With Christmas fast approaching, those lucky enough to be going abroad for the holidays are beginning to purchase travel insurance. If you are one of the lucky ones who will be away over the festive period then it is vital check the terms of your policy, particularly if you are taking presents abroad to give loved ones.
Most insurers will cover gifts under your personal baggage cover, providing the item you are claiming for falls within the policy limits. Many policies have restrictions on the amount you can claim per item, which is usually around £250, and it is also worth noting that most policies have a total amount you can claim for valuables which is again usually £250.
In order for a claim to be valid you will be asked to provide receipts for the item you are claiming for as evidence of ownership and value. You will also usually be asked to keep damaged items to send to your insurer.
The most important thing to remember when travelling with presents is to ensure the type of gift you are taking is covered by your policy. Most providers won’t cover fragile items such as china and glass, household goods and alcohol, and they won’t insure valuables that are not being carried as hand luggage, so it is important to read the policy small print before you travel with gifts to ensure you are adequately covered.
Are my devices covered?
Many travel insurers do not cover mobile phones under their possessions or valuables section, so you will need more specific insurance for this type of device. Many providers have a list of articles which are not covered under this section of a policy, which includes items such as contact lenses and hearing aids, musical instruments, games consoles and PDAs. If you are taking expensive items on your trip then it’s worth checking with your insurer whether they would be covered or not.
Possessions and valuables cover is designed for things like watches and jewellery, camera/audio/video equipment, mp3 players and accessories. However, most policies limit the amount you can claim per item as they will have an excess, which is the amount you’ll have to pay towards each claim.
You will not be covered for claims where you have not exercised ‘reasonable care’ for the safety and supervision of your property. You will not be covered for loss, theft or damage of any property left unattended in a public place to which members of the public have access. This means that you should always be in full view of the item, or in a position to prevent unauthorised taking of the property, unless it is in a locked room, safe or the boot of a locked car. Most policies will not cover claims where a loss or theft has not been reported to the police within 48 hours of the event, and a written police report obtained.
Beth Macer, travel insurance expert at PayingTooMuch.com says “With any insurance policy it is vital to check your cover so that there are no nasty surprises if you need to claim. Make a note of any limits as well as the excess which will be applied.”
PayingTooMuch.com covers travellers up to the age of 99 and covers most medical conditions. Give the team a ring today on 01243 784000 to see how much you can save!
