate phone insurance policy. Among our customers in Twente, we regularly see people who are doubly insured without even realising it.
Insure your phone or not: the checklist
Before you decide, work through these questions:
- Do you already have a contents insurance policy that covers mobile electronics? Check this first.
- What is the purchase price of your device? Below €500, insurance is rarely worth it.
- Have you ever made a claim before? If you've gone years without damage, you're unlikely to suddenly change that pattern.
- Can you build up a repair fund? If so: just do it.
- Do you have a refurbished device with a 2-year warranty? Then you're already covered for manufacturing defects.
- Do you use your phone in a high-risk environment? If so, insurance may well be worth considering.
Decided you'd rather trade in than repair or insure? On our trade-in page you'll get an instant valuation and payment within 24 hours.
What we see in our workshop every day
Our technicians in Nijverdal repair dozens of devices every day for customers from across the region — from Almelo to Enschede, from Rijssen to Wierden. And we hear the same story several times a week: someone has paid two years of premiums, calls their insurer, and discovers the damage just doesn't fall within the policy terms. Or the excess makes the claim barely worth the effort.
That's not the exception. That's the rule. Insurance companies are profitable businesses — premiums are carefully calculated so that most customers pay in more than they ever get back. That's not a bad intention; it's simply how insurance works. But it does mean that when in doubt, you need to think critically.
Already got a device that needs repairing? Take a look at our or — we work quickly, honestly and with full transparency on costs upfront.
Frequently asked questions
Is phone insurance worth it?
For most people, no. Total premium costs over two years typically exceed the average repair bill. Unless you have an expensive device (above €800) or regularly cause damage, your own savings pot is usually the smarter option. Don't forget to check whether your contents or liability insurance already provides cover.
What's the difference between a warranty and insurance?
A warranty covers manufacturing defects and technical faults — things that go wrong through no fault of your own. Insurance (usually) covers damage you cause yourself, such as a cracked screen or water damage. Refurbished devices from The Phone Shopper come with a standard 2-year warranty, which already gives you a solid foundation.
Does my liability insurance cover my phone?
It depends on your policy. Some personal liability policies don't cover damage to your own belongings — they're designed for damage caused to others. A contents insurance policy with all-risk cover sometimes includes mobile electronics. Check your policy or call your insurer before taking out anything extra.
How much does a screen repair cost at The Phone Shopper?
An iPhone screen repair starts at €59, and a Samsung Galaxy screen repair from €49. Most repairs are done while you wait — within 30 to 60 minutes. We're located at Willem Alexanderstraat 11 in Nijverdal, reachable on 0548-549536.
Does a refurbished iPhone come with a warranty?
Yes. Every refurbished device you buy from The Phone Shopper comes with a 2-year warranty. The battery has a minimum of 85% capacity at the point of sale — if it falls below that, we replace it before delivery. So you know exactly what you're getting, with no surprises down the line.
When is insuring your phone actually the smart choice?
For devices above €800, for children who regularly cause damage, or if you work in a physically demanding environment where your phone is at risk. It can also be a good call if your employer covers the premium. In all other cases: build up your own repair fund and make the most of the warranty on your device.
Refurbished iPhones, Samsung en iPads
Bespaar tot 50% op een refurbished iPhone. Elk toestel doorloopt ons 50-punts inspectieproces en wordt geleverd met 2 jaar garantie.
Onze diensten
Waarom The Phone Shopper?
- 2 jaar garantie op alle refurbished telefoons
- 30 dagen bedenktijd en gratis retourneren
- Gratis verzending binnen Nederland
- Professioneel 50-punts inspectieproces
- Veilig betalen met iDEAL, creditcard, Bancontact, Apple Pay en Klarna
- Klantenservice bereikbaar op werkdagen 10:00 - 18:00
Kwaliteitsgraden
Al onze refurbished telefoons worden ingedeeld in kwaliteitsgraden:
- Grade A+ (Als Nieuw) — Geen zichtbare gebruikssporen
- Grade A (Uitstekend) — Minimale gebruikssporen
- Grade B (Goed) — Lichte cosmetische gebruikssporen
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Contact
The Phone Shopper
Willem Alexanderstraat 11
7442 MA Nijverdal, Overijssel
Tel: +31 548 549 536
E-mail: info@thephoneshopper.nl
KvK: 75693623 | BTW: NL002427182B29
Openingstijden: Ma 13:00-18:00 | Di-Wo & Vr 10:00-18:00 | Do 10:00-20:00 | Za 10:00-17:00 | Zo Gesloten
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