Would your possessions be covered by insurance if thieves broke into your car?

Which? analysed personal belongings cover in car insurance policies and found common valuable items were sometimes excluded. MoneyWould your possessions be covered by insurance if thieves broke into your car?Which? analysed personal belongings cover in car insurance policies and found common valuable items were sometimes excluded.Vicky Shaw Thursday 19 February 2026 00:01 GMTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverEven where protection for possessions is included, payout limits for some items in car insurance policies can be so low that motorists would still face a significant shortfall, Which? said (picture posed by model/Alamy/PA)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreSome motorists may find themselves out of pocket if valuable possessions such as mobile phones, laptops or precious documents are stolen from their car, an investigation by Which? has found.The consumer champion’s analysis of policies indicates that, that while policyholders can usually assume the car itself is covered, the cover for possessions is less clear-cut.It said that in its most recent survey of car insurance customers, one in 10 claims involved burglary or theft.Which? said that when it reviewed 66 car insurance policies last November, most contained some level of personal belongings cover.However, some people may find that only some of their specific personal belongings are covered. Which? found that handbags, shopping and pushchairs were covered by all 55 policies that included personal belongings cover.But some did not cover certain valuables that might be attractive to thieves.None of the 55 policies that included personal belongings cover that Which? analysed covered cash. One in seven (15%) did not cover tablets and the same proportion (15%) did not include laptops.One in six (16%) did not include mobile phones. The vast majority did not cover credit cards or documents (93% and 98% respectively).Most (95%) of the 55 policies with personal belongings cover did include cover for sports equipment such as golf clubs.However, Which? cautioned that, even if certain belongings are covered in a policy, modest payout limits can still leave customers out of pocket.Get a free fractional share worth up to £100.Capital at risk.Terms and conditions apply.Go to websiteADVERTISEMENTGet a free fractional share worth up to £100.Capital at risk.Terms and conditions apply.Go to websiteADVERTISEMENTOf the policies Which? checked, the most common claim limit was £300 or less, with a couple paying less than £100.Which? did find, however that a handful of policies – from Axa, Moja, Saga and Swiftcover – were providing more than £1,000 for personal belongings.Some people may find their belongings are covered by their home insurance.When Which? reviewed 78 contents policies in July 2025, virtually all (97%) offered cover for personal possessions on someone’s person or stolen from a car.This can usually be provided via an optional add-on, with cover often being broader and with higher limits, Which? said.Most of the policies it looked at covered personal possessions away from the home with cover limits in the thousands of pounds, rather than hundreds and all included certain gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets. Most also covered cash, although with lower limits than for other possessions.Reena Sewraz, a Which? Money expert, said: “In the event of vehicle theft, many motorists may assume their car insurance will be on hand to cover any resulting losses – but when it comes to items left inside the car, that’s not always the case.“Our analysis found common high-value items are often excluded from policies, and even where protection is included, payout limits can be so low that drivers still face a significant shortfall.“If you’re shopping around for a new policy, always check the Ts and Cs carefully to be sure it covers you for everything you would expect. If there are gaps in your cover, consider whether other policies – such as home insurance – might include protection for your valuables when you’re out and about.”Fraser Lyall, general insurance policy adviser at the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said: “Insurers understand how stres