Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Items Stolen Away From Home

If you’ve ever had something stolen from your car, lost a bag while traveling, or dealt with a grab‑and‑run incident in the city, you may have wondered whether your homeowners insurance will cover the loss. In many cases, it can—just with some important limitations to keep in mind.

What Homeowners Insurance Typically Covers

Most homeowners insurance policies include personal property coverage, which helps protect your belongings from covered losses like theft. This protection follows you beyond your home, a feature known as off‑premises coverage.

In many situations, your personal belongings may be covered if they’re stolen from:

• A locked or unlocked vehicle
• Your person—for example, a backpack, purse, or phone taken during a robbery
• A hotel room or short‑term rental while traveling

So if your laptop is stolen from your car or your luggage disappears while you’re on vacation, your homeowners insurance may help.

Key Limitations to Understand

Even though off‑premises theft is often covered, there are important conditions to consider:

Your deductible still applies: If the value of the stolen items doesn’t exceed your deductible, you won’t receive reimbursement.

Coverage caps may apply: Many policies limit off‑premises coverage to about 10% of your total personal property limit.

Valuables may have sublimits: Items like jewelry, electronics, collectibles, and firearms often have low caps unless they’re specifically listed on your policy.

Some items may be excluded: Cash, rare coins, business property, and certain work‑related equipment may have little or no coverage.

Examples of When Coverage May Apply

Here are a few common situations where a homeowners policy may respond:

• A thief breaks into your vehicle and steals your gym bag, headphones, and phone
• Your purse is grabbed while walking downtown
• Your luggage is taken from your hotel room during a trip

As long as the items aren’t excluded and the loss exceeds your deductible, your policy may help cover the cost.

How to Protect Yourself

You can take a few steps to make sure your belongings are covered wherever life takes you:

• Review your policy’s personal property and off‑premises limits
• Keep an updated inventory of valuables you frequently carry
• Consider scheduling high‑value items for broader protection and no deductible
• Let your agent know if you travel often or keep expensive items in your car
• File a police report if a theft occurs—this is usually required before filing a claim

Homeowners insurance can offer meaningful protection for theft, even when you’re away from home, but it’s essential to understand the limits. If you’re unsure how your current coverage applies to off‑premises losses, our team at Vargas & Vargas Insurance is here to help. We’ll review your policy with you and make sure your belongings are protected wherever you go.