What is personal possessions insurance?
Everyone owns something special that they don’t want to break or lose. It could be anything from family jewellery to a brand new laptop or an expensive camera. No matter what your treasured possession is, you may need Personal Possessions Insurance if you want it covered when you're away from your home.
Some things can be expensive or impossible to replace if the worst should happen when you have them on you. This is where personal possessions insurance can save the day, protecting your belongings from theft, loss, or damage.
Most people assume that personal possessions cover is automatically included in your home insurance, but that’s not always the case. But you only have to add AXA’s personal possessions protection to your policy, and your treasured possessions can be covered. You can choose from a total cover value of £1,000 up to £15,000, to potect any items you own that are worth £1,500 each, or less. Items worth more than £1,500 each may be specified separately.
Please note that there are instances where other limits apply, so always check your policy’s terms and conditions for more details.
How much cover do I need?
The amount of cover you require depends on what you need to protect. It’s really about those things that you really value: an heirloom, a special collection, or a piece of jewellery passed down through the family. On the other hand, you may just want to protect the things you’ve worked hard to get for yourself: a high-end laptop or a brand new phone, for example.
You can’t put a price on the things you love, but AXA will help you make sure your treasures are covered.
What does personal possessions insurance cover?
It covers any item that belongs to you that you might use or carry in or out of your home. The most commonly covered items under personal possessions insurance are:
- Mobile phones
- Tablets and laptops
- Still and/or video cameras and equipment
- Keys
- Jewellery
- Purses, handbags, and wallets
- Sporting and/or musical equipment
But these aren’t the only things you can insure. Anything that has value can be covered, provided you or your family own it or are legally responsible for it.
What isn’t covered by personal possessions insurance?
There are usually a handful of exclusions to this type of cover. This includes bicycles, although our contents insurance policies come with bicycle cover as standard, which means you are covered both in an and away from the home for single bicycles up to £350, or up to £1,500 in total for bicycles owned by your household. You may also have the option to specify higher value bicycles too.
In most cases, if something doesn’t belong to you, then it’s not covered. Even some things you do own aren’t covered if you’ve kept them within an unattended vehicle. The only way you’ll be covered here is if the items are safely hidden from view and your car is locked, with certain limits depending on the type of cover you have.
For a detailed breakdown of what is excluded from our cover, you can check out AXA’s full terms, conditions and exclusions.
What if my possessions are with someone else?
AXA’s cover extends to anyone in your family and the people that live with you. We can also protect your belongings if they’re being kept by the bank, as long as they’re stored in a safety deposit box.
Moving house is a little bit different. Additional accidental damage is required for house removals. It’s worth checking your policy wording to make sure you have this cover before you start. While moving, there are certain possessions that still aren’t covered. This includes items such as money and jewellery. China, glass, porcelain and any other earthenware is also not covered, unless it has been packed by a professional removal contractor.
If you’re not sure, refer to your policy wording for full terms, conditions and exclusions.
Are my possessions covered abroad?
Some providers will cover you for a limited amount of time when you go abroad, but some won’t. So, make sure you check your policy wording for more detailed information.
With AXA, you’re fully covered as long as you’re travelling to Europe, Jordan, Madeira, the Canary and Mediterranean islands and those countries bordering the Mediterranean. If you’re travelling anywhere else in the world, you’ll be covered for a maximum of 60 days.
Most importantly, personal possessions insurance shouldn’t be used on its own when you’re travelling. In that case you should make sure you also have the usual travel insurance for maximum cover.
Can I be over-insured?
Yes, you can be over-insured. However, you should avoid being over (or under) insured. Over-insurance will result in a higher premium than you need. Under-insurance, could leave you out of pocket if you need to make a claim, because AXA will only pay up to the limit you’ve chosen.
Get a quote for AXA home insurance
We all know that accidents can happen; it’s a fact of life. Whether it’s an untimely drop or an unfortunate theft, at AXA, we’ll be able to cover your personal possessions. So, why not get a quote for AXA home insurance today?
