Are You Insured For Things You Leave In Your Car?
This will depend entirely on the policy you take out; some car insurance providers may provide cover for theft of or from the vehicle whereas others may offer no protection. If you do have a policy which does cover items left in your car then your claim, usually, will only be valid if your vehicle was locked at the time and your keys were in your possession.
Additional Cover Often Needed
Most car insurance policies will allow you to make a claim against anything that was originally fitted by the manufacturer such as audio equipment. If you have installed extra in car audio then you may well be covered but only to a certain extent, this could be anything from £100 up to £500. Likewise, if you have left items like a handbag or wallet in your car then this usually isn't covered by your standard car insurance. You would have to take out additional cover for these types of items.
Free Additional Cover?
Having said that, some insurers do add additional extras into their policies to entice new customers such as free handbag insurance or contents insurance up to a certain value. Similarly, if you have household contents insurance, read the policy, some will cover you for items you take out the home which would mean you wouldn't need additional cover for items left in your car.
When searching for car insurance don't just look at the price of the premium look at exactly what you are covered for. You may think you have found a bargain until you realise you are not covered for any items left in your car, whether they are stolen or damaged due to an accident!
If you are in any doubt as to whether you are covered then give your insurance company a call and ask them to clarify exactly what they will pay out for if you were to damage or have the items in your car stolen.
Related Articles:
- Fully Comprehensive Car Insurance
- What is Third Party Car Insurance?
- Making the Most of Your No Claims Bonus
- What Is a No-Claims Discount?
- In-Car Audio Gear Insurance
- Multi-Car Policies
- Car Insurance Basics
This site is for information only and cannot offer insurance advice for your particular situation.
Consult with an FSA authorised insurance advisor if unsure on any topics related to car insurance.
