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Travel Insurance for Stolen or Damaged Baggage

If your gear has been stolen or damaged, here's how we can help.

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Protect your belongings with World Nomads Travel Insurance

With multiple bags, valuables, and essential documents in tow, the last thing you want is to deal with lost, stolen, or damaged luggage. In fact, nearly half of all travel insurance claims involve mishaps with baggage and personal effects.

Whether you’re carrying expensive sports gear, a designer outfit for a destination wedding, or just your everyday essentials, World Nomads travel insurance offers coverage for theft, loss, or damage of your luggage and personal effects.

How can travel insurance help if my belongings are stolen or damaged?

Your Policy Document will have very specific limits, both on the total value of the luggage covered, and on individual items. If there're some items you're bringing that exceed those limits, specify them when you get a travel insurance quote.

We offer cover for the following:

  • Stolen or accidentally damaged belongings.
  • If your belongings are stolen, lost of accidentally damaged by a common carrier (a commercial airline for example).
  • Taken from you during an assault.
  • Stolen from your private, locked accommodation and where there's visible evidence of damage and forced entry.

There are of course terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions on how cover applies. For example, we won't cover your electronics or jewellery if you check them into an airline. Read the Policy Document so there are no surprises. 

How to report your lost or missing bags and valuables in 4 easy steps

1. Report it

Your first move should be to report it, ASAP. Who you report it to depends on your circumstances. Here are some of the most common situations: 

If your luggage has been lost or stolen on public transport:

  • Report the incident to the tur operator or public transport provider and request written evidence, like a Property Irregularity Report (PIR).
  • Gather any relevant tickets, luggage checks, and other documents.
  • Confirm how the transport company will compensate you—get it in writing.

If your luggage has been lost or stolen from your airline or accommodation provider

  • Report it immediately to the carrier or accommodation provider and request written confirmation of the incident from the carrier or the accommodation provider, along with details of any compensation.

If your luggage has been lost or stolen on a tour or at a public venue (e.g. airport, museum, sports stadium)

  • Let your tour operator, venue management, or security know right away. Ask for written confirmation of the loss or theft and details of any compensation offered.

If your situation is not listed get in contact and we can help.

2. Notify the police

File a police report—this step is non-negotiable because your potential insurance claim hinges on it. Head to the nearest police station and make sure you get a copy of the report or at least a reference number.

3. Track and block your phone, tablet and credit cards

Contact your provider to block the service and get written confirmation. And don’t forget to call your bank to block any stolen cards ASAP.

If you have an iPhone, try using the Find My iPhone feature. If you have a Samsung, use the Find My Mobile feature to pinpoint your device’s location on a map.

4. Keep all receipts and paperwork

Hold onto every bit of paperwork—receipts for emergency buys, itineraries, booking and cancellation confirmations for any affected travel arrangements. If you don’t do this, we may reduce or reject your claim.

What’s not covered by travel insurance

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything. Common claims we see where there's no cover include:

  • Anything you leave behind, walk away from or simply misplace or forget.
  • If your credit cards are skimmed.
  • Leaving your gear in an unlocked car overnight.
  • Leaving your valuables unsecured in a shared hostel room.

Travel safety tips before you leave New Zealand

  • Add a distinctive, trackable security tag with your contact info (minus your home address) to make your luggage easier to spot and recover if it goes missing.
  • Be proactive and install tracking apps on your devices before travelling abroad.
  • Scan copies of all your documents and store them in your phone before you leave New Zealand.
  • Grab a travel insurance quote here.

Ready to get a travel insurance quote?

If you’re ready to start exploring our travel cover options and optional extras, then visit our Get a Quote page and tell us your travel details.

This is not a full list of what's covered and not covered. There are terms and conditions, limitations and exclusions that apply. For more information check out our FAQ article on baggage cover and personal effects and read your Policy Document carefully before you buy.

Dodgy Taxi Driver.

After arriving in Jordan I was approached by a man claiming to be a taxi driver. He showed me where an ATM was to get out some Jordanian dollars and then took me to his car. After a white knuckle drive to my hostel I hopped out and he grabbed my baggage and chucked it at me and left straight away. When I got into my hostel I realised my camera bag was missing with my camera, storage drive and Jordanian dollars. I filed a report with the police but they have been unable locate the camera and the taxi companies seem to think this man was in fact an opportunist as the have no record of him.
Claim paid: NZD $238.6
Kiwi Nomad in Jordan.

Travel Insurance Benefits: how we can take care of you

Trip Cancellation

Protect your trip from unexpected cancellation.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000
Trip Protection
  • Have you died?
  • Has one of your relos died?
  • Has an earthquake damaged your home?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Overseas

Take the pain out of medical costs.

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $5,000,000
Emergency Medical Insurance
  • Need medicine?
  • Accidentally injured?
  • Suddenly sick?

We’ve got your back.

Emergency Medical Transport

We'll get you to hospital in a flash

  • Explorer Plan: Unlimited
  • Standard Plan: $500,000
Evacuation and Repatriation
  • Banged up overseas?
  • Medivac needed home?
  • You died overseas?

Help starts here.

Protect your gear

Cover your stolen or damaged gear and tech.

  • Explorer Plan: $10,000
  • Standard Plan: $2,000
Protect your gear
  • Damaged docs?
  • Passport pilfered?
  • Tech trashed?

Help starts here.

  • Overseas Medical Expenses
  • Emergency dental treatment
  • 24 hour assistance
  • Emergency medical transport & repatriation
  • Cancellation costs
  • Trip interruption costs
  • Compassionate emergency visit home
  • Resumption of trip
  • Theft or accidental damage to baggage and personal items
  • Baggage delay over 12 hours
  • Funeral expenses overseas or repatriation of remains
  • Personal liability
This is a general summary for New Zealand residents only. Restrictions, exclusions and limitations will apply. Benefit limits may vary depending on the plan chosen. Check the policy documents for full details.

24/7 emergency assistance

If you need medical assistance or emergency medical evacuation our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year before and during your trip.

Are you in need of emergency assistance right now?

From New Zealand & Overseas:
+61 2 8263 0470 or
+61 2 8292 1470
(reverse charges via an operator from anywhere in the world)

Within Australia (Free call): 1800 611 210

FAQ

Here are our most frequently asked questions about buying travel insurance for baggage. You can also find the answers to other questions in our Helpdesk or you can ask our customer service team.

  • If the airlines loses my gear, what do I need?
    You’ll need a Property Irregularity Report (‘PIR’) from the carrier confirming the delay and any compensation they provided to you or offered to you, your receipts and a copy of your itinerary.
  • Do my items get depreciated?
    Yes they do. However, some policies let you pay an additional premium per item so insure them for the value you bought them (if it's under the limits).