Antique Insurance

With Rivr you do not need a standalone antiques policy. Antiques sit under your high value contents cover as “fine art and antiques”, alongside the rest of your household possessions. They are insured for “all risks of physical loss or damage” at home and anywhere in the world, up to the sums insured and single-item limits shown on your schedule.

For policy purposes, antiques are grouped under “fine art and antiques”. This includes collectable furniture, silverware, ceramics, porcelain and china, glassware, clocks, barometers, sculptures, rugs, tapestries, books, manuscripts, coins, medals and similar items of special, high quality or artistic merit that form part of a collection. Jewellery and watches are covered separately under their own category.

You can insure contents (including fine art and antiques) up to £500,000 with Rivr. Within that, unspecified fine art and antiques are covered up to £25,000 per item, pair or set, and higher-value pieces can be specified individually so they are insured at an agreed value, with market appreciation up to 150% where a current valuation exists.

Yes. rivr’s contents cover is worldwide as standard, so your antiques are protected at home and abroad, subject to the sums insured and policy conditions. They’re also covered during professional removals and short-term storage to a new UK home, and there is specific cover available for antiques kept in permanent commercial storage, with percentage limits and some exclusions set out in the wording.

Yes. Newly acquired possessions, including antiques, are automatically covered for up to 25% of your contents sum insured for 60 days, as long as you tell Rivr within that period so your schedule and sums insured can be updated. That gives you time to buy, value and add new pieces without gaps in cover.

You don’t need a valuation for every lower-value piece, but current professional valuations are strongly recommended for higher-value items and anything you want to specify individually. They help set accurate sums insured, reduce the risk of underinsurance, and are required for Rivr to apply market appreciation cover (up to 150% of the specified sum insured) on fine art and antiques at claim stage.

You should have enough cover to replace everything in your home, including items you take out with you. A good approach is to walk through your home room by room and estimate the value of everything as per room (both visible and stored items). This includes:

Furniture, curtains, and rugs

Electronics (phones, laptops, TVs, etc.)

White goods, cutlery, crockery, pots & pans

Clothing, shoes, books, trinkets, and sports equipment

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Think in terms of a worst-case scenario. What would it cost to replace everything today?

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Important: Valuable items such as jewellery, watches, fine art, antiques, collectibles, and guns are not included in the general contents sum insured, these items are covered under a separate section of the same policy.