Possessions cover with car insurance

Is personal effects cover included in my car insurance?

It depends on your level of cover. Comprehensive policies will typically include some level of personal effects cover but it doesn’t usually come as standard on other policies, such as third party only and third party, fire and theft.

The amount of cover you have depends on the policy you’ve taken out – it could vary from £100 to £1,000.

It’s worth bearing in mind that your possessions may be covered under your home insurance (personal possessions cover). So if you need to make a claim and you don’t have enough cover on your car insurance, check your home insurance.

What’s excluded from personal effects cover?

Some insurance providers exclude certain items such as cash, credit or debit cards. Plus, if you use your car for business purposes and it contains stock, samples or tools, then these items might not be covered either.

As always, it’s important to read your policy document to check what you’re covered for, especially if you’re driving around with expensive kit.

How much does personal effects cover cost?

Personal effects cover usually comes as standard on most comprehensive car insurance policies. If insuring your personal effects in your vehicle is important to you, then it pays to compare the market as this is the best way of finding the right cover for your circumstances at a price you can afford.

Do I need personal effects cover?

If you play golf at the weekend but leave your clubs in the boot all week, or you leave your laptop in the car while you nip into a service station then, yes, it’s probably a good idea to make sure you’re covered. In fact, a whopping £3 billion worth of belongings are left in cars overnight and 53% of car owners admit to leaving their cars unlocked when they’re not occupied.

And think about any technology or gadgets in your car that aren’t part of the original vehicle. If you’ve upgraded your stereo or put in a sat nav, check your policy or call your insurance provider to make sure you’re covered for them. While factory-fitted technology is usually covered as standard, anything fitted retrospectively might not be included in your insurance.

What should I do if my car contents are stolen?

If you’ve caught someone trying to steal your car or its contents, dial 999 and speak to the police. They’ll give you a crime number, which you’ll need when you contact your insurance provider.

If there’s no immediate emergency but your car’s been damaged and the contents stolen, contact the police on the non-emergency number 101.