Brits carry more than £500 worth of belongings each day, but many aren’t insured

Ahead of the Six Nations Super Saturday, new research from Go.Compare has revealed that on average, Brits carry more than £500 (£534) worth of belongings on a typical day out, like match‑day trips to the rugby.* Yet, many are leaving themselves financially exposed. 

The survey found that, on average, Brits carry an estimated £533.81 of items during the day and £510.83 on a night out. For some, the value is far higher: 12%** say they carry over £1,000 worth of belongings on the average day out, despite more than a third of Brits not having personal possessions cover to protect them if something goes missing. 

Across all respondents: 

• 37% of Brits have no personal possessions cover 

• 11% aren’t sure if they have personal possessions insurance cover 

From smartphones and smartwatches to wallets, bank cards and keys, the value adds up quickly and without the right insurance in place, losing any of these could leave fans seriously out of pocket. 

Big sporting occasions such as Six Nations match-days mean crammed trains, shoulder‑to‑shoulder pubs and fast‑moving crowds. It’s a perfect combination for smashed screens, lost wallets and misplaced bags. 

Yet, many people assume their belongings are automatically protected by home insurance, which is often not the case. Cover for personal possessions outside the home is usually an optional extra, not a standard feature. 

Expert warning 

Nathan Blackler, home insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: 

“People are often shocked when they add up the true value of what they’re carrying — your phone alone can be worth £800 or more. But not all home insurance policies include cover for items outside the home as standard; it’s often an optional add‑on. That means if something goes missing during a busy match day, you might have to replace it yourself. 

“To clear up a common confusion, here’s the difference between personal possessions cover and gadget insurance, and when each can help: 

• Personal possessions cover (part of home insurance): Covers a wide range of belongings, like jewellery, watches, wallets, handbags, headphones, laptops and more, when you’re away from home. It typically protects against loss, theft and accidental damage outside the home. Most policies have single‑item limits (often around £1,000) unless you list higher‑value items separately. It’s usually an optional extra you add to your contents policy 

• Gadget insurance (a standalone policy): Focuses on tech devices like smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and laptops. It often includes accidental damage (e.g., cracked screens), liquid damage, theft and sometimes mechanical breakdown, with worldwide cover in many cases. Excesses are typically separate from your home insurance, which can help you avoid claiming on your home policy for smaller tech mishaps. 

“As a rule of thumb: if you carry a mix of items day‑to‑day, personal possessions cover is a good all‑rounder. If your phone or laptop is your biggest risk, or you want features like same‑day replacements or worldwide protection, gadget insurance can be a smart add‑on. Whatever you choose, check the excess, single‑item limits, and any exclusions before you head out.” 

Go.Compare’s home‑insurance experts recommend checking: 

• Whether your policy includes personal possessions cover outside the home 

• The single‑item limit, to avoid being under‑insured on high‑value items 

• If high‑value gadgets (e.g., phones, smartwatches, laptops) require separate gadget insurance or specific item listing 

Fans can find more guidance in the Go.Compare WRU match‑day insurance guide: https://www.gocompare.com/sponsorship/wru/match-day-insurance-guide/