Household contents insurance provides worldwide coverage for insured events like fire, burglary, robbery, water damage, storm, and hail when belongings are temporarily outside the insured location during travel. It typically covers burglary and robbery but not simple theft, which involves items taken without the owner's knowledge. Exceptions exist where theft coverage applies outside the insured location, such as theft from locked ship cabins, locked sleeper compartments, locked motor vehicles, or while staying in a hospital. Temporary coverage limits are three months for basic coverage and 12 months for extended coverage.
What coverage does household contents insurance provide for belongings while traveling?
Household contents insurance covers your belongings worldwide against insured events such as fire, robbery, burglary, water damage, storm, and hail when your items are temporarily outside your insured location during travel or vacation.
Does household contents insurance cover theft outside the insured location? Household contents insurance typically does not cover simple theft outside your insured location. Simple theft refers to items taken without your knowledge, such as pickpocketing.
Are there any exceptions to theft coverage when traveling?
There are exceptions to theft coverage outside of the insured location, depending on your coverage type (basic or extended). Theft is covered if your property is stolen from:
Locked ship cabins on cruise ships.
Locked sleeper compartments.
Locked motor vehicles.
Situations where you are staying in a hospital.
How long can belongings be outside the insured location to still be covered?
For basic household contents insurance coverage, belongings must be outside the insured location for no longer than 3 months to be considered temporary. For extended coverage, this period can be up to 12 months. Periods longer than these are not covered as temporary travel.