Handbag insurance
When you think of all the items you carry around – phone, cash, makeup, etc. – it could pay to have handbag insurance in place.
If the bag is designer, you could find yourself heavily out of pocket if it’s lost, stolen or damaged. Handbag insurance is an easy way to make sure it’s protected.
When you think of all the items you carry around – phone, cash, makeup, etc. – it could pay to have handbag insurance in place.
If the bag is designer, you could find yourself heavily out of pocket if it’s lost, stolen or damaged. Handbag insurance is an easy way to make sure it’s protected.
Do I need handbag insurance?
If you carry a designer bag, backpack or briefcase, insurance might be worth thinking about. It’s not unusual for a designer handbag, or even a designer rucksack, to cost well over £1,000.
Even if your bag is an inexpensive high-street favourite rather than a luxury or designer brand, it still could be a good idea to get cover.
When you add up the value of your possessions – glasses, makeup, smartphone or tablet, for example – the cost of replacing it all if your bag is stolen or damaged could soon mount up.
What type of bag insurance do I need?
Your home contents insurance normally covers your handbag while it’s at home, although if it’s an expensive one, you may need to list it individually on the policy.
Contents insurance probably won’t cover your handbag and what’s inside it when you’re out and about. So, you might need personal possessions insurance. This covers items you take out with you against loss or damage – up to a limit.
Some home contents insurance policies include personal possessions cover as standard, while others don’t. Check your policy documents or contact your insurance provider to see if your bag or handbag is covered outside your home.
If your policy doesn’t include personal possessions insurance as standard, you can usually add it for an extra cost.
Standalone handbag insurance is also an option, although this is designed for very expensive handbags or bag collections.
What do I need to know when considering handbag insurance?
If you’re adding cover for your handbag to your home contents insurance, here’s what to be aware of:
- Check the excess – the amount you’ll need to contribute before your insurance provider pays out any claim. If the excess is more than the cost of replacing the bag, it won’t be worth claiming.
- Read the policy conditions – and check for exclusions. For example, items stolen while on display (such as on the front seat of a locked car) are usually excluded from personal possessions insurance.
- Keep proof of purchase – it’s worth keeping a receipt or credit card statement of all high-value purchases. You might need this to make a claim on your insurance.
What’s the single-item limit for insurance policies?
A single-item limit – sometimes called a single-article limit – is the maximum your insurance provider will pay out for any one item, unless you list that item (and its value) separately on your policy.
The limit is likely to vary between insurance providers. When you get a quote with us, we’ll ask you for details of any valuables worth more than £1,500. If your handbag, or anything inside it, is worth more than that, you’ll need to tell us and we’ll add it to your policy as an individual item.
What our expert says...
“Handbags are among our most prized possessions, so it pays to check whether they’re covered by your insurance, especially when you go out. If you’ve received an expensive quote, you could save money by shopping around.”
- Helen Phipps, Insurance expert
What do I need to get a quote?
When you start a contents insurance quote with us, it’s a good idea to have some basic information, including:
- Details about items worth more than £1,500
- Whether you want to insure a bicycle worth £350 or more
- How much personal possessions cover you’d like
- Whether you’ve made a contents claim in the past five years
- Details of your property’s security and the type of locks it has.
We’ll ask you some questions so we can provide you with a list of suitable quotes. This list will also show optional extras, including personal possessions cover and accidental damage insurance.
Frequently asked questions
If my handbag’s stolen, are my gadgets covered?
If your handbag’s stolen, you’ll need to check your home contents policy to see if your gadgets are covered. Some policies automatically include gadget cover or you may need to add them to your contents insurance.
Is my handbag covered for accidental damage?
Your contents insurance is unlikely to cover accidental damage to your handbag as standard. To make a claim, you’ll need to pay a bit extra to add accidental damage cover to your policy.
Is my handbag covered for wear and tear?
Most insurance policies won’t cover a handbag for wear and tear. Bags age naturally over time and deteriorate the more you use them. Insurance is designed to protect your bag if it’s stolen, lost or damaged, but that doesn’t extend to the natural ageing process.
How do I make sure my handbag is insured?
Read your home insurance policy documents or contact your insurance provider to check your handbag is covered both inside your home and while you’re out and about.
If it’s not, consider personal possessions cover for outside your home or look for dedicated handbag insurance.
What if my handbag is stolen from my car?
If your handbag is stolen from your car and you have personal possessions cover added to your contents insurance, you’ll be insured – as long as you can prove your car was locked and the bag wasn’t left on view.
If your home insurance policy doesn’t include that level of cover, check if you have possessions cover with your car insurance. Some policies cover belongings up to a certain value if they’re damaged or stolen from a car.
How can I keep my handbag safe?
To reduce the risk of having your bag stolen:
- Never leave your bag unattended
- Never leave your purse or phone in the outer pockets
- Never hang your bag over the back of a chair in a restaurant, bar or café
- Carry your bag across your chest with the fastening facing you.
What should I do if my handbag is stolen?
First, call 101 and report the theft to the police. What you do next depends on what was in your bag:
Bank and credit cards – cancel all cards as soon as possible.
Mobile phones – call your provider straight away and block your account and handset.
ID cards and passports – contact the appropriate authority: use the GOV.UK website for passports and the DVLA for driving licences. If your work security pass was stolen, tell your employers.
House keys – consider changing your locks, especially if your address details are in your handbag. If car keys are stolen, contact your car insurance provider.
Before contacting your insurance provider, make a note of everything valuable that was in the bag.
How do I get handbag insurance?
Although we don’t compare specialist bag insurance, we do compare home contents insurance that could cover your handbag. Simply give us a few details about yourself and your belongings, and we’ll do the rest.
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Helen Phipps - insurance expert
Having worked in both sides of the industry, Helen’s a real insurance expert. She’s worked directly with several insurance providers and now Compare the Market. She’s always searching for the cheapest prices for customers and is passionate about saving people money. Being married with two kids, Helen knows all about the cost of living and the benefits of having the right products and insurance for the whole family.