Insurance: How Credit Card Mobile Device Insurance Works

Published October 2, 2025Updated October 5, 20264 min readEditorial integrity

How Credit Card Mobile Device Insurance Works

We’ve all heard the horror stories of coffee-drenched cell phones, broken glass screens and stolen or lost devices.

Here are the different mobile device insurance options in Canada to repair or replace your device and put that unfortunate incident behind you.

Your Device Stops Working

Office de la Protection du Consommateur

In Quebec, the Office de la protection du consommateur reminds us that mobile devices (cell phones, tablets, and laptops) are protected by law at three levels:

Warranty;
Reasonable warranty period (this varies according to the price paid, but should be valid for a period of two years);
Warranty against hidden defects.

These protections relate to device functionality.

The Manufacturer's Warranty

Then there’s the manufacturer’s warranty. It is common when the item is new, and usually lasts between six months and a year.

It is free because it is included in the price. This is known as the “conventional warranty”. Be sure to ask for written proof, in the form of a document or details on the invoice.

If your device stops working, you can ask the retailer or manufacturer to repair your mobile device.

Extended Dealer or Manufacturer Warranty

The retailer or manufacturer often offers the option to buy an extended warranty when you buy a mobile device.

If your electronic device becomes defective after the initial warranty has expired, this extended warranty covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement of the device for a longer period.

However, before paying for it, you should know that you are already covered for at least one additional year thanks to the legal warranty (reasonable duration) from the Office de la Protection du Consommateur.

Before accepting this extended warranty, ask the seller these questions:

Is there a deductible to pay?
Does the warranty include parts AND labour?
If it cannot be repaired, will it be replaced?
Does the extended warranty come into effect at the same time as the basic warranty (payment of the extended warranty unnecessarily) or when the basic warranty expires?

Home Insurance to Cover Your Mobile Device

Your home insurance policy (for a tenant or homeowner) covers your personal property. Check whether your electronic/computer equipment is included and what amount or percentage is covered.

Often, when we go out and have an accident with our device, it can be protected against theft, breakage or loss by home insurance.

The cost of insuring them is estimated at between $2.50 and $4 per $100, depending on the deductible. So, we estimate that it costs between $25 and $40 for a $1,000 laptop. This amount is added to the cost of the home insurance policy.

The main disadvantage of this insurance is that after a claim that counts as a “loss event”, the premium may increase the following year.

Did you know it’s possible to save on your home insurance? Compare the different options with ClicAssure to get the best price!

Mobile Device Insurance from Your Credit Card

Some credit cards in Canada offer mobile device insurance. Some credit cards even come with no annual fee!

One of the advantages of these credit cards is that they double or even triple the manufacturer’s warranty:

The purchase of the smartphone, tablet, or computer was charged in full, or is paid through recurring pre-authorized payments with the provider, on this credit card.
The credit card is still active at the time of the claim.

In addition, most purchases are protected against theft and property damage for 90 to 180 days.

At last, there’s inexpensive coverage for property damage, like when you forget to take your cell phone out of your pocket before getting into the pool. It generally covers up to a maximum of $1,000.

A few rare credit cards offer up to $1,500, such as:

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
FeaturedRBC Avion Visa Infinite Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$120	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 6 months Up to 70,000 pointsEnds Nov 25, 2026 After $5,000 in 6 months	Apply NowCompare
RBC Avion Visa Infinite Privilege Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$399	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 6 months Up to 100,000 pointsEnds Nov 25, 2026 After $5,000 in 6 months	Apply NowCompare
TD^® Aeroplan^® Visa Infinite Privilege* Credit Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$599	Welcome offerAfter $24,000 in 12 months Up to 100,000 points After $24,000 in 12 months	Apply NowCompare

Credit Cards with Mobile Device Insurance

Here is a selection of credit cards in Canada, with or without annual fees, offering Mobile Device Insurance that can be a lifesaver:

Our credit card selection
Credit card	Annual fee	Welcome offer
National Bank mycredit^™ Mastercard^® Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$0	Welcome offer No current welcome offer	Apply NowCompare
CIBC Aventura^® Visa Infinite* Card Apply NowCompare	Annual feeFirst Year Annual Fee Rebate$139 $0First Year Annual Fee Rebate	Welcome offerAfter $5,000 in 4 months Up to 60,000 points After $5,000 in 4 months	Apply NowCompare
Tangerine^® Money-Back World Mastercard^®* Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$0	Welcome offerAfter $1,500 in 3 months $120 cash backEnds Nov 30, 2026 After $1,500 in 3 months	Apply NowCompare
American Express Cobalt^® Card Apply NowCompare	Annual fee$191.88	Welcome offerGet 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months Up to 15,000 points Get 1,250 points after $750 in purchases per month for 12 months	Apply NowCompare

All Desjardins credit cards offer this coverage.

Note: carefully check the exclusions in your credit card’s insurance contract. For example, for the National Bank World Elite Mastercard, mobile devices are excluded from purchase protection (180 days), but the extended warranty that triples the coverage period still applies to mobile devices.

ExclusiveCompare

National Bank World Elite^® Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $150
Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated: First Year Annual Fee Rebate; Ends Nov 4, 2026

With Milesopedia, take advantage of an exclusive offer: your first-year annual fees are refunded with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard. This offer is exclusively available on the Milesopedia network, from June 30 to November 4, 2026.

Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
2 points per dollar on recurring bills
2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

Airport parking
Baggage fees
Seat selection
Access to airport lounges
Airline ticket upgrades

What’s more, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia has named the National Bank World Elite Mastercard as the Best Travel Credit Card in 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Legal

^® Mastercard and World Elite are registered trademarks, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.

^® The À LA CARTE REWARDS logo is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® NATIONAL BANK OF CANADA LOUNGE is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® À LA CARTE REWARDS PLAN is a registered trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® Apple Pay is a registered trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Apple Inc. is not a sponsor of or participant in National Bank Mobile Banking Solutions.

^® Google Pay is a registered trademark of Google LLC. Use of this trademark is subject to Google Inc. Permissions.

^TM À LA CARTE TRAVEL is a trademark of National Bank of Canada. The À la carte Travel agency is owned by Transat Distribution Canada Inc. and holds a Quebec permit (No. 753141).

^TM À LA CARTE REWARDS is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.

^® THE TOTAL, THE CONNECTED and NATIONAL BANK are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

* Mastercard^® World Elite^®

The National Bank^® World Elite^® Mastercard^® credit card was voted best Mastercard credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.

The National Bank^® World Elite^® Mastercard^® credit card was voted best travel credit card by Milesopedia in 2026, 2025 and 2024.

Every year, Milesopedia reviews credit card offers from major financial institutions and establishes its Ranking based on over 150 criteria such as fees, welcome offer, minimum income required, number of points per category, account credits, insurance, airport lounge access, etc.

Certain restrictions apply. For more information, see the Rewards Plan section or the Plan Rules applicable to point accumulation.
Grace period:
No interest is charged on purchases made during the month if the cardholder pays the full balance of their account within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances and balance transfers. Minimum payment: if your account balance is less than $10, you must pay the balance in full. If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is 5% of your account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. If you reside outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of the credit card account balance plus any overdue amount, or $10, whichever is greater. Account statement: an account statement is sent monthly.
Table of examples of credit fees calculated over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate $500 $3,000

22.49% $9.24 $55.45

20.99% $8.63 $51.76

13.2% $5.53 $33.16

9.2% $3.78 $22.68

*Variable interest rate in effect as of September 1, 2021.
Balance transfers and cash advances are subject to National Bank credit approval. Each amount transferred cannot be less than $250.
Exclusive to World Elite Mastercard cardholders. Presentation of the physical credit card and boarding pass is required to access the lounge.
The National Bank^® Lounge is accessible to customers traveling on international flights only (excluding flights to Canada and the United States).
You benefit from free and unlimited access with one guest and two children aged 12 and under.
Until October 4, 2026 (date subject to change), customers can enter the National Bank Lounge three hours before their flight departure time. From October 5, 2026 (date subject to change), access will be authorized for a maximum duration of 2 hours (3 hours for customers who hold a Private Banking 1859^® World Elite^® Mastercard^® credit card).
National Bank customers who are not World Elite ^® Mastercard ^® cardholders can also access the current lounge based on current rates and benefit from a 25 % discount on these rates :
63,24 $ taxes included for adults (excluding discount)
$40.24 taxes included for children aged 2 to 12 (excluding discount)
free for children under 2 (excluding discount)
The entry fee is subject to change without notice and is the responsibility of the lounge operator.
Subject to providing the required supporting documents in the manner and within the prescribed timeframe. Certain conditions may apply. Only the primary cardholder of a National Bank World Elite Mastercard (Cardholder) whose account is in good standing can request a « Travel Fee Reimbursement ». « Account in good standing » means an account linked to the credit card that does not violate the Credit Card Agreement in any way and on which no restrictions apply. For example, and without limitation, the associated annual fees must have been paid in full. The maximum reimbursement of $150 can be requested from January 1 to December 31 of each year.
Eligible expenses are:
airport parking
baggage fees
seat selection
airport lounge access worldwide
airline ticket upgrades
A reimbursement request must be made within 60 days of the purchase date. Travel expenses must be charged to the National Bank World Elite Mastercard credit card account. The maximum reimbursement of $150 is applicable per account. Please allow up to 7 business days for the reimbursement to be processed from the date your request is submitted. National Bank reserves the right to request additional supporting documents for validation purposes (e.g., invoices). You must keep all receipts and supporting documents for a period of 12 months from the date you made your reimbursement request. An unused reimbursement in one year cannot be carried over to the next year. You can make your request online at rewards.nbc.ca or by calling 1-800-341-8083 (toll-free) for an agent to assist you with your travel fee reimbursement request.
Point accumulation on grocery and restaurant spending depends on the total gross monthly amount charged to the credit card account, across all categories. Earn 5 points per dollar spent on eligible grocery and restaurant purchases. The 5 points per dollar accumulation is valid for the first $2,500 of gross monthly purchases charged to the account. Beyond this amount, eligible grocery and restaurant spending will earn 2 points per dollar. The calculation of the gross monthly purchase amount is based on monthly billing. A grocery purchase means a purchase made at a merchant whose primary business is selling food, such as a grocery store, delicatessen, supermarket, fruit store, or specialty food store. Meal kit subscriptions and meal delivery services are eligible. Therefore, this definition excludes, among others, retail stores and big-box stores whose primary business is selling non-food items. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. A restaurant purchase means a purchase made at a restaurant, including quick-service restaurants, bars, discotheques, nightclubs, and taverns. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan^® terms and conditions document.
These protections apply if the purchases or rental are paid for in part with the card before departure, except, if applicable, for out-of-province medical-hospital insurance for which it is not necessary to charge the purchase of an à la carte trip and for baggage delay protection where the full cost of transport must have been charged to the card. All these protections apply to the primary cardholder, their spouse and/or their dependent children when they (spouse and dependent children) travel with the cardholder. Extended warranties apply to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, provided the manufacturer’s warranty exists and is valid in Canada. Certain conditions, limitations and restrictions apply. For more information and details regarding your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.
Subject to credit approval by National Bank.
Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. See all credit card terms and conditions.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your gas or electric charging purchases at a gas station or certain big-box stores. Some merchants may sell products or services identical or similar to those of eligible merchants, or are separate merchants located on the same premises as eligible merchants, but are classified by Mastercard in different categories. Purchases made from other merchants only earn base reward points. To view the full list of Mastercard codes associated with eligible merchants, download the À la carte Rewards Plan^® terms and conditions document.
Recurring bill payments are defined as payments made monthly or regularly that are automatically charged by the merchant to your National Bank World Elite Mastercard. Not all merchants offer recurring payments, and not all recurring payments are considered recurring bill payments. Therefore, some payments may not qualify for accelerated reward points.
To earn 2 points per dollar spent, you must pay for your eligible purchases through the À la carte Travel^TM agency section of our À la carte Rewards^TM site.
For example, if you spend $400 monthly on groceries, $200 on gas, $100 on recurring bills and $150 on other purchases, the $850 spent will generate 2,750 points, broken down as follows: 2,000 points for grocery spending (since the total gross monthly amount is $850, which is less than $2,500), 400 points for gas spending, 200 points for recurring bills and 150 points for other purchases.
Insurance up to $1,000 in case of breakage, loss or theft of mobile devices for a maximum period of 2 years following the date of purchase. Subject to purchasing the device with the National Bank World Elite Mastercard or a phone service subscription paid by recurring payments from your National Bank Platinum Mastercard starting September 1, 2022. For all conditions, please consult the insurance certificate linked to your card.

Annual interest rate	$500	$3,000
22.49%	$9.24	$55.45
20.99%	$8.63	$51.76
13.2%	$5.53	$33.16
9.2%	$3.78	$22.68

Annual fee

Primary card$150

Additional card$50

Annual income required

Individual$80,000

Household$150,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

5xRestaurants
5xGroceries
2xGas & EV
2xBills & recurring payments
2xTravel
1xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$778

2nd Year Value$923

Card benefits

Airport lounge access$400

Travel creditsIncluded

Travel insurance

Travel medical (under 55)Up to $5,000,000 / 60 days

Travel medical (55-64)Up to $5,000,000 / 31 days

Travel medical (65+)Up to $5,000,000 / 15 days

Trip CancellationUp to $2,500

Trip InterruptionUp to $5,000

Delayed BaggageUp to $500

Lost BaggageUp to $1,000

Flight DelayUp to $500

Travel AccidentIncluded

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+2 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Auto Rental CollisionUp to $65,000 / 48 days

Insurance for Electronic Devices and Mobile Phones

The vast majority of us own expensive mobile electronic devices like a cell phone, tablet, or laptop, and we want to protect them against loss, everyday accidents, theft, and damage.

For the first year, legal, manufacturer and credit card warranties are sufficient. But for the rest, credit card mobile device insurance, like that on the National Bank Mastercard, is very practical because it’s so easy to claim. The NBC mycredit Mastercard or the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard can be appealing options, especially since they have no annual fees!

Compare

National Bank mycredit^™ Mastercard^®

National Bank Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: No current welcome offer

With NBC mycredit Mastercard, you get:

1% cash back on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized debits
0.5% cash back on all other purchases

And since it’s a Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

Cash back is automatically applied to your credit card account balance when each monthly statement is issued.

This is a credit card we recommend for those new to credit cards and want a no-fee credit card. What’s more, this credit card comes with a number of insurances for your purchases, including mobile device insurance (which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee).

Legal

^®MASTERCARD is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated. National Bank is an authorized user.

^®NATIONAL BANK and the NATIONAL BANK logo are registered trademarks of National Bank of Canada.

^™mycredit is a trademark of National Bank of Canada.

Cash back details

Card issued subject to National Bank credit approval. A 1% cash back is granted on restaurant purchases and recurring pre-authorized payments when settled by recurring automatic payments to your mycredit account. The 0.5% cash back applies to all other eligible purchases during a billing cycle. The account must be in good standing when the cash back is disbursed. Your account is in good standing when you meet the obligations of your credit card agreement (e.g., making the minimum payment by the due date). Eligible pre-authorized payments are defined as payments made regularly and automatically debited by a merchant from your credit card. Balance transfers, cash advances, and fees related to card usage are not included in the cash back calculation. To learn about the terms and restrictions applicable to cash back, consult the Cash Back Program [PDF].

Mobile device protection

Subject to purchase of device with card or telephony service subscription paid by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

Credit terms

Grace period: No interest will be charged on purchases made during the month, provided the client pays the balance in full within twenty-one (21) days of the statement date. This grace period does not apply to cash advances or balance transfers.

Minimum payment: If your account balance is lower than $10, you must pay the entire balance.

If you reside in the province of Quebec, your minimum payment is the greater of 5% of your account balance, plus any overdue amounts, or $10.

If you live outside Quebec, your minimum payment is 2.5% of your credit card balance, plus any past-due amount or $10, whichever is greater.

Account statement: A statement is sent monthly.

Example of credit charges over a 30-day period

Annual interest rate	Average balance
	$500	$3,000
22.49% (regular card)	$9.24	$55.45
20.99% (regular card)	$8.63	$51.76
13.2% (Syncro card)	$5.53	$33.16
9.2% (Syncro card)	$3.78	$22.68

^*Variable interest rate in effect on September 1, 2021.

Balance transfer and cash advance are subject to credit approval by National Bank. Each balance transfer must be at least $250.

4. Subject to the mobile device’s purchase with the card or mobile plan settled by recurring pre-authorized payments from your mycredit account.

5. The extended warranty applies to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer’s warranty is in effect and valid in Canada. Maximum coverage of $60,000 for the entire term of the account. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information, please consult the warranty certificate associated with your card.

6. These protections apply if the purchases or expenses are charged to the National Bank mycredit Mastercard credit card. Extended warranties apply to most new items purchased with the card, in Canada or abroad, as long as the manufacturer’s warranty is in effect and valid in Canada. Certain conditions and restrictions apply. For more information and details concerning your insurance coverage, please consult the insurance certificate attached to your card.

7. Certain conditions apply. Visit mastercard.ca for more information. Refer to the credit card terms and conditions.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$0

Household$0

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

1xRestaurants
1xBills & recurring payments
1xTelecom
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$216

2nd Year Value$148

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceUp to $1,000 / 2 years

Compare

Tangerine^® Money-Back World Mastercard^®*

Tangerine Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$120Total$120Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $120
Welcome offerAfter $1,500 in 3 months: $120 cash back; Ends Nov 30, 2026

To choose the Tangerine^® Money-Back World Mastercard^®*, you must meet one of the following criteria: a gross annual income of at least $50,000, a gross annual household income of at least $80,000, or combined balances of $250,000 or more in Tangerine bank accounts, Tangerine Investment Funds accounts, or a combination of the two.

This credit card has no annual fee and allows you to earn cash back on your everyday purchases. With the current offer, you can get $120 when you spend $1,500 within your first three months^††.

You get 2% unlimited cash back in 2 categories of your choice and 0.5% on all your other purchases. Plus, you can unlock a third 2% category when your cash back is deposited into a Tangerine Savings Account.

Choose from 13 spending categories (groceries, gas, restaurants, and more) and change them every 90 days to match your habits^◊.

The card also includes useful protections, including purchase assurance and extended warranty⁵, as well as mobile device insurance and coverage for rental vehicles⁵.

Finally, you can transfer high-interest credit card balances and enjoy a promotional rate of 1.95% for 6 months (a 1% transfer fee applies)¹¹.

Save on fuel with Shell

All Tangerine cardholders can get savings and rewards on fuel with Shell and Scene+ when you link your cards to your Shell Go+ account. Get up to 8¢/L in value with a linked Money-Back World Mastercard or Money-Back Credit Card:

Instant savings of 3¢ per litre on all grades of Shell fuel.
Earn up to 3¢ per litre in cash back with fuel selected as a 2% category.
Earn 1¢ per litre in Scene+ points value on all grades of Shell fuel, or 2¢ per litre in Scene+ points value on Shell V-Power^® when you link your Scene+ Account to Shell Go+.

Legal

*Conditions apply.

^† Bank Offer: This offer is provided by Tangerine Bank and is subject to their terms and conditions.

Annual fee

Primary card$0

Additional card$0

Annual income required

Individual$50,000

Household$80,000

Conversion fees

2.5%

Earning rate

2xGroceries
2xGas & EV
0.5xAll spending

Value

1st Year Value$435

2nd Year Value$246

Purchase protection

Purchase ProtectionIncluded

Extended Warranty+1 years

Mobile DeviceIncluded

Auto Rental CollisionIncluded

What insurance covers my phone?

There are several:

Warranties under the law;
Manufacturer’s warranty;
Optional extended warranty;
Home insurance;
Mobile device insurance from the credit card with which the device was purchased.

How does insurance work for my cell phone or tablet?

Contact the manufacturer or insurer (warranty, manufacturer or credit card) first.

They’ll tell you what to do next, or what forms to fill in, so that you can be reimbursed for the repair or a new device.

Our featured card

ExclusiveCompare

National Bank World Elite^® Mastercard^®

National Bank NBC RewardsFirst-Year Annual Fee Rebate

Annual feeNo annual fee the first year: $0 $150
Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueAnnual fee rebated$150Total$150Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.: $150
Welcome offer$150 annual fee rebated: First Year Annual Fee Rebate; Ends Nov 4, 2026

Refund of the first-year annual fee (a $150 value) for the primary cardholder. This fee is charged to your new card account, then refunded as a credit on your statement within five months of opening your account, provided it remains open and in good standing.

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard is the best Mastercard credit card offered by NBC.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

5 points per dollar for groceries and restaurants
2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
2 points per dollar on recurring bills
2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
1 point per dollar for all other purchases

And since it’s an NBC mycredit Mastercard, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

Airport parking
Baggage fees
Seat selection
Access to airport lounges
Airline ticket upgrades