Common holiday items you might forget to insure

Portable items to consider insuring before you go on holiday

The following items are examples of items you might want to consider getting portable items cover for. Policy limits, conditions and exclusions apply. An excess is also applicable. See the product disclosure statement (PDS) for full details.

Luggage

Let’s start with a simple, yet often forgotten item – luggage and bags. With popular brands selling suitcases for more than $400, a missing or stolen suitcase can put a significant dent to the wallet should it need replacing, even without considering its contents.

Glasses, hearing aids and mobility scooters

Having your medical items lost, stolen or damaged during a holiday can be upsetting enough without having to worry about the cost of their replacements. Portable items cover can insure key items like your sunglasses, prescription glasses and hearing aids.

Mobility scooters are another key category of portable items cover that you should consider if relevant. Replacing such a large and expensive piece of equipment when travelling will be much easier if you aren't thinking about covering its cost yourself.

Bicycles are a common item to take on holidays. Image: Getty

Musical instruments

Whether you're taking your guitar to the campgrounds or your cello interstate for an eisteddfod, it's a good idea to have your musical instrument/s covered when you take them out of the house.

Musical instruments can be pricey, usually starting at a couple hundred dollars for a very basic beginner instrument and ranging into the tens of thousands for a professional-quality instrument. A saxophone, for example, can cost anywhere from $500 to over $3,500.

Note: With portable items cover, musical instruments are not covered while in use.

Sporting equipment

Sporting equipment is often taken on holidays, since it's a great opportunity to have some fun while staying active. Tennis racquets, golf clubs and bicycles are among the most common sports items taken on holidays.

Tennis is a fantastic holiday activity, but the cost of the racquets can add up quickly. With some tennis racquets costing in excess of $250, a family of four people can easily take around $1,000 worth of tennis racquets on holiday. This makes the replacement cost of lost or stolen tennis racquets quite significant, so consider insuring these sporting items before you pack them in your suitcase or car.

Golf is another popular holiday sport that requires expensive equipment. While clubs can vary significantly in cost, it’s not unusual for a full set to be worth upwards of $3,000-4,000.

Bike ownership has spiked in recent years, and bike theft has trended upwards too. If you’re taking bicycles on holiday, vigilance is key. Bikes can go missing even if you follow best practice in locking your bike. Adding portable items cover for bikes can give you more peace of mind when you're on holiday.

Note: With portable items cover, sporting equipment is not covered while in use.

Laptops, mobile phones and smart watches

Portable electronic devices like mobile phones, smart watches, laptops, cameras and fitness bands are often considered holiday essentials. They can be vital for staying in touch with friends and family back home, for taking and storing holiday photos and videos, and for general entertainment.

Many smart watches can cost more than $500, mobile phones more than $1,000 and laptops even more, so consider adding portable items cover for these valuable and essential goods.

Tennis racquets can cost as much as $250 or more. Image: Getty

Jewellery and watches

Jewellery items such as engagement rings, family heirlooms, watches and medals can cost thousands of dollars to replace. They often also hold significant sentimental value to their owner.

It makes sense to consider portable items cover for your jewellery - after all, unexpected things can happen to your precious items both inside and outside of the home, and especially when on holiday.

Clothing and shoes

Australians spend an average of $2,000-3,000 a year on clothing, making our wardrobes one of our most expensive household items. When you go on holiday, you're unlikely to take those daggy old tracksuit pants for lounging around at home in, but rather those nice shoes you save for a special occasion, or that special dress for a fancy dinner.

If you’re taking a new pair of expensive shoes, a formal outfit, or even just a whole lot of t-shirts and shorts, it can easily add up to thousands of dollars. It may be worth updating your contents insurance policy to protect these items when you're away.

<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>