
Portable contents insurance is a great way to protect your belongings on the go. It's especially useful for travelers, as it covers your gear against theft, loss, and damage.
This type of insurance is often more affordable than traditional home or contents insurance, making it a great option for frequent travelers or those who work remotely. You can purchase a policy that covers you for a specific trip or for a year.
Some policies even offer additional benefits, such as coverage for business equipment or sporting goods. This can be a lifesaver if you're a freelancer or entrepreneur who takes your work on the road.
You can usually purchase portable contents insurance online or through a travel agent. It's a good idea to read the fine print and understand what's covered before you buy.
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What Is Portable Contents Insurance
Portable contents insurance offers coverage for the theft or accidental loss or damage of items you take out of your home with you.

Standard items valued at over $1000, for example, a digital DSL camera that cost $2000, can be covered under this type of insurance.
Portable contents insurance can cover items that accompany you wherever you go, like rings, watches, phones, and handbags.
Items that leave home less regularly, like musical instruments or laptops, can also be covered for protection against theft or accidental damage.
Features & Benefits
With portable contents insurance, you can rest easy knowing your belongings are covered no matter where life takes you.
You can enjoy cover for your items anywhere and anytime in Australia and New Zealand.
One of the best things about this insurance is that it also covers you for the first 30 days of travel per trip anywhere else in the world.
You can choose from two convenient payment options: pay your premium annually or monthly, and you won't be charged extra for the latter.
To make things even more tailored to your needs, you can select from Packaged or Customised Cover, or a combination of both.
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Coverage and Options
Portable contents insurance can provide valuable protection for your belongings when you're away from home. You can add the Portable Contents option to your contents cover for an additional premium.
This option allows you to tailor your cover to suit your needs, with categories including mobile phones, jewellery and watches, portable electronic devices, bicycles, recreational items, and more. You can set your own limit for each category.
If you're concerned about valuable items being stolen in public, portable contents insurance can help alleviate those worries. Over half of all thefts in Australia happen in community locations, so it's worth considering this type of insurance.
To get portable contents insurance, you can complete a home insurance quote online and call AAMI to add the specified item. You can also select the AAMI Portable Valuables Optional Cover when applying for home contents insurance.
Here are the categories of items you can cover with portable contents insurance:
- Mobile phones
- Jewellery and watches
- Portable electronic devices
- Bicycles
- Recreational, hobby items and clothing
- Permitted medical and health items
- Collections.
Note that items like mobile phones and tablets need to be specified separately, even if they're worth under $1,000.
Cost and Value

The cost of portable contents insurance can be determined by the type and value of the items you want to cover away from home.
The higher the overall value you choose to cover, the greater the cost will be. This means that if you have a lot of expensive items, you can expect to pay more for your policy.
You can cover certain categories of portable possessions up to an agreed amount, which can help keep costs down.
Some higher valued items may need to be insured individually by specifically listing them on your policy, which can add to the overall cost.
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Claims and Process
Making a claim for Portable Valuables cover is a relatively straightforward process. You can lodge your claim online at a time that suits you.
If you need to provide information such as proof of purchase or valuations, don't worry, you'll be notified if any further details are required.
To make a claim, you'll typically need to provide documentation to support your claim.
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Jewellery Insurance

If you're concerned about losing your valuables, such as an engagement ring, portable contents insurance can help protect you from unexpected mishaps.
Over half of all thefts in Australia happen in a community location, so it's worth considering portable contents insurance if you're worried about valuable belongings being stolen.
If you have specified portable items, like a digital DSL camera worth over $1000, you may be able to get them covered.
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Unspecified Valuables
If you're concerned about protecting your valuable personal belongings, you should consider unspecified portable valuables insurance.
Over half of all thefts in Australia happen in a community location, so it's essential to have extra protection for your belongings when you're out and about.
You can cover items like handbags and cameras anywhere in Australia and New Zealand, and even jewellery and watches while being worn by you or in a secure safe.
Jewellery and watches can be covered for up to 30 consecutive days while being worn or in a safe, but the maximum claim amount per item is $1,000.
Here are some examples of unspecified portable valuables that can be covered:
- Jewellery and watches
- Handbags and wallets
- Sporting, recreational and leisure goods (except e-bicycles)
- Photographic and optical equipment
- Glasses and sunglasses
Jewellery Insurance Guide

If you're concerned about protecting your precious jewellery, it's worth considering portable contents insurance. Over half of all thefts in Australia happen in a 'community location', so it's a good idea to be prepared.
You can get specified portable items covered, including jewellery, with some insurance policies. For example, if you have a digital DSL camera that cost $2000, it would be considered a standard item valued at over $1000.
If you have specific, high-value items like laptops or mobile phones, you'll need to specify them separately as they are not covered as unspecified items. This is also the case for items like drones, GPS devices, and motorised wheelchairs.
Some items, like laptops, mobile phones, and electronic tablets, need to be specified separately because they are not covered as part of the unspecified category.
If you have a valuable item worth over $1000, such as a digital DSL camera, you'll need to specify it separately as it's not covered as an unspecified item.
If you're worried about losing or damaging your valuable jewellery, you can get a quote for portable contents insurance that specifically covers these items.
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Getting Started

First, you'll want to determine what you need to insure - think about all your valuable items, from laptops to jewelry, and even your phone.
Portable contents insurance is designed to cover you both at home and on the go, so you can rest assured that your belongings are protected wherever you are.
It's essential to choose a policy that covers the items you need, and to consider the value of each item when deciding on a coverage limit.
You can expect to pay around 10% to 20% of the item's value for insurance premiums, so factor that into your budget.
Make a list of your valuables and their estimated values to help you determine the right coverage for your needs.
Keep receipts and records of your items, as this can help with claims and also provide a clear picture of what you own.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of contents insurance?
There are two main types of contents insurance: New for Old policies, which cover the full cost of repair or replacement, and Indemnity policies, which pay out the item's current value. Understanding the difference can help you choose the right coverage for your belongings.
Sources
- https://www.qbe.com/au/home-insurance/portable-contents-insurance
- https://www.qbe.com/au/news/portable-contents-insurance-explained
- https://www.commbank.com.au/insurance/home-insurance/portable-contents-insurance.html
- https://www.gio.com.au/home-insurance/portable-valuables.html
- https://www.aami.com.au/home-insurance/building-and-contents/portable-valuables.html
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