Can Foreigners get Personal Possessions Insurance?
Everything you need to know about personal possessions insurance for foreigners in Thailand.
What is Personal Possessions Insurance?
Personal possessions insurance, also known as personal belongings or personal item insurance, protects your regular possessions from loss both inside and outside your home, mobile phones, jewellery, and handbags are examples of the items protected. It is an add-on you can include to your property insurance, and is especially useful for those who travel to different countries a lot.
When you’re away from home, personal possessions insurance will give you peace of mind by protecting your belongings from fire, theft, flood, and accidental damage.
Key points
- Personal possessions insurance is useful for those who travel a lot.
- This type of insurance will give you the confidence that your belongings are protected wherever you go.
- Secure your personal belongings both inside and outside of your house.
What is Covered Under Personal Possessions Insurance?
When you walk out the front door, personal possession insurance will ensure your personal belongings against loss, accidental damage, or theft, and it is a valuable addition to your policy for items like:
- Mobile phones
- Watches
- Jewellery
- Laptops
- Bicycles
- Money
- Sporting equipment
- Wallets and purses.
What is Not Covered in the Personal Possessions Policy?
Every insurer covers different things. In general, however, the following things may not be covered by a personal possessions policy:
- Camping equipment when in use and in the open
- Credit cards
- Theft from a vehicle
- Damage to sports equipment when in use
- Business equipment like tools or mobile phones.
Besides these exclusions, you also need to be aware that several avoidable things could invalidate your cover. Knowing these things will help you manage your expectations and understand what is and isn’t acceptable for making a claim. Below are the general things that are likely to invalidate your claim:
- Damage caused by normal and regular use (such as equipment used for hobbies or sport)
- Wear and tear
- Items used for business purposes
- Thefts from cars if the item was visible from outside (such as items sitting on the dashboard) and the car was left unattended.
Be aware that several things can invalidate your cover.
Are my possessions covered abroad?
Some insurance companies will protect your personal belongings when you are away from home. However, you will normally be limited to a certain number of days of coverage. It is typical to wait between 30 and 60 days.
If you’re going to be out for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to look into travel insurance or specific coverage like jewellery or gadget insurance.
Personal possession insurance covers your belongins from fire, theft, floods and any accidental damage.
How to File a Personal Possessions Insurance Claim?
To make a claim on the personal possessions insurance, contact your insurer to explain the situation. Give them as much information as you can and collect as much evidence as you can, such as item receipts and images of any damage. You’ll need your policy number on hand, as well as the funds to cover your excess.