Some home contents policies cover your belongings when you travel. It can be a useful extra, especially for valuables, but it’s not a replacement for travel insurance. Here’s what home insurance may and may not do.
What is personal possessions cover?
Many contents policies offer optional “personal possessions” or “all risks” cover, which protects items you carry with you, such as phones, jewellery and cameras, in the UK and sometimes abroad. Check whether travel is included and for how many days.
What home insurance may cover
- Loss, theft or accidental damage to specified valuables
- Items worn or carried, subject to the policy limits
- Higher limits for individual items than a typical travel policy
What home insurance normally doesn’t cover
- Emergency medical treatment or repatriation
- Trip cancellation or curtailment
- Travel delays and missed departures
- Personal liability abroad, in many cases
For these, you need travel insurance. See what travel insurance covers.
Limits and conditions to check
- Geographical limits. Is cover worldwide, Europe only or UK only?
- Trip length. There may be a cap on the number of days abroad.
- Single-item and total limits. Items may need to be listed.
- Excess. You may pay a higher excess for possessions cover.
- Exclusions. Unattended items and checked baggage can be excluded.
Should you claim on home or travel insurance?
If both could pay, it’s worth thinking about which to use. A claim on your home policy could affect your premium or no-claims discount, while a travel policy claim usually only affects travel insurance. Tell both insurers about the cover you have, as they may share the cost. Don’t claim twice for the same loss.
When home cover helps
It’s most useful if you carry high-value items that exceed your travel insurance single-item limits. Compare it with a gadget add-on. See gadgets, drones and cameras and which add-ons are worth it. Also check whether any packaged account benefits apply. See bank account travel insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Does home insurance cover my phone abroad?
Only if you have personal possessions or all-risks cover that includes travel. Check your policy for geographic and single-item limits.
Can home insurance replace travel insurance?
No. It doesn’t normally cover medical treatment, repatriation, cancellation or delay.
Should I tell my home insurer I’m travelling?
If possession cover applies abroad, check the conditions. Long absences from home can also affect home cover, so read the policy.
Can I claim on both policies for the same item?
No. You can’t be paid twice for the same loss.
Related travel insurance guides
- How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance: A 10-Point Checklist
- Allianz Travel Insurance UK: What You Need to Know in 2026
- Annual vs Single Trip Travel Insurance: Which Should You Buy?
- What Does Travel Insurance Cover? A Plain-English UK Guide
- How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost in the UK in 2026?
This article is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Always read the policy documents before you buy.
