Travel insurance cars

If you want an insurance policy that covers theft of your personal items from inside the car, a travel insurance policy with “ personal effects” coverage is likely the only option. Squaremouth Travel Insurance, among others, offers coverage.
www.InsureMyTrip.com

"Homeowners and auto insurance does not cover international travel... "

Maybe yes, maybe not. I believe my homeowners insurance actually does (though I was surprised to find that).

Google appears to think so, too:

Q: "Does homeowners insurance cover items stolen from a rented car in foreign countries?"

A: "Yes, homeowners insurance policies typically include coverage for personal items stolen from a car, even if the car is rented and the theft occurs in a foreign country. This coverage is usually part of the "off-premises coverage," which applies to your personal property while it's away from your home. "

That said, I would not necessarily believe google. Check your own policy.

Disclaimer: I rent cars overseas all the time. I never, ever buy extra insurance, always relying on the perfectly good insurance that's provided by my credit card. I have saved MANY thousands of dollars over the years doing this. I am aware that it appears many here think this is outrageous and/or crazy. YMMV.

&David from Seattle, , I also just rely on my credit card’s car rental coverage. I have a USAA credit card that automatically covers theft protection in case the car is stolen and zero-deductible collision coverage. An added bonus is that it is primary—not secondary— coverage.
Usually the car rental agencies ( at least so far in Spain & Norway) are legally required to provide liability and fire protection— and that means I’m fully covered when I reserve the car with that credit card.
Yippee!

I use credit card insurance, free, the Chase Visa cards have usually good policies. You could do the Amex premium policy, the $25 one, that also includes medical for car crash injuries, it’s a bit awkward to activate. Also a warning that using credit card insurance with AutoEurope (the car rental middleman) is tricky.

Aside to Kenko: the primary/secondary thing is only a consideration for domestic rentals, it doesn’t come into play overseas.

I guess I don’t normally bother with theft from the vehicle since documentation of the loss and receipts or pictures of the stolen items wouldn’t be worth the bother. I am sure my homeowners does cover theft overseas, after paying the $2000 deductible of course.

Toby, Yes—I have to phone USAA for the one-page letter that verifies I have the coverage AutoEurope’s clients (Hertz,Sixt,Avis,Budget etc.) require.
They review the letter at the car rental desk and I’m off the hook for being required to buy the rental agency’s (inflated) policy.

Actually I was talking about how AutoEurope’s charges are not coded as a car rental (they code like a travel agent tour) so it would be a bother to link the charge to a car rental for the credit card company to initiate the insurance.

Repeating again after a bad experience I don’t recommend AutoEurope or use them, however they are considered the bee’s knees by many so that’s why bringing them up.

I read the OP to be asking about theft of stuff in the car, not theft of the car itself.

Two entirely different things.

Read your homeowner’s policy to see what is covered. It very likely has a specified dollar amount much less than the “Personal Property “ limit shown on the policy coverage face sheet, when the property is away from the Insured Premises
Certain kinds of personal property may have specified limits as well.