Compare contents insurance

Want to protect your personal belongings? We’ve made it simple to compare great-value contents insurance policies in a few clicks.

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Last updated 19 March 2025 Important disclosures

Home insurance comparisons on Mozo

  • Promoted

    Home Cover - Contents

    QBE Home and Contents Insurance can cover your property and belongings in case of fire, storm damage, theft and more. 24/7 friendly and helpful claims service. Up to $30 million legal liability cover. Temporary accommodation costs for up to two years if your home isn’t liveable.

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Go to site
  • Promoted

    Contents Insurance

    Your contents might be some of the most precious things in your life, so consider getting cover that’s right for you, and protect the things that matter the most. Youi is contents insurance that’s a bit more you-shaped. Mozo People’s Outstanding Customer Satisfaction Home Insurance award winner in 2024

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Go to site
  • Promoted

    Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Go to site
  • Promoted

    Contents Insurance

    Get award-winning Contents Insurance at a price you can afford from Budget Direct. Save a huge 15% on your first year’s premium when you purchase a new Contents Insurance policy online.

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
      Optional Extra
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    Go to site
  • Home Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    Yes
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    No Partner link
  • Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    No Partner link
  • Home Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    No Partner link
  • Contents Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    No Partner link
  • Contents Extra Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    No Partner link
  • Apartment Insurance

    Main events covered
    • fire
      Fire
    • theft
      Theft
    • storm
      Storm
    • flood
      Flood
    Monthly payments cost extra
    Calendar icon
    No
    Underinsurance protection
    Underinsurance protection icon
    No
    New for old replacement
    Replacement icon
    Yes
    No Partner link
Showing 10 results from 38 home insurance policies

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Contents insurance

What is contents insurance?

Contents insurance is a type of home insurance that covers your personal belongings if they’re damaged, destroyed or stolen. Think clothes, electronics, appliances, jewellery, furniture and other furnishings like rugs, curtains and lamps.

It’s often bundled with building insurance in a combined policy called home and contents insurance, but you can also take out contents-only cover if needed. Just keep in mind contents-only insurance won’t cover the structure of your home itself.

Most contents insurance policies will repair, replace or pay you for damaged or stolen items, depending on the type of item, repair costs and whether a suitable replacement is available.

A standard policy usually only covers items inside your home, unless you add portable contents cover for protection outside your home.

When am I covered by contents insurance?

A standard contents insurance policy covers damage or loss from the events listed below. The ‘Contents’ column, highlighted with an orange border, shows what applies specifically to contents insurance, separate from building insurance:

Keep in mind that this table is just a general guideline, and cover can vary from policy to policy. For example, not all policies define floods, rainwater runoff and storm surges the same way. 

That’s why it’s important to brush up on the definitions in your policy’s product disclosure statement (PDS).

What does contents insurance cover?

Now that we’ve covered the events that can lead to a claim, let’s take a look at what’s actually covered, along with some key details for each category.

Coverage varies by policy, but most include the following:

CategoryExamplesCaveats
Electronics
TVs, laptops, gaming consoles, smartphones, tablets
Theft outside the home may require portable contents cover.
Appliances
Fridges, washing machines, microwaves, air conditioners
Mechanical breakdown is generally excluded unless motor burnout cover is added.
Furnishings & décor
Furniture, rugs, curtains, blinds, lamps, artwork, sculptures
High-value pieces like antiques may need to be listed separately.
Clothing, jewellery & accessories
Clothes, handbags, shoes, sunglasses, jewellery, watches
Jewellery and luxury items often have claim limits unless specifically listed.
Collections & valuables
Stamps, coins, memorabilia, antiques, gold, bullion
High-value collections may require additional cover.
Physical & digital files
Passports, birth certificates, purchased digital media, licensed software
Important documents are covered, but digital file recovery isn't included in most policies.
Cash
Cash stored in the home (subject to policy limits)
Payouts are typically capped at a low amount.
Sports & hobby equipment
Bicycles, golf clubs, cameras, musical instruments
Theft or damage outside the home often requires portable contents cover.
Tools & outdoor equipment
Power tools, toolboxes, lawnmowers, gardening gear
High-value tools may need specific cover; business-use tools may be excluded.
Medical & mobility equipment
Hearing aids, prosthetics, wheelchairs, CPAP machines
Some specialised medical equipment may need to be listed separately.
Children’s items
Prams, car seats, toys, school supplies
Accidental damage to prams, car seats, and toys may not be included.
Pet-related items
Pet beds, enclosures, aquariums, expensive pet gear
Pets themselves are not covered under contents insurance.
Luggage & travel gear
Suitcases, backpacks, travel accessories
Items lost or stolen while traveling may require portable contents cover or travel insurance.

What optional extras are available with contents insurance?

Most policies will give you the option to upgrade your cover with optional extras. These include:

  • Portable contents cover. Essentially, cover for portable items if you take them away from your home. Some policies split this into ‘listed’ and ‘unlisted’ portable items. Listed contents are covered individually and for their full value, whereas unlisted contents fall under an overall ‘per claim limit’.
  • High-value contents cover. If you own items that are worth more, such as luxury watches or artwork, this extra cover ensures those items have the protection required.
  • Accidental damage cover. Covers you for those moments when life happens in a way you weren’t expecting it to. Examples of accidental damage cover may include wine spills on the carpet or dropping your laptop.
  • Underinsurance protection. This can be handy in case you undervalue your contents. If a policy offers 30% underinsurance protection and you find that you’ve undervalued your possessions, your insurance provider may pay you up to 30% more than the sum stated in your policy.
  • Emergency accommodation. This generally covers some, or all, temporary accommodation costs, should your home become uninhabitable as the result of an insured event. This benefit is time restricted, such as 12 months.
  • Electrical motor burnout. This covers motor burnout for items, such as whitegoods, after power surges. Keep in mind, there may be an age limit for the appliance to be eligible.
  • Flood cover. Many insurance providers won’t automatically include this in a policy; you’ll need to get it added for a fee.

The policy add-ons available will vary from policy to policy. Whichever extras you add on, they’ll increase the cost of your premium.

How to calculate your insurance needs

Here are a few steps you can take when comparing contents insurance:

  • Make a list. Look around at your valued possessions and take stock of what you have. When writing up your list, include everything from furniture to your laptop.
  • Come up with a price. Try to put a value on your belongings. You’ll probably wind up with a rough estimate for items like clothing and an exact value for something like a laptop.
  • Prepare for the worst. Think about which events you are most likely to need insurance for, based on where you live. This could be insurance against flooding, bushfires or theft.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you should have a rough idea of what you want to insure, and for how much.

How can I save money on my contents cover?

The goal when searching for content insurance should be for you to find a competitive price while ensuring you have enough coverage for your needs.

Here are some ways that you can reduce your home contents insurance costs:

  • Shop around. Avoid the trap of auto renewing your policy. Insurance providers have regular deals for new customers to maximise by switching.
  • Secure your property. The more secure your property, the lower your premium might be. Measures can include installing locks on doors and windows, and setting up a security alarm or camera.
  • Multiple-policy discount. If you have more than one product with a provider, you could be eligible for a multi-policy discount. Even if you don't currently qualify for this discount, speak with your provider about what deals they can offer to tempt you to switch to them.
  • Flexible excess. You can reduce your insurance premium by opting for a higher excess. This means that, in the event of a claim, you’ll need to pay a higher upfront payment. But in return, your monthly insurance premiums may be cheaper.
  • Pay yearly. You usually have the option to pay monthly or yearly. Paying yearly can often land you a discount. 

How to compare contents insurance

Most contents insurance policies are very similar at a high level, but there are key differences that separate them. 

Here’s what to focus on when comparing your options:

  • Item limits and sub-limits. Every policy has limits on individual items and categories (e.g., jewellery, electronics, bikes), but the thresholds vary. Some policies offer higher automatic limits than others before requiring you to specify (and pay more to insure) high-value items.
  • Excess options. Some insurers have a wider range of excess choices than others, and this gives you more control over your premiums. A wider range means you can fine-tune the balance between what you pay upfront and what you’d owe in a claim.
  • Claims and customer service. Take a quick look at online reviews. Do customers say the insurer is easy to deal with, or is it a nightmare to get a claim paid? 
  • Premium and discounts. The insurance space has no shortage of discounts, including discounts for bundling policies (like building plus contents), installing security systems and purchasing your policy online.

Once these bases are covered, if you find more than one policy that fits the bill, then you can choose the one with the best price.

What isn’t covered by contents insurance?

Not everything is covered by contents insurance. Exclusions exist, and they generally fall into two categories: specific exclusions, which apply in certain situations or events, and general exclusions, which apply to things insurers won’t cover at all.

Here are a few examples of each. For the full list, check your PDS.

Specific exclusions

  • Waiting periods for disasters. Most won’t cover damage from predictable events like bushfires, floods and cyclones if they happen within the first 48 to 72 of taking out the policy.
  • Theft without forced entry. If there are no signs of forced entry, for example a thief got in through an unlocked door or an open window, some insurers won’t cover your stolen items.
  • Undocumented lightning damage. To claim for lightning damage, you often need to have evidence of lightning strikes in your area and/or written confirmation from a qualified repairer that the damage was caused by lightning. 

General exclusions

  • General wear and tear. Insurance covers sudden damage, not gradual wear and tear. 
  • Lack of maintenance. Most insurers will deny your claim if it’s due to lack of maintenance. For example, you neglect a leaky pipe that eventually bursts and fries your computer.
  • Vermin and pests. Related to the above, termites, rats and other pest infestations are usually due to lack of maintenance rather than sudden damage.
  • Actions of the sea. While tsunamis and storm surges are often covered, more naturally occurring actions of the sea like coastal erosion, tides and king tides are usually not covered. 
  • Illegal acts. You usually wont be covered if the damage is due to illegal activity undertaken by you or someone you’ve allowed into your home.
  • Structural defects. If your contents are damaged as a result of a structural defect in your home (like a sinking foundation), you most likely won’t be covered.
  • Unoccupied homes. Many insurers won’t cover your home if it’s left empty for too long (usually 60 days or more), unless you notify them first.

Some exclusions are obvious, others not so much. If you’re unsure about something, your PDS will have the details.

FAQs about contents insurance

How do I work out how much to insure my contents for?

Start by working out how much it would cost you to replace your possessions if they were damaged or stolen. Do some comparisons online to see how much it would cost you today to replace each item with something similar. 

Remember, some things may go up in price – for example, buying a new laptop might cost you more in two years’ time. Factor this in when working out the replacement value of all items; insure to this amount, not the amount you initially paid.

How can I find the best contents insurance?

If you’re in the market to find Australia’s best contents insurance, a great place to begin is by comparing the winners in the 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Awards in the Exceptional Value and Exceptional Quality categories. Our experts analysed the pricing and product data and determined these as the insurance policies offering the best price, range and features in the market.

What is new for old replacement cover?

This basically means that the insurer will replace your items with new ones even if your item was a few years old. They usually only do this if your item can’t be repaired or if the cost of repair would cost more than sourcing a new one for you from their supplier network. 

If you choose to turn down the offer to repair or replace your item, you can get a cash payout instead. But the amount will be based on what it would have cost through the insurer's supplier network, which means it might not be enough to cover the full cost if you decide to sort it out yourself. That’s because insurers often get discounts that you wouldn’t get on your own.

What if I want to insure something sentimental?

You can insure the financial value of sentimental items, but not what they mean to you. For example, items like jewellery can be covered for their dollar value, but no higher. Moreover, something like a letter from a loved one can’t really be insured, since its value lies solely in what it means to you.

What’s the difference between contents insurance and renters’ insurance?

Renters' insurance is essentially the same as contents insurance, just marketed differently. They usually share the same Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and cover similar things. The main difference is that renters' insurance sometimes includes extra benefits for tenants, like covering extra rent costs if you need to move out temporarily after an insured event.

Picture of brad-buzzard

Brad Buzzard

RG146
Senior Money Writer

Brad is a senior writer at Mozo, leading insurance and superannuation coverage. With a background in marketing analytics, he brings a research-driven approach to his work, ensuring content is clear, accurate and genuinely useful. Brad dives deep into topics, using the writing process to refine his understanding and deliver well-researched, polished content.

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Home insurance customer reviews

RACQ Home Insurance
Overall 5/10
Very competive cover

Good comprehensive insurance great customer service

Read full review

Good comprehensive insurance great customer service

Value for money
3/10
Policy coverage
9/10
Customer service
5/10
Claims handling
5/10
Trust
5/10
Less
Jarrad, Queensland, reviewed about 12 hours ago
RAC Home & Contents Insurance
Overall 9/10
RAC Home Insurance is a solid choice for people

Certainly! Here's a sample review for RAC Home Insurance: --- I recently had the opportunity to use RAC Home Insurance, and my experience has been a mix of positives and areas for improvement. On the bright side, RAC offers a variety of policy options, including building, contents, and combined home and contents insurance. They also provide additional benefits for members, such as discounts on retail and other services, which is a nice touch. The claims process, however, seems to be a point of contention among customers. While some have praised the quick and efficient handling of claims, others have reported delays and dissatisfaction with claim outcomes. It's worth noting that RAC has received recognition for its customer satisfaction in Western Australia, which speaks to its efforts to provide quality service. Overall, RAC Home Insurance is a solid choice for WA residents, especially those looking for comprehensive coverage and member benefits. However, it's always a good idea to review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and compare options to ensure it meets your specific needs.

Read full review

Certainly! Here's a sample review for RAC Home Insurance: --- I recently had the opportunity to use RAC Home Insurance, and my experience has been a mix of positives and areas for improvement. On the bright side, RAC offers a variety of policy options, including building, contents, and combined home and contents insurance. They also provide additional benefits for members, such as discounts on retail and other services, which is a nice touch. The claims process, however, seems to be a point of contention among customers. While some have praised the quick and efficient handling of claims, others have reported delays and dissatisfaction with claim outcomes. It's worth noting that RAC has received recognition for its customer satisfaction in Western Australia, which speaks to its efforts to provide quality service. Overall, RAC Home Insurance is a solid choice for WA residents, especially those looking for comprehensive coverage and member benefits. However, it's always a good idea to review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and compare options to ensure it meets your specific needs.

Value for money
8/10
Policy coverage
9/10
Customer service
10/10
Trust
6/10
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Dana, Western Australia, reviewed about 12 hours ago
Youi Home Insurance
Overall 9/10
5* Australian customer service

Excellent Australian customer service every time I've called them and call is answered promptly. They also price matched quotes. Big thumbs up!

Read full review

Excellent Australian customer service every time I've called them and call is answered promptly. They also price matched quotes. Big thumbs up!

Value for money
8/10
Policy coverage
10/10
Customer service
10/10
Trust
8/10
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Sarzo, Queensland, reviewed 7 days ago

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