Ensure your festival fun is covered this summer

Whether it's the Isle of Wight Festival this weekend, or Glastonbury at the end of the month, moneysupermarket.com urges all Brits to ensure their possessions are covered while away from the home this summer.

Insuring your possessions

With hundreds of thousands of summer festival revellers happy to fork out for tickets to see their favourite acts perform, theft, loss or damage to possessions will be the last things on people's minds. However, research from the price comparison site found cover for personal possessions away from the home can be tagged on to home contents insurance for a small added cost. With Barclaycard for example, standalone home contents insurance will cost £69, but for an extra £30 Brits can have the peace of mind of knowing they are also covered for up to £1000 worth of personal possessions.

Steve Sweeney, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com said: "Festivals are a hub of activity in the summer months, and unfortunately that means an opportunity for thieves to prey on unsuspecting Brits. Tents can be left unguarded for hours at a time, so while it's essential not to leave valuables lying around, it is also important to check your insurance will cover you if necessary. At Glastonbury last year for example, police reported a 50 per cent increase in crimes compared with the previous year, and warned festival goers of the sharp rise in thefts from their tents. If you are unfortunate enough to be a victim of theft, many home contents policies will cover you for items such as your mobile phone, ipod or camera if you are away from home for at very little cost. My advice is this is money well spent - a small price to pay for peace of mind to enjoy your time away.

"For those combining a festival experience with a summer holiday, at the Benicassim in Spain this July for example, Brits should also think about travel insurance. This doesn't need to be a costly addition for travellers, cover for a couple for a week in Spain is available from providers like Insurewithease and Top Dog for under £10. As always, checking the small print of a policy is crucial to ensure it is right for you."

Motor breakdown

Motorists getting behind the wheel to reach their chosen festival this year could also benefit from having motor breakdown cover in place. In the unfortunate event that your car does break down whilst on the road, having the right cover in place could ensure you don't miss out on all the fun. Breakdown cover can be added on to existing motor insurance cover for as little as £30 with RescueMyCar.com which also includes caravan cover .

Steve Sweeney continued: "Motor breakdown cover can prove an essential add on for any motorist - the last thing you need when you are off to enjoy a weekend of fun is to be stuck at the side of the road. As with all insurance policies, I would advise motorists and festival goers alike to check their insurance policies carefully so they know exactly what they are and aren't covered for."

moneysupermarket.com's top tips for festival fun:

Keep your most valuable possessions with you at all times, and stick together in groups - you are less likely to be a target of mugging or theft. But don't keep all your money in one pocket.

Don't take expensive clothing or jewellery - you won't need them! And consider taking a disposable camera, to cut down on risk of damage, loss or theft.

Avoid sliding in the mud or swimming in the large pools of water, due to risk of e-coli infection, as seen in the mini outbreak at the Glastonbury Festival of 1997, or even dysentery.

Don't make your pitch at the bottom of a hill, since rainwater (and much worse) could end up streaming its way into your tent.

Look at whether your credit card offers you any form of protection for accommodation or travel cancellation.