Personal possessions cover can protect belongings, such as phones, jewellery or laptops, if they are lost, stolen or damaged outside your home.
Personal possessions cover is insurance for belongings you carry with you away from home. It is often linked to contents insurance.
It may cover items such as a mobile phone, laptop, camera, jewellery, watch, bag or glasses. The exact items covered will depend on the policy.
MoneyHelper describes this type of cover as protection for your personal possessions while they are outside the home. It may be included as standard or offered as an optional add-on.
Standard home insurance can include contents cover for belongings kept in the home. Personal possessions cover is different because it is designed for items you take out with you.
The ABI says cover away from home is sometimes called all-risks cover. It can protect possessions away from the home up to the policy limit.
Some policies may cover loss, theft and accidental damage. Others may only cover certain risks. Some may cover the UK only, while others may include worldwide cover for trips. You should check the policy wording before you rely on the cover.
Before adding personal possessions cover, check:
The Financial Ombudsman Service says customers should check what is covered, what is not covered, and what the policy expects them to do. It also explains that if something is not excluded, that does not always mean it is automatically covered.
If you make a claim, the insurer will usually look at the policy wording, the item claimed for, the cause of the loss or damage, and any limits or exclusions.
The Financial Ombudsman Service says insurers may settle covered home insurance claims by repair, replacement or cash payment, depending on the policy and the claim.
You may need proof that you owned the item and proof of its value. This could include receipts, photos, valuations, serial numbers or bank statements. The proof needed will depend on the insurer and the claim.
High-value items need extra care. MoneyHelper says policies often have limits for high-risk items such as jewellery, art, watches and laptops. If an item is worth more than the policy limit, you may need to list it separately.
The ABI also explains that a single-item limit is the most an insurer will pay for one item. If your item is worth more than that limit, the claim payment may not cover the full cost of replacing it.
This is why it is important to give accurate values for expensive items. You can also read more about high-value items in our glossary.
When you buy or renew insurance, you must take reasonable care not to give wrong or incomplete information to the insurer. This duty is set out in the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012.
The ABI explains that insurers should ask clear questions, but customers still need to answer them correctly. If you are unsure about a question, you should ask the insurer, broker or insurance seller before you answer.
This can matter for personal possessions cover. An insurer may ask about item values, where items are kept, security, previous claims and whether an item needs to be named on the policy. If key details are wrong or missing, it could affect your cover or a future claim.
At Got You Covered, we arrange home insurance through insurers. Our home insurance service can help with buildings cover, contents cover, or both.
Personal possessions cover may be useful if you often take valuable items away from home. It is not always included as standard, and it may not be right for everyone. We can help explain available options, but cover, price, limits, exclusions and acceptance will depend on your details and the policy terms.
Personal possessions cover can help protect belongings you take outside your home. It is often added to contents insurance, but the cover can vary.
Before you buy, check the limits, excess, listed items, locations covered and exclusions. For expensive items, make sure the value is right and ask whether the item needs to be named on the policy.
