What is accidental damage insurance?

Put simply, accidental damage cover is here for you when things go wrong. It’s often classed as an optional extra, but really it’s pretty important. It provides additional cover for damage not otherwise included in your home insurance policy. Think smashed TVs, dropped laptops and spilled wine on the sofa.

Accidental damage clarims are one of the most common we receive. However, many people don’t have it – so many of these claims are unfortunately rejected. So, to avoid disappointment (and a hefty hit to your wallet), it’s certainly something to consider adding on to your insurance policy with us.

We include accidental damage for buildings insurance and contents insurance as standard in some of our policy options. For others, it’s an optional extra that you can add on to your policy. You can find out the different options below:

Cover levels

Product

AXA
Premier
Home Insurance

AXA
Plus
Home Insurance

AXA
Home Insurance

Cover item

Defaqto rating

5 Star Defaqto rated for 2022

5 Star Defaqto rated for 2022

4 Star Defaqto rated for 2022

Accidental damage to buildings

Included as standard

Optional extra

Optional extra

Accidental damage to contents

Included as standard

Optional extra

Optional extra

For full terms, conditions and exclusions around accidental damage, take a look at our policy wording.

What's included with accidental damage cover?

Accidental damage cover differs for both buildings and contents insurance.

Accidental damage cover for buildings insurance

This covers damage caused to your home’s permanent fixtures and fittings. From a wayward football smashing through your window to a mounted TV pulling down your wall, accidental damage has you covered. Some examples of what accidental damage covers you for includes:

  • Breakage of fixed glass, doors, greenhouses, or conservatories
  • Damage to ceramic hobs and ceramic tops of fixed cookers
  • Accidents involving fixed sanitary ware and bathroom fittings
  • Damage done to drains, pipes and cables
  • Breakages to your walls and ceilings

Even with accidental damage cover, there’s still a few things you won’t be covered for. This includes accidental damage to gates, hedges and fences or any damage caused by vermin. Similarly, you won’t be covered against wear and tear.

Accidental damage cover for contents insurance

With accidental damage cover, you’d be covered for accidental damage or loss to your contents while they are in your home. Phone gone for a spin in the washing machine? Kids decided to use your TV as their new ‘art project’? This is what accidental damage cover is here for. From carpet spillages to dropped laptops, you might just be surprised how much accidental damage covers.

As with accidental cover for buildings insurance, you won’t be covered for wear and tear of your contents or damage caused by pets and vermin. You also won’t be covered while your home is unoccupied or unfurnished. It also only covers you while you’re in your home – if you want to protect your contents while you’re out and about, you may want to consider personal possessions cover as well.

Interested? We hope so!

Get a quote in minutes for AXA home insurance with accidental damage cover as an optional extra and get your home protected.


Already got a policy with us?

If you don’t have accidental damage cover already, you can add it to your policy in your online AXA account. It’s simple to make changes to your home insurance policy whenever you want, just log in to get started.