What Is Period of Insurance?
insuranceThe specific time frame during which your insurance policy provides cover. Claims can only be made for events that occur within this period.
Understanding Your Period of Insurance
The period of insurance is the window of time during which your policy is active and you are covered. For most home insurance policies in Australia, this is a 12-month period from the commencement date shown on your certificate of insurance.
The period of insurance matters because your insurer will only accept claims for events that occurred during the active policy period. If storm damage occurs one day after your policy has lapsed, you have no cover.
Key Points About Your Policy Period
- •Your policy starts and ends on the dates shown on your certificate of insurance or renewal schedule.
- •Renewals are not automatic with all insurers — some require you to actively accept the renewal to continue cover.
- •If you change insurers mid-year, ensure there is no gap between the old policy ending and the new policy starting.
- •Some claims — particularly for gradual damage — require the cause to have commenced within the policy period, even if it was not discovered until later.
- •Catastrophe events may trigger special provisions allowing extended notification periods.
Always check your renewal dates and set a reminder to review your policy before it expires. A lapse in cover — even for a single day — can leave you exposed to significant financial risk.
How Oxide Handles This
At Oxide Construct, our technology-driven approach to insurance repair means period of insurance is handled transparently. Track your claim in real-time through our platform, with a dedicated assessor as your single point of contact throughout the process.
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Written by the Oxide Construct team. Licensed builders (CDB-U 76013), HIA & MBA members.