What is proof of purchase?
Key takeaways
You’ll often need to prove that you own an item to be able to claim for it on your insurance
If you don't have the receipt you can use bank statements, packaging and photographs
If you can't prove purchase your insurer may pay out less than the items are worth

What is proof of purchase or proof of ownership?
To make a contents insurance claim, you’ll often need to provide proof of purchase – or at least proof of ownership – of your valuables. This is evidence that the items you are claiming for:
belong to you
are worth the amount you are claiming for
Home insurance companies say that asking for proof of purchase or ownership helps them prevent false or exaggerated claims.
Do I need proof of purchase to claim on my home contents insurance?
Yes, you may have to provide proof of purchase to make a home contents insurance claim. You’ll also have to provide a list of your damaged belongings, even if you don’t have proof of ownership for every item.
Some insurers state in their policy wording that you can only make a claim for an item if you can provide the sales receipt. That said, you can usually claim without the original receipt, as long as you have some other proof of ownership, such as a bank statement recording the purchase.
If your insurer insists on seeing a purchase receipt, try asking the retailer you bought the item from if it can give you another copy.
How can I show proof of purchase without a receipt?
There are ways to prove ownership of an item without providing the original purchase receipt or voucher. These include:
A bank or credit card statement showing the purchase
An email receipt or online account proving the purchase
A serial number or voucher which shows confirmation of the sale
A warranty or guarantee
A valuation certificate
A photograph (ideally showing the item in your home and the date – for example on a daily newspaper)
How can I show proof of ownership for a gift or heirloom?
If you received a valuable item, such as a necklace, as a gift, you probably won’t have the purchase receipt for it. However you may be able to prove ownership in the following ways:
Asking the person who gave it to you if they kept the receipt or have a confirmation email of this (or have a bank or credit card statement showing the purchase)
Finding the original packaging, serial number or owner’s manual
Looking back through your photos for any images showing you with the item
A valuation certificate is another way to prove ownership of a gift or inherited item. If you have family heirlooms or valuable jewellery or art, you should get them valued regularly to avoid missing out on any increase in value and get the valuation done by a member of a reputable organisation, such as the Institute of Registered Valuers.
What happens if I need to make a claim without proof of purchase?
If you don’t have proof of ownership for an item, you may still receive a payout, but it will be based on the average cost to replace the item in question.
Being able to provide proof of purchase, or proof of ownership, can therefore make a big difference to the amount of money you receive if you have to make a claim – especially if your item was worth more than the average amount.
If you have lots of valuables, you may be better off with high-value contents insurance.
What happens if my insurer rejects my claim?
If your insurer rejects your claim because you don’t have proof of purchase, you can take your dispute to the free Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), which can order it to pay the claim if it decides in your favour.
However, the FOS won’t take on your case unless you have exhausted the insurer’s complaints procedure first.
What do I need to make a claim on my contents insurance?
Keeping hold of the receipts – either paper or those in a confirmation email – for expensive purchases is one of the best ways to ensure you will be able to claim for them if necessary.
Other practical steps you can take include:
Taking an inventory of your home contents (and increasing your contents cover accordingly if necessary)
Taking photos of your valuables (ideally marked with the date and showing the condition of the items)
Using your mobile phone to take a quick video of the contents of your home
Keeping hold of your old bank and credit card statements – in case you need them to prove a purchase
How soon can I claim on contents insurance?
It's best to make a claim as soon as you can if an incident occurs, especially if you're claiming for a lost or stolen item. Your insurer may set time limits on how long you can make a claim after you realise something is missing or damaged too.
You should be able to make a claim as soon as your policy begins, but check with your insurance provider.
Can I opt for cash instead of a replacement item?
Home insurance policies are designed to return you to the same situation you were in prior to the incident that prompted your claim. But it’s up to insurers how they do this.
While some companies offer a cash settlement to cover the cost of replacing or repairing the belongings in question, others arrange for the repairs to be done or provide you with a replacement. The terms vary from one policy to another.
How can I find cheap contents insurance?
If you want to protect your personal belongings and items in your home, it's a good idea to get contents insurance.
Contents insurance protects your belongings if your home is burgled, or your belongings are damaged in a flood or a fire. You can buy it as a single policy, or get it as part of a combined buildings and contents policy.
And if you already have contents insurance, you could consider adding an optional extra to your plan, such as away-from-home or accidental damage cover.
Comparing home insurance with MoneySuperMarket is a quick and easy way to find affordable cover for your home. Just tell us a bit about yourself, your property and its occupants, and the cover you need – and we’ll search the market for a list of quotes tailored to your needs.