A warning has been issued to people over the dangers of a common Christmas present hiding place.
As we stock up on gifts for loved ones in the run-up to the big day, it can become difficult to find suitable storage space to ensure presents stay hidden.
Some may be tempted to leave Christmas shopping in the car before the time comes to wrap presents, but insurance experts warn this could be a costly mistake - as Wales Online report.
READ MORE: Deadline looming for thousands of drivers to get £350 grant from government
Ryan Fulthrope from GoCompare said: “We’ve all been there. You’ve done some shopping and the person you have bought for is in the house – so you leave the gifts in the boot ready to get them out when the coast is clear.”
However, the car and home insurance experts advise against this as expensive gifts may not always be covered if your car is broken into or stolen.
Mr Fulthorpe adds: “Of course, we always recommend that you do not leave expensive gifts in the back of the car – even if you are hiding them from your nearest and dearest – as there are many caveats in both car and home insurance policies which mean that you might not always be covered.”
GoCompare conducted an investigation to determine when people would be covered and found that 306 of the 327 standard comprehensive car insurance products analysed would cover personal possessions as standard.
However, this was with varying degrees of financial cover. When there is a cash limit involved, 43 policies would cover possessions worth £400 or more, 98 offered cover between £250 and £399, 109 covered between £150 and £250, and 56 policies would cover less than £150 if personal possessions were stolen.
This would change if your windscreen or windows are broken in the process as GoCompare found 306 standard car insurance policies cover windscreens as standard, with an additional 13 policies covering for side windows smashed in a theft.
For pricier gifts, it might be worth looking at whether they would be covered by home contents insurance.
When GoCompare looked at home contents policies, it found some would cover personal possessions in a car, up to certain stated amounts. But some insurance companies will only cover “everyday items” – and may not cover gifts hidden in a car.
GoCompare says checking the exact wording of your home contents policy is important – and firms may want proof that items were hidden away from view in a locked boot.
People may also be tempted to move gifts from the car to the garden shed. As well as making sure it’s locked, it’s also wise to check with your insurer whether your items would be covered there.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
