Portable Valuables & Away-From-Home Cover
Extends your contents cover to protect belongings you take outside the home — laptops, phones, bikes, and more.
About Portable Valuables & Away-From-Home Cover
Portable valuables insurance, also called personal valuables or all-risks personal cover, extends protection for your valuable items beyond your home. Standard contents insurance only covers items while they're inside your home. If your watch, camera, laptop, jewellery, or other valuable items are stolen or damaged while you're out—at work, travelling, or anywhere else—standard cover won't help. Portable valuables insurance closes this gap.
This type of cover is particularly valuable for New Zealand professionals who regularly carry expensive items. If you use a laptop for work and it's stolen from your office or a café, portable valuables cover will protect it. If you're travelling overseas and your camera is damaged, this cover responds. For frequent travellers, this coverage is almost essential.
Many New Zealand travellers discover too late that their standard contents insurance only covers items at their home address. If you're hiking the Milford Track and your camera is lost, or you're at Piha Beach and your phone is stolen, your standard contents policy won't cover it. Portable valuables insurance means you have protection wherever you are.
The coverage typically includes items like cameras, watches, jewellery, phones, laptops, and other portable electronics. It's often offered as an all-risks policy, meaning it covers accidental damage, theft, and loss under a much broader range of circumstances than standard cover. You don't need to prove exactly what happened to the item—if it's lost or damaged and you've reported it appropriately, you'll be compensated.
One important consideration is that portable valuables cover typically has higher excesses and may have limits on individual items. The cost is also generally higher than building contents cover, sometimes 2-5% of the item's value annually, since the risk of loss is higher when items are carried around.
It's important to understand what's included and what's excluded. Some policies exclude items in unattended vehicles, items left unattended in public, or items damaged through negligence. Coverage limits might apply to individual items or to your total cover, so understanding these limits is crucial.
Who Needs This Cover
- ✓Laptop and tablet users who work remotely or travel
- ✓Smartphone users who rely on expensive devices
- ✓Cyclists with high-value bikes
- ✓Photography and video equipment owners
- ✓Students carrying expensive equipment to class
- ✓Travellers who take valuables overseas
What's Covered
- ✓Laptops, tablets, and computers
- ✓Smartphones and wearables
- ✓Cameras and optical equipment
- ✓Bicycles (including e-bikes)
- ✓Handbags and wallets
- ✓Sporting equipment away from home
- ✓Musical instruments at performances
- ✓International cover (up to 90 days)
What's NOT Covered
- ✕Items left unattended in public places for extended periods without supervision
- ✕Items in a locked vehicle in high-risk situations or left overnight in a car parked in the street
- ✕Damage from wear and tear or gradual deterioration
- ✕Loss or theft if you didn't take reasonable care of the item
- ✕Items damaged through your own negligence or recklessness
- ✕Items sent through the post unless using registered or insured courier services
- ✕Theft from backpacks, bags, or luggage in hostels or shared accommodation unless items are locked away
- ✕Items used for professional purposes if that use isn't covered under your policy
New Zealand Context
In New Zealand's outdoor-focused culture, portable valuables insurance is particularly valuable. Kiwis regularly take cameras, drones, and expensive outdoor gear to beaches, mountains, and national parks. A camera dropped on a tramp, a phone stolen at a beach café, or a laptop lost on a plane are all real risks for active New Zealanders. Portable valuables cover provides peace of mind for outdoor adventures.
Travel is also a key reason for this cover. New Zealand is geographically remote, and many Kiwis travel internationally regularly. Having comprehensive portable valuables cover means your items are protected while travelling overseas, whether you're in Australia, Asia, or further afield. This is often more affordable than buying travel insurance that covers valuables separately in each destination.
New Zealand's insurance market strongly encourages customers to declare their valuables and understand their coverage limits. The Insurance Council of New Zealand advocates for transparent disclosure so customers aren't surprised when claiming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my standard home contents insurance cover items I take outside the house?+
What items are covered under portable valuables insurance?+
Is my laptop covered if I leave it in a locked car while at work?+
If my camera is stolen in a crowded public place, will I be covered?+
Does portable valuables cover work if I'm travelling overseas?+
How much does portable valuables insurance cost?+
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