Christmas presents left in your car boot got stolen?

i Compare 4 U
June 1, 2023
2:08 pm

Christmas presents left in your car boot got stolen?

Personal possessions cover might not extend to stolen gifts.

Anyone who hides Christmas presents in the boot of their car might come unstuck if their vehicle is targeted by thieves.

Only 14% of car insurance policies cover personal possessions

Most comprehensive coverage car insurance providers some cover for personal possessions if they get stolen from your car, including Christmas presents.

However, the level of cover you’ll get varies between policies, so it’s a good idea to check how much personal possession cover is included.

Your policy may require you to take specific steps to protect valuable items from theft – for example, stowing them out of sight. If it turns out that you haven’t followed these steps when an insurance claim, it may be rejected.

Average personal possessions cover

According to data from Go Compare, based on 305 standard car insurance policies, very few policies include more than £400 or personal possessions.

It revealed that:

18% policies cover less than £150 worth of personal possessions
34% offer between £150 and £249 of cover
34% offer cover between £250 and £399
14% of policies cover possessions worth £400 or more.

You can check your policy’s personal possessions cover in your signed agreement. If you’re still unsure, it is best to check with your provider for confirmation.

Car crime on the rise

In 2022, the number of car thefts in London rose by 16% compared to the year before, jumping to 32,294 incidents from 27,859. Keyless cars and those with items visibly on display were most commonly targeted.

That’s according to the data revealed by Met Police across the 12-month period of June 2021 to June 2022. Unsurprisingly, the majority of break-ins took place during the late evening or at night.

Alternative ways to keep your Christmas presents safe

Ultimately, storing gifts in your car is not the safest option; it’s not only a security risk, but you’re at risk of losing out if the presents get stolen and aren’t covered by your insurance.

Instead, keep presents safe within your home. If you’re keen to keep them away from prying eyes, try hiding them on a high shelf, or at the top of the wardrobe, or put them in a decoy bag to avoid suspicion.