Expat or relocation insurance for jewellery and contents

starfish114

Hi

We are moving to another country and are wondering if anyone has been able to obtain worldwide insurance for jewellery and other personal effects that is not covered by travel insurance. If we were going on holiday usually these items would be covered by home contents insurance but that does not apply if you are no longer resident here. Is there such thing as relocation or expat contents insurance? I note that items that we are shipping are being covered by insurance arranged by shipping company but my engagement ring and other items like £1000 handbag that will be travelling with me are not covered by travel insurance.

dacouch

What country are you moving to?

What are your occupations?

starfish114

Moving to New Zealand and occupations are accountant and software developer.

InsideInsurance

Presumably you have Home cover here and will be buying Home cover there without a break between the two? In which case as long as the two insurances dont have a break you will continue to be covered

There is standalone jewelry insurance that gives unlimited time overseas cover but youd need to check if you are required to be a UK resident or not for it to remain valid. For your other bits and pieces, there are probably low value products you can get, I know AmEx does one but again the UK resident may be a stumbling block.

Normal recommendation when you want non-standard cover is to speak to a local broker, other than Swintons, but be prepared for the sorts of prices that are charged for non standard coverages

dacouch

You may as well buy cover in NZ, the price will be cheaper and the policy will be written in English.

There will be forums for UK ex pats in NZ if you want recommendations

starfish114

I have just sent a query to our NZ insurer to see if they will give us contents insurance cover before we arrive in NZ. Fingers crossed...

starfish114

An update for anyone in the same position:
I was NOT able to get any insurance for my jewellery :-(

In summary...
- UK contents insurance is only valid while you are UK resident
- NZ insurers would not insure until you arrive in NZ
- Travel insurance does not cover jewellery
- Shipping companies refuse to accept jewellery
- Unable to get any specific jewellery insurance or international property insurance in UK or NZ

Only option is to travel with jewellery uninsured! Had I known this I would have taken some of my jewellery to NZ in an earlier trip when it was still covered by UK contents insurance.

InsideInsurance

starfish114 wrote: »

Only option is to travel with jewellery uninsured! Had I known this I would have taken some of my jewellery to NZ in an earlier trip when it was still covered by UK contents insurance.

You can get cover, just if its cost effective to or not is another matter. Ultimately anything that isnt illegal can be insured via Lloyds but the price for bespoke underwritten policy may not stack up.

What sort of values are you talking about?

If a normal local broker wasnt willing to help then seek out one that specialises in High Net Worth where these sorts of challenges and international flavours are more common