How to insure portable items that leave the home

What to know about Portable Items Cover

What is Portable Items Cover?

Portable Items Cover is an optional extra that you can add to your RACV Contents Insurance. It covers eligible items that are lost, stolen or unintentionally damaged outside of your home.

'Portable items' are defined as those contents items that you or your family own and are designed to leave your insured address with you (such as a handbag, wallet, laptop, camera, suitcase or musical instrument) or on you (such as spectacles, sunglasses, jewellery or clothing).

Portable Items Cover groups and sum insured are shown separately on your current Certificate of Insurance.

Portable Items Cover can insure portable electronic devices such as your smartphone. Image: Getty

What does Portable Items Cover insure?

You can insure any of the following groups of contents under Portable Items Cover:

• Jewellery and watches - includes rings, watches, bracelets, necklaces and medals
• Portable electronic devices - includes laptops, cameras, mobile phones, audio visual equipment, smart watches and fitness bands
• Clothing and luggage - includes baby capsules, clothes, luggage and purses
• Sporting and recreational items - includes bicycles, musical items, camping and sporting equipment
• Glasses and medical items - includes sunglasses, prescription glasses and hearing aids
• Mobility scooters.

What doesn't Portable Items Cover insure?

Portable Items Cover does not cover any of the following:

• if you scratch or dent an item
• items being cleaned, repaired or restored
• fishing and sporting equipment, musical instruments or firearms while someone is using them
• a bicycle while being used in a competitive race or time trial.

Tennis racquets are one example of sporting equipment you may wish to insure under Portable Items Cover. Image: Getty

How much can Portable Items Cover insure my items for?

When adding portable items to a policy, the value covered (your sum insured) needs to be based on how much it would cost to replace the item/s at today's prices.

You don't need to list individual items unless an item is worth more than $10,000. If you want coverage of an item for more than $10,000 you may be asked to provide a written valuation.

Where can I take my portable items to remain covered?

You can take your portable items anywhere in Australia or New Zealand and they will be covered for the insured amount under your Portable Items Cover.

If you take your items outside Australia or New Zealand, then coverage is limited to $10,000 for all items.

Bicycles are covered under sporting equipment. Image: Getty

How do I increase my cover for portable items?

Your Portable Items Cover can be increased at any time, provided you aren't in the process of making a claim for the item.

After identifying what contents and the value of the items you would like covered, contact or visit RACV to assist in updating the cover on your policy.

For items over $10,000, please have a description for each item.

For items over $25,000, please have a valuation certificate or purchase receipt available.

<sup>The information provided is general advice only. Before making any decisions please consider your own circumstances and the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determinations. For copies, visit racv.com.au. As distributor, RACV Insurance Services Pty Ltd AFS Licence No. 230039 receives commission for each policy sold or renewed. Product(s) issued by Insurance Manufacturers of Australia Pty Ltd ABN 93 004 208 084 AFS Licence No. 227678.

Cover for portable items is subject to underwriting guidelines please refer to the PDS, please note fishing and sporting equipment, musical instruments or firearms not being covered whilst in use.</sup>