If you’ve ever worried about the financial hit that you, or a partner, stand to sustain if a handbag gets lost or stolen… then be prepared to be amazed at their average value
First: a little bit of social history. The first recorded users of “handbags”, going back almost two centuries, were actually gentlemen – the term referring to men’s hand-luggage or bags for small personal items. It wasn’t until the early 20thcentury that ladies decided to get in on the act with their own, larger bags.
Men will often be surprised, even stunned, at just what can actually be stowed away in a lady’s handbags… but what is the actual value of the contents?
Aviva has gone to the trouble of finding out, using data from insurance claims. According to them, the average value of a handbag and its contents has increased by 34% over the last four years, with claim values rising from £1,217 in 2021 to £1,633 in 2025.
Their data also reveals just under half (49%) of handbag thefts take place away from home, while accidental damage accounts for over a third (38%) of all handbag claims.
The reason for the rise in claims value is put down to a possible investment in more expensive handbags and valuables, because theft levels remain consistent.
Of course, averages are just that… because not all handbags are equal. And the claim for one of the highest value handbags and its contents came to over £20,000 – with thieves stealing a designer handbag that also included a high-value watch, sunglasses and expensive jewellery.
Other example claims include:
- Misplaced handbags on kitchen hobs, almost leading to a fire
- Feet getting caught in the handles, ripping the bag apart
- Countless snatched bags while dining out – right from under the claimant’s nose – and while cars were being loaded or unloaded
- Smaller items such as jewellery, air pods, keys and phones pick-pocketed from handbags
- Spilled drinks from wine, water and coffee, damaging the material of the handbag
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Carolyn Scott, Head of Home and Travel Underwriting at Aviva: “It’s amazing how much we carry around in our handbags, from gadgets – such as phones and tablets – to more personal items such as jewellery, sunglasses and beauty products. The value of these items can soon add up, with our data showing that the average handbag claim has increased by over a third in recent years.
“The jump in claims costs could also – in part – be explained by a possible increase in people investing in more expensive handbags, which can run into the hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
“While home policies will provide a basic level of cover for handbags as part of your contents in your home, it’s worth considering optional Personal Belongings cover, which will protect your possessions anywhere in the world. You could also consider taking out Accidental Damage, which would provide cover for spills and rips that happen in the home.”
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