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Portable Contents and Personal Effects Insurance
Portable Contents and Personal Effects Insurance
Written by
Tina Sendin
Edited by
Laura Crowden
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare home and contents insurance the easy way
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What is portable contents insurance?
Long story short
Portable contents insurance covers your valuables on the go
Your home insurance stops at your front door, but portable contents insurance goes the extra mile. Think phones, cameras, laptops, and even engagement rings.
You can choose between specified or unspecified coverage options
Unspecified coverage groups items like jewellery under a claim limit, while specified coverage lists and insures items individually.
Cover could extend across Australia and even overseas
You can travel worry-free as you can insure your belongings anywhere in Australia or overseas for a set period.
Some items cost more to replace than you think
Think a GoPro for $649 or hearing aids for $2,590. Portable contents insurance helps cover the big-ticket stuff without stressing your wallet.
What is portable contents insurance?
Portable contents insurance is for those valuables that get out and about in the world with us, from engagement rings and smart phones to laptops, cameras and hearing aids.
Since your contents insurance protection ends when you leave your home, portable contents insurance can help bridge the gap for those valuables that are part of your everyday, even if they’re travelling across the country with you or jet-setting around the world in your pocket. You read that right – you can extend its coverage anywhere in Straya and possibly across the ditch to our Kiwi neighbours. You can even get covered while traveling in other overseas locations for a set period!
You’ll typically see two types of portable contents insurance on offer: unspecified and specified.
With unspecified, you can cover a few different categories or groups of items up to a certain claim limit, such as $1,000 for all your jewellery. Specified, on the other hand, gives you a bit more control. You can list individual items with descriptions and nominated values on your policy. It can mean there’s no claim limit if you lose that antique watch, but it could also mean a higher premium than going with unspecified cover.
If you already have home insurance, portable contents insurance could be an add-on for an extra premium. Alternatively, you may be able to get it as a standalone policy.
Helpful tip
When choosing portable contents insurance, consider the replacement value of your items, not just their current worth. This might allow you to replace your gear with something brand new if it’s lost or damaged!
Think about your smartphone – if it’s stolen, the cost to replace it with a brand-new model might be much higher than its current value. Portable contents insurance that covers replacement value ensures you’re not left out of pocket.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
What does portable contents insurance cover?
While what’s covered can vary depending on whether you choose specified or unspecified personal effects insurance, you may be able to insure against damage or loss for items like:
Your product disclosure statement (PDS) could give you a clearer idea of what your policy covers.1For more information, see Moneysmart – Product disclosure statement
Something you may want to keep in mind though is that you likely will need to keep your insured items in good nick to have them covered.
Additionally, while your home and contents policy will adjust for changing repair and replacement costs, your personal effects insurance may not. So, it might be a good idea to regularly review what you’re insuring and how much for.
Luckily, it’s pretty straightforward to add or remove items from an existing policy. Depending on who you’re with, it may be as simple as making a phone call to your insurer or using an online portal.
What isn’t covered by portable contents insurance?
Just as what is covered varies, exclusions can also vary between policies. However, you might want to steel yourself to see any items used for business, including phones or laptops, on the exclusions list.
When it comes to events, you’ll probably see accidents, wear and tear, fire, and rain damage on the list too.
Additionally, if someone takes advantage of you leaving your laptop in your unlocked car or just nipping to the bathroom at a café with your phone left on the table, you probably won’t be covered either.
This is another one of those times where flicking through the PDS may not be such a bad idea. Keeping up with exclusions could help you avoid disappointment or be the motivation to find a policy that offers better value.
How much does portable contents insurance cost?
Buying insurance isn’t like buying groceries. For starters, you’re not going to find your house suddenly overrun by tiny collectibles with every purchase. Additionally, there’s not really set prices for insurance. Your portable cover premium will depend on a range of factors, like if you choose specified or unspecified.
Even your chosen excess can affect the premium. You could pick an excess as low as $100, however this will likely mean your premium is higher. Alternatively, you could go with a higher excess but risk not being able to pay the replacement difference leftover after a successful claim.
Could you easily afford to replace these items without insurance?
Note: All prices accurate as of 28 March 2025
What should I consider when comparing portable contents insurance policies?
If you’re looking to set up a showdown between personal effects insurance policies, there’s a few considerations you could make to weigh up which is your winner.
Premium
This is what you’re going to be paying regularly to keep your valuables insured and can change between policies and providers.
Excess
You could have some flexibility in the excess you set — and it may even help lower your premium.
Limits
Are you okay with the unspecified claim limits set by your insurer or would you prefer to set your own with specified insurance?
Coverage
From what events and items are covered to how far you can travel from home before that cover disappears, this could be a real gamechanger for you.
On-demand options
If you just want cover when you’re out, on-demand cover that only applies when you switch it on and leave the house might stand out for you.
Frequently asked questions
What types of documents could I need when making a portable contents insurance claim?
When it comes time to making a claim, we don’t blame you if you’re struggling to think clearly. But you could make it a little easier for yourself by ensuring you have two kinds of documents handy: proof of ownership and proof of value. After all, a successful claim tends to come down to confirming that you owned what got lost or damaged and that it was really worth that much.
For proof of ownership, things like purchase receipts or credit card statements are probably the most obvious. You could also provide proof through showing you have the owner’s manual or warranty certificate, photos or videos of the item in your possession, records of the item’s serial number or even the packaging from it.
Purchase receipts and credit card statements could also function as evidence of the item’s value. But you could also bring out any valuations you’ve had done, like for an antique or heirloom piece.
What’s the difference between contents insurance and portable contents insurance?
Contents insurance covers the stuff in your home – like your furniture, appliances, and all that jazz –if something like a fire or theft happens. Portable contents insurance, on the other hand, is for the bits and pieces you take out and about, like your phone, laptop, or jewellery. So, if you drop your phone at the pub or lose your sunnies at the beach, portable contents cover’s got you.
Is it worth claiming on contents insurance?
Depends on the situation, really. If the cost to replace your stuff is way more than the excess (or the dollar figure you agreed to pay out of pocket if you must make a claim), then it’s probably worth it. But if it’s just a small thing like a pair of earrings you impulsively bought from the weekend market, you might want to think twice as too many claims can bump up your premiums.
A good rule of thumb is to weigh it up – if it’s a big loss, it might be good to go ahead with that claim.
Where can I find and compare home insurance?
Need to cover your gear when you’re on the go? Portable contents insurance has you sorted! And if you’re looking to protect your prized possessions (at home or anywhere else), you can look into contents insurance, too.
Whether you’re looking for an upgrade or your first home and contents insurance policy, and it’s starting to sound like something for the ‘too hard’ basket, don’t worry – we can help.
With the iSelect comparison tool, you can check out a range of home insurance options, including portable contents insurance add-ons, in a matter of minutes.
Get started on comparing home and contents today!
Save time and effort by comparing a range of home and contents insurance policies with iSelect
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