Bags and personal effects are your most prized processions while on the road, so if they get lost, stolen, or damaged it helps to know World Nomads travel insurance has your back.
When it comes to how much you can claim, what’s covered, and what’s not, it’s important to have clarity.
Making a claim for baggage and personal effects
The amount you can claim per item and in total for your baggage and personal effects if lost, damaged or stolen will depend on the plan you buy - Standard Plan or Explorer Plan - how many travelers are listed on your policy and if you have specified high-value items.
If your passport has been lost or stolen you need to notify the Australian Government as soon as possible, and provide us with supporting documentation confirming you’ve reported the event.
What’s covered
- Personal belongings when stolen or accidentally damaged
- Baggage when stolen, lost or damaged by a common carrier (like an airline or bus company)
- Theft of cash ($250 limit – Explorer Plan only)
- Theft, loss or damage to your passport, travel documents or credit cards
- Hire of sports equipment (like a snowboard or a surfboard) if yours is delayed, damaged or lost by your common carrier (Explorer Plan only).
What’s not covered
Your travel insurance policy is not designed to cover everything and there are some things that simply aren’t covered.
There’s no cover for:
- Gear that’s left behind, forgotten, misplaced or left unsupervised
- Baggage or items left unattended in a car or boat overnight
- Any portable electronic device, jewelry, specified high-value item, travel document, cash or credit card which is checked-in with a common carrier, held for transport, left unsupervised in a motorized vehicle, boat, tent or camper trailer, at any time, left secured but where there’s no visible evidence of damage and forced entry; out of your reach or view, or stored with a service provider.
Read your Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), specifically Section 4 - Your Belongings, which explains in detail what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure, you can always contact us for help.
What you need to do
If you need to make a claim for your baggage or personal effects, there are a few steps you need to take first.
- You need to get a written report from the local police (particularly for a theft) or other appropriate authority, such as the bus company, airline or hotel as soon as you can to support your claim. If you can’t notify the local police or other appropriate authority (because you’re about to get on a plane), you must notify us as soon as reasonably possible after the event.
- If your gear is delayed, damaged or lost by the carrier (airline or bus, etc), you must ask for a report with the carrier outlining the details of the event and make a claim with them.
- You will need to supply proof of ownership, age and value of your items to support your claim to prove that the item was yours.
Does my insurance cover my tech?
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What you need to know
Very Important: If you misplace, forget or leave any of your belongings behind accidentally, there is NO cover available under this policy.
Where you do have a valid claim, depending on what’s happened to your gear, we may choose to get it repaired, replaced or payout the value of the item. Be aware the value will make allowance for ‘wear and tear’ (depreciation) unless you’ve added it as a specified item and paid an additional premium, in which case no depreciation will apply.
FAQs
What personal belongings are covered?
What personal possessions are covered and claim limits depend on the plan you purchase. Consult your PDS for full details on what’s covered, your limits, and information regarding high-value items.
Is there a policy excess?
Yes. Claims for baggage and personal effects incur a $100 policy excess.
This is only a summary of cover and does not include the full terms, conditions, limits, and exclusions of the policy. You should read your PDS in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. If you are unsure about your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.
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