Does Home Insurance Cover contents of your home while you go out for a trip

Posted on: Mar 18, 2025 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

Does Home Insurance Cover contents of your home while you go out for a trip

A home is one of the most important investments one will make in their lifetime. Thus, it is essential to protect it in the best manner possible. Owing to this, most individuals consider getting home insurance. Your home may be one of your costliest assets, and your responsibility is to protect it.

If you are getting insurance for your home, it is like an additional layer of security, although there is no mandate by the government. As a result, many people have taken the risk of not buying insurance for their homes and suffered majorly due to the loss.

One of the most critical questions amidst all is if there's home insurance for travellers. Let's find out.

Will My Home Insurance Cover My Travel?

Home and travel insurance are two very different things. So, when you travel and have home insurance, the expenses may not always be covered. Now, you need to know that your insurance for the home may cover some aspects of your travel.

While you may be expecting comprehensive coverage for your travel, know that it is not possible. For this purpose, where you want all your travel expenses covered, you must apply for travel insurance. However, the homeowners insurance does cover some aspects of your travel.

What Does the Homeowners Insurance Cover for Travel?

When it comes to travel coverage, your house insurance will only cover a few things. Some of the travel scenarios where the insurance will come in handy include the following:

1. Belongings of Your Home When You Were on a Trip

Your insurance would cover all the belongings and possessions in your home when you set out on a trip. If you have a backyard and certain items are placed within those boundaries, even those items will be covered by the insurance.

2. Lost Luggage

The insurance company sees luggage also to be a part of your property. Therefore, if your luggage gets lost during travel or a trip, it will be covered by property insurance. However, limitations apply when filing a claim.

If you are filing a lost luggage claim on your house insurance for a minor item, it is better not to do it. Since the claim filing process is long and complicated, it is not worth filing for a small item. You can file a claim with your travel insurance or check if the airline offers such services for these small items.

3. Property Damage for Negligence

Some house insurance covers property damage due to the negligence of the owner. When you're not at the property but also travelling, that is seen as negligence. Therefore, any damage that may happen to the property will be seen as the owner's negligence. Therefore, the owners can file a claim for repairs to the other property.

When you're travelling, and there has been some sort of property damage, know that the costs of repair coverage will be offered. However, the coverage offered will only be till that of the liability limit. The insurance would also take into consideration the deductibles for all your claim filings.

4. Stolen or Damaged Property During Travel

When you apply for homeowners insurance, check if there are any off-premise perks. For example, this can be valid when your property gets damaged or stolen while travelling. It is important to note that not all policies or insurances will cover stolen or damaged property with you while you are travelling.

Stolen or damaged property coverage is usually provided for personal property coverage. However, this will also be applicable for a certain amount or percentage. Therefore, the coverage value for that specific property will be lower than what it would be if the particular property were within your home premises.

Before setting out for the trip, it is advisable to discuss with the officials what the coverage will be. You may also ask how much coverage will be provided for electronics or jewellery when you apply for home insurance for travellers.

Why Get Home Insurance for Travellers?

If you're a frequent traveller and have your house often unattended, it is always a smart move to secure it. Thus, applying for the insurance of your home as a traveller can bring in a lot of benefits, some of which include the following:

1. The Insurance Covers Almost Everything

Your house insurance will cover almost everything within your property, from jewellery to electronics and other such house items. Even if you're travelling with your electronics and jewellery, any damage or loss to these items will be covered by your insurance.

This offers peace of mind to the owners that everything will be safe and secure, and even if anything goes wrong, coverage will be provided for the same. However, to cover these items, you must mention a list of portable items when applying for insurance.

2. Get Renters Coverage

Renters insurance will also be covered by the house insurance only. For renters, a content-only insurance option is available to safeguard their property. This content-only insurance will be applicable to electronics, jewellery, and fixtures.

If anything at the site was damaged by no fault of yours, the coverage will be provided through the owner's house insurance. However, it is advisable that you look into the details for renters insurance and purchase one even if you do not own the property. It will protect your belongings against any unwanted or unwarranted loss.

3. Various Coverage

Choosing reliable insurance for your property can be suitable for travellers as it offers the benefit of wide coverage. Therefore, you can travel and also be ensured that specific items with you- a part of your personal property- are being covered by insurance. Therefore, if anything goes wrong, you will have the option to file for coverage.

Because house insurance offers a wide scope of coverage, it is advisable not to file a claim for every small thing that was lost during your travel. As for your property, the insurance offers coverage for theft coverage, accidental damage or natural uncertainties. Therefore, if you get the best insurance, you will be able to save against a significant sum.

4. Numerous Optional Covers

The optional coverage benefit is provided to renters and owners once they apply for insurance as the homeowner. The insurance will offer complete protection for all the contents of your home, like electronics, jewellery and more. For an additional premium, you have the option to cover these extra belongings.

Providing a list is crucial because it helps calculate the property insurance premium along with the additional coverage premiums. You don't only have to secure the most expensive items and structure of your house, but also the inexpensive ones to protect yourself against unwanted additional expenses in future.

Conclusion

Choosing the right insurance for your home means securing a lot of important aspects of your home apart from the structure. It is extremely crucial that you understand the tenure and premium charges applied for all the coverages that you're getting. You must get it done immediately if you've not yet secured your home. Although there is no mandate from the government to get it done, you must do it for peace of mind. After all, spending a little extra to secure your house will not harm but bring benefits.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purposes only. For more details, please refer to the policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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