Insurance experts warn against using this 'clever' Christmas present hiding place
5 million Brits hide Christmas presents in their car boots, putting gifts at risk
A new survey from Go.Compare has found that more than one in nine Brits (11%)* - approximately 5 million nationwide** - plan to hide Christmas presents in their car boot this year, putting potentially millions of pounds worth of gifts at risk of theft.
While most people stash presents in cupboards or wardrobes (40%), under the bed (17%), under the Christmas tree (16%) or just don’t hide them at all (20%), a surprising 11% use their car as a hiding place, and 10% even stash presents at other people's houses.
Although it might seem like a great hiding space, and one that family members are less likely to spot things in, unless you have personal possessions cover, gifts stored in the car may not be covered by car insurance or home insurance, meaning stolen presents would need to be replaced out of pocket.
|
Hiding spot |
% of Brits who hide presents there |
|
In cupboards or wardrobes |
40% |
|
Under the bed |
17% |
|
Under the Christmas tree |
16% |
|
In the boot of the car |
11% |
|
In the attic |
11% |
|
At someone else's house |
10% |
|
In a shed or outbuilding |
5% |
|
I don't hide/store Christmas presents |
20% |
Tom Banks, Go.Compare Car Insurance Expert, said: “Hiding presents in the car might seem convenient, especially if you have curious kids at home, but it can be a costly mistake - because your insurance policy isn’t guaranteed to cover you for the cost of presents lost if your car is stolen. While the level of cover varies for comprehensive policies, if you’ve opted for fire and theft or Third Party Only (TPO), you likely won’t have any personal possessions cover at all.
“Ultimately, hiding presents in your car isn’t worth the risk. It’s always safer to bring presents inside and store them somewhere out of sight, like the the 40% of people who hide gifts away in cupboards or wardrobes.”
The experts at Go.Compare have also put together their top tips for protecting Christmas presents as Tom Banks shares:
- “Keep presents indoors and out of sight: Cupboards, wardrobes and high shelves are much safer than the boot of a car.
- “Avoid leaving gifts in vehicles even for short periods of time: Thefts peak during December and opportunistic thieves will target boots and back seats, even in car parks so be vigilant.
- “Check if your home insurance includes personal possessions cover: This insurance add on covers items outside the home but isn’t usually included as standard. If you’re someone who regularly travels with valuables then it could be worth looking into.
- “If you are travelling, store presents in the boot only when necessary: Move them indoors as soon as you arrive.
- “Photograph receipts and serial numbers where possible: This can make claims easier if anything does get stolen.”
To find out more information about personal possessions cover on your car insurance, please visit: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/guide/personal-possessions-cover/
//ENDS//
Contact Information
Rosie Johns
Notes to editors
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,001 UK Nationally Representative Consumers aged 18+. The data was collected between 04.11.2025 – 07.11.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
**UK adult population is 47,205,302 according to Census 2021. Data from Office for National Statistics. 11% = 5,192,583 million Brits
For further information please contact:
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About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.