What is personal possessions insurance?Personal possessions insurance (also called away-from-home cover or all-risks cover) protects your belongings when you take them outside your home. Standard home contents insurance only covers items inside your property. Personal possessions cover extends protection to items like phones, laptops, jewellery, cameras, and handbags while you are out and about. Standard home contents insurance only covers belongings inside your home. Personal possessions cover extends protection to items taken out of the house — typically added as an optional extra to your policy. What does personal possessions insurance cover?
What is usually excluded?
How much does personal possessions cover cost?
Costs vary by provider, your postcode, claims history, and whether you include specified high-value items. Standalone gadget insurance for a single phone is often cheaper than adding personal possessions cover if you only want phone protection. Do I need to specify high-value items?Most personal possessions policies have a single-item limit — typically £1,000 to £2,000. Items worth more than this limit must be individually listed (specified) on the policy. Failing to specify a valuable watch, engagement ring, or camera means you will only receive the single-item limit on a claim, not the full replacement value. Personal possessions vs specialist insurance
Verdict Worth adding if you regularly take valuables out of the house Personal possessions cover is good value for frequent travellers or anyone who regularly carries high-value items. The annual cost is low relative to the replacement value of a stolen phone or laptop. Always specify items above the single-item limit. Frequently asked questionsIs personal possessions insurance the same as contents insurance? No. Contents insurance covers belongings inside your home. Personal possessions insurance covers items when taken outside. They are separate covers — personal possessions is usually an optional add-on to a home insurance policy. Does personal possessions cover include travel abroad? Most policies include Europe as standard and offer worldwide cover as an option. Check the policy wording — some exclude certain countries or limit the number of days abroad covered. Does personal possessions insurance cover accidental damage? Most personal possessions policies cover accidental damage, theft, and loss. However, some cheaper policies only cover theft. Check whether your policy covers accidental breakage of a phone screen or camera. What excess applies to personal possessions claims? Excesses on personal possessions claims are typically £50 to £150. Some providers apply a higher excess for phones (£100 to £250). Factor the excess into whether a claim is worth making — small claims may not exceed the excess. |
Personal Possessions Insurance UK: What Is It? 2026
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