Travel insurance for luggage and personal effects
What is luggage and personal effects cover?
Luggage and personal effects cover is a benefit in a travel insurance policy that typically provides financial reimbursement for insured events when your baggage and personal items are:
- Damaged
- Lost
- Stolen
- Delayed.
Luggage and personal effects cover is typically available in single trip or multi-trip plans for both domestic and international travel insurance policies.
Inclusions and exclusions
What does personal effects and luggage cover usually include?
Personal effects and luggage cover can provide reimbursements and financial protection for additional expenses related to:
- Stolen or lost luggage
- Baggage delays
- Theft or loss of personal belongings and travel documents
- Damage to possessions and luggage while travelling.
Personal effects cover may also financially protect your items if they’re stolen from a motor vehicle, provided they’re stored in a concealed compartment during daytime hours and the car was broken into.
For full details on what travel insurance covers includes and excludes, always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). The Target Market Determination (TMD) could also help you understand if the product suits your needs.
What does luggage and personal effects cover typically exclude?
Luggage and personal effects cover typically has the following exclusions:
- Luggage and personal items left unattended in a public place
- Valuable items like computers, cameras, jewellery and watches if they’re in your checked luggage
- Items left in a motor vehicle at night
- Sporting equipment that’s damaged while it’s in use
- Ski and snowboard equipment (unless you’ve added winter sports cover to your policy)
- Depreciation losses and other damages due to wear and tear.
Covered items
What kind of personal items does travel insurance cover?
Personal effects typically covers items that you carry with you, including:
- Clothing
- Jewellery and watches
- Medical aids (e.g. prosthetic limbs and hearing aids)
- Mobile phones
- Photographic equipment
- Laptops and other portable devices.
Please note that personal items will be subject to benefit limits and sub-limits. Read the PDS or more information on your level of cover.
What if the policy limit isn’t enough to cover my item?
If you’re looking to cover a high-value item, some insurers may allow you to purchase specified item cover for an additional premium. This is where an individual item is listed on your Certificate of Insurance (COI) separately from your policy’s per item limit, allowing you to cover more expensive possessions.
How do I claim on travel insurance?
If your baggage or personal items are lost or stolen while you’re travelling, here are the steps you can take to make a travel insurance claim:
- Report the incident to the police, airline or transport authority. From here, you can undertake any next steps to try and recover your property and receive a report that can help with the claims process if you need to make a claim.
- Contact your insurer as soon as possible and provide as much supporting documentation as possible. This may include a transport provider or police report, proof of ownership of the items (e.g. receipts or credit card statements) and other documentation that could support your claim.
- Submit your claim through your insurer’s online policy portal or send a claim form either by mail, email or fax.
Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor
As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.