16.4million drivers could be making a costly Christmas mistake

On average, people in the UK are expected to spend £180¹ on presents for family and friends this Christmas. At the same time, a MoneySuperMarket survey found that 41% of UK drivers reported leaving presents in their car overnight.

With 40 million licensed vehicles across the UK, that’s around 16.4 million drivers putting their gifts at risk².

Drivers should be aware that their car insurance won't be able to help them if their gifts are stolen from their car overnight. Car insurance might cover the cost of replacing a broken window if a thief uses force to break into your car, but it won't cover the theft or damage of any items left in vehicles unattended.

Some comprehensive car insurance policies may offer cover for stolen possessions in a car, but this usually applies when the vehicle itself is stolen with valuable items inside.

So, it's for the best that drivers to avoid the risk altogether and store their gifts somewhere safe and out of sight.

Thankfully, while car insurance won't cover presents, home contents insurance can. The right home insurance policy can protect your Christmas gifts from theft or damage if you keep them safely in the home.

Some policies may even offer extra cover around Christmas time to account for the added value to your home's contents during the festive season.

Just make sure your presents are kept inside the home and not in a shed or garage, that the home is secure, and that you are careful of what you share online. Check your policy terms or speak to your provider to find out what your policy covers.

Tips to keep your presents safe

• Never store your presents in your car overnight.

• If you need to leave gifts in your car for a short time, for instance, when you’re out shopping, always make sure they’re out of sight and the vehicle is locked.

• Where possible, always try to park in a well-lit, secure parking area.

Alicia Hempsted
Insurance Expert

Know what your insurance covers

No one wants the Christmas period spoiled by theft, but sadly this is a peak time of year for opportunistic criminals. Leaving presents or shopping bags in your vehicle unattended, even for a short time, could make you a target.

Standard car insurance policies don’t usually cover items, including gifts, stolen from your vehicle, so it pays to take extra precautions. 

Avoid leaving gifts in your car overnight, as thefts are more common after dark. When shopping, keep purchases out of sight - ideally locked in the boot - and whenever possible, choose a well-lit, secure parking area.

^{Sources
MoneySuperMarket conducted a survey of 2,002 car owners (aged 17+) via Censuswide, between 17th - 20th October 2025.}

<sup>1. MoneySuperMarket’s analysis on the Cost of Christmas (Research conducted by Censuswide surveying 1500 adults in June 2025, the cost of Christmas was predicted using the Bank of England Inflation Calculator to estimate how much the average cost of UK household spent on Christmas 2024 would increase for 2025.)
2. 40 million licensed vehicles, according to Department For Transport</sup>