rac travel insurance

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• United Kingdom

RAC Travel Insurance

Our verdict: rac travel insurance has high limits and broad cover, particularly for covid-19, financial default, and legal liability..

In this guide

Summary of RAC Travel Insurance International Comprehensive policy

How does rac travel insurance cover covid-19, what policies does rac offer, here's a breakdown of rac travel insurance features, standard features, optional add-ons, how to make an rac travel insurance claim, here's the bottom line about rac travel insurance, frequently asked questions, request travel insurance quotes and compare policies.

Destinations

• RAC offers up to $10,000 protection against financial default, which is one of the rarer benefits within travel insurance.
• A broad range of risks related to COVID-19 are covered, with the RAC among the most comprehensive in the market.
• Pregnancy is not covered after the 25th week and multiple pregnancies require a medical evaluation at any stage.
• Although RAC's COVID-19 cover is broad, it's capped at $3,500 which could leave some travellers out of pocket.

Compare other options

Table updated October 2023

RAC offers a broad range of cover for risks related to COVID-19. Here's what you can expect:

• Overseas medical, hospital, and emergency expenses if you contract COVID-19.
• Cancellation fees and lost deposits if you have to cancel or cut short your trip due to a COVID-19 related event outside of your control.
• Cancellation fees and lost deposits if you or a travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 and you have to cancel or rearrange your trip
• Relevant costs if a close relative or business partner is hospitalised or dies due to COVID-19 and you have to cancel, reschedule or return home early.
• Relevant costs if you are permanently employed as a healthcare worker and your pre-approved leave is cancelled due to COVID-19.
• Relevant costs if a pre-paid tour is cancelled due to your tour guide contracting COVID-19
• Relevant costs if you're not permitted to board scheduled public transport due to you being suspected of having COVID-19
• Relevant costs if your accommodation is closed due to an outbreak of COVID-19 or necessary cleaning due to COVID-19
• Childcare costs if you're unable to take care of your dependant children due to contracting COVID-19 on your trip.
• Pet care costs if you're unable to return home on your scheduled date due to contracting COVID-19 on your trip.
• Transport of your remains or funeral costs if you die as a result of COVID-19 during your trip.

There are some scenarios that are not covered by RAC including costs if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 before heading on your trip but went anyway.

RAC offers five insurance policies to travellers. Comprehensive, Essentials, Medical Only, Annual Multi-Trip, and Domestic.

Comprehensive

Medical Only

Annual Multi-Trip

The insurer of this product is Tokio Marine & Nichido. It comes with a cooling-off period of 21 days and choice of $250 standard excess for international plans.

These are some of the main insured events that RAC will cover. Some of these benefits may only apply on the Comprehensive International policy.

• Overseas medical treatment
• Lost, damaged or stolen property
• Trip cancellation or amendment
• Additional accommodation and transport
• Rental vehicle excess
• Theft of money
• Luggage and travel delay
• Emergency dental costs
• Kidnap and hijack
• Personal liability
• Permanent disability
• Accidental death

RAC also offers some add-ons that provide cover for a wider range of risks.

• Ski and Winter Sports Cover. Extend your policy to include snow spots and get protection for specific risks such as piste closure, lost lift pass, or avalanche.
• Cruise Cover Extends your insurance policy to cover cruises.

Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn't cover everything. Generally, RAC will not pay your claim if it relates to:

• Unlawful, wreckless or unreasonably unsafe behaviour by you
• Behaviour while you were drunk or under the influence of drugs
• Expenses related to a pre-existing medical condition not listed on your policy
• An act of war, invasion or revolution
• You being unfit to travel or travelling against medical advice
• Childbirth or pregnancy complications after the 25th week of gestation
• A multiple pregnancy without a medical assesment
• An elective medical or dental treatment , cosmetic procedure or body modification (including tattoos or piercing)
• Self-inflicted injury or illness, suicide or attempted suicide

Make sure you review the RAC PDS for a detailed breakdown of what won't be covered, found under its list of general exclusions .

The quickest way to lodge your claim is online. You'll need to register with the email address you used to purchase your policy. Once registered, set up your password and complete your claim details by answering all sections.

Once submitted, your claim will be assessed within 10 working days.

Alternatively, you can call RAC on 1300 209 352 or email RAC at [email protected].

RAC offers strong protection across the board, at a reasonable price point.

In regards to COVID-19, a wide range of scenarios are covered but claims are capped at $3,500 which could leave some travellers out of pocket.

Lots of adventure activities, and even scooter and motorbike riding, are covered as standard, which is good news for many adrenaline-fueled but budget-conscious travellers. However, there's no option to add a specific adventure pack so be sure to check exactly which activities are covered and any requirements attached.

If you're still not sure about RAC Travel Insurance, you can compare other travel insurance companies here .

Are my children covered by RAC travel insurance?

Your children and your grandchildren are covered for free if they are 25 years old or younger, are financially dependent on their parents, are not working full time, do not require a medical assessment, are travelling with you the whole time, and are listed on the certificate of insurance.

Is there an age limit for RAC travel insurance?

No, as long as you're over 18 and meet the other requirements listed in the PDS, you can get cover..

Does RAC cover cruises?

RAC does not offer specific cruise cover. If you are going on a cruise which stops at other countries, you will need to select International Cover and list each country where the cruise stops.

Use a comma or space to separate ages. Add kids under the age of 1 by typing a “0” 0 traveller(s)

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Nicola Middlemiss

Nicola Middlemiss is a contributing writer at Finder, with a special interest in personal finance and insurance. Formerly a business and finance journalist, Nicola has written thousands of articles helping Australians better understand insurance and grow their personal wealth. She has contributed to a wide range of publications, including Domain, the Educator, Financy, Fundraising and Philanthropy, Insurance Business, MoneyMag, Mortgage Professional, Yahoo Finance, Your Investment Property, and Wealth Professional. Nicola has a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Leeds.

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Amendment or Cancellation cost: If a close family member got very sick and I decided not to go on trip, would the policy cover this

Thanks for your question.

Your cancellation will depend on your policy exclusions stated with RAC. If you were aware of any reason, before your period of insurance commenced, that may cause your trip to be cancelled, you may not be covered.

The exact definition of a relative for each travel insurance policy will vary from insurers. Moreover, there are many policies that will cover you for amendment and cancellation costs due to family emergencies.

Please make sure to read the eligibility criteria, features and details of the policy, as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements before making a decision and consider whether the product is right for you. If necessary, speak to the insurance brand to verify any details.

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Travel insurance

RAC Comprehensive review

One trip policy..

This is the provider of the insurance product and correlates with the Financial Services Provider (FSP) as registered with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority. You can look up your insurer's provider in the AFCA comparative tables to see how common it is for consumers to bring a travel insurance dispute to AFCA about them.

In years (up to and including the number stated). For policies listed as '100+', there is no age limit.

Maximum age for dependants listed on the policy. In years (up to and including the number stated).

Does the policy list pre-existing medical conditions that are automatically covered.

Does the policy cover pre-existing medical conditions that are not listed as automatic cover on the policy (on application and subject to approval)

The lower the number, the better. It's the time period before booking your trip that a medical condition would be covered if you've had no symptoms,  medication or treatment (as long as that condition isn't specifically excluded). If for example, your condition last showed symptoms 18 months ago, but the time period here is 12 months, then you'll be covered subject to the other conditions of the policy.

Are claims covered that arise from pregnancy or pregnancy complications?

Until which stage pregnancy is covered for single births (up to and including).

Are medical costs covered for the mother if childbirth occurs up to the maximum pregancy stage

Limit for medical and emergency evacuation and repatriation expenses for illness or injury.

Expenses for an accompanying person such as a member of the travelling party, a friend or a close relative (not necessarily listed as insured on the certificate of insurance) to travel to the sick policyholder overseas, remain with them in hospital and accompany them home during an emergency repatriation.

Daily hospital cash allowance per person.

Minimum number of hours the insured must be continuously hospitalised before receiving the hospital cash allowance.

Limit for dental as a result of an accident.

Limit for dental as a result of sudden and acute pain.

Limit for overseas funeral costs and the return of mortal remains per deceased person, in the event of the death of the policy holder. There may be a separate limit for 'return of mortal remains' and 'overseas funeral costs', so check the policy terms for more details.

Limit for additional accommodation and travel expenses if the policy holder cannot travel due to injury or sickness.

The limit for additional travel expenses per person if travel is interrupted by an insured event (not including injury or sickness as that is covered separately under 'Additional travel expenses for injury or sickness'). Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for additional travel expenses per person if travel is interrupted due to a lost or stolen passport or travel documents. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether or not the policy covers you for additional accommodation and travel expenses if you need to curtail travel due to the serious illness or injury of a relative at home. May be subject to assessment of pre-existing conditions for the relative.

Limit for resumption of a journey interrupted due to the serious illness, injury or death of a relative. May be subject to assessment of pre-existing conditions for the relative. Check the policy terms for more details. 'Cancellation cover chosen' means variable cover options are available.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation or amendment expenses.

Limit for cancellation or amendment expenses. 'Cover chosen' means variable cover options are available.

Limit for cancellation expenses for transportation bought using frequent flyer points.

Limit for travel agent cancellation fees.

Whether the policy covers you for losses arising out of insolvency of a travel services provider (e.g. airline, accomodation provider, bus line, shipping line, railway company, motor vehicle rental agency). Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to insolvency of a travel agent. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to unexpected/involuntary retrenchment. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to cancellation of pre-arranged leave from work for members of the Defence Force and Federal, State or Territory Emergency Services. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy covers you for cancellation expenses due to cancellation of pre-arranged leave from work for non-emergency services occupations. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Are stolen or damaged personal belongings covered

The overall limit for stolen or damaged personal belongings.

Limit for a single unspecified item.

Limit per item for a video or photo camera. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for a laptop or tablet. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for a smartphone. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for any prescribed medications. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Overall limit for specified items, available for an extra premium. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover for belongings locked in a luggage compartment of a car out of sight during the day. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover for belongings locked in a luggage compartment of a car out of sight overnight. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover for valuables such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones, jewellery or cameras locked in the luggage compartment of a car. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Cover limit per person for lost or stolen cash. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Overall limit for a single person for baggage lost temporarily. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

The minimum period of time in hours before which cover applies for temporarily lost baggage. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit for additional travel expenses to reach a special event such as a wedding, conference or sporting event on time if the scheduled transport is cancelled or delayed.

Limit for additional travel expenses to reach pre-paid travel arrangements on time if the scheduled transport is cancelled or delayed. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Whether the policy is automatically extended if your journey is extended due to unforeseen circumstances.

Limit for additional meal and accommodation expenses if scheduled transport is delayed.

The minimum number of hours before transport delay is covered. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Limit per person per 24-hour period for this transport delay. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Is the collision damage excess for a hire car covered?

Limit for collision damage excess for a hire car. Cover is assessed on individual circumstances.

Does the policy cover cancellation and additional expenses for claims due to transport incidents like mechanical breakdown and accidents?

Does the policy cover cancellation and additional expenses for claims due to strikes?

Does the policy cover claims due to mental health illness experienced for the first time on the trip, and not classified as an ongoing or existing medical condition?

Does the policy cover claims due to COVID-19?

Does the policy cover claims due to pandemics other than COVID-19?

Does the policy cover claims due to natural disaster?

Does the policy cover claims due to civil unrest?

Does the policy cover claims due to terrorism?

Does the policy cover claims due to war?

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Home > Travel Insurance > RAC Travel Insurance Review

RAC Travel Insurance Review

Learn more about RAC’s travel insurance policies to find out about their coverage and fees and compare them with other insurers today.

Fact checked

Founded in 1905 as a roadside assistance service for Western Australians, RAC now offers a wide range of services and products not just for those behind the wheel. Alongside finance and auto services, the West Perth company offers insurance for homes, cars, motorcycles, and even your next holiday.

You can compare RAC's travel insurance products against those of other insurers with Savvy to help you choose the best plan for your next getaway. Additionally, you can compare coverage details such as inclusions and exclusions to other plans.

Find out more about RAC’s offerings on this page before getting a quote with Savvy today.

*Please note that Savvy does not represent RAC for its travel insurance products.

More about RAC travel insurance

What travel insurance policies does rac offer.

RAC offers a range of travel insurance policies in Australia, including:

• International Comprehensive: RAC’s highest level of coverage provides you with unlimited medical expense coverage, including COVID-19 and 24/7 emergency assistance. You can also receive compensation if your bags are stolen, go missing or are damaged on your holiday, whether you’re travelling to the UK or taking a holiday to Singapore .
• International Essentials: this policy covers you for the essentials such as unlimited overseas medical costs, some cancellation fees and lost deposits and damage or theft of your luggage. This policy is like their comprehensive insurance but offers lower limits.
• Domestic Comprehensive: RAC offers this policy for people who are sticking close to home for their holiday. Coverage includes replacement of stolen or lost luggage, loss of income and the cancellation of your trip .
• Medical-Only: if you’re looking for a bare-bones policy which only covers a trip to the hospital if you need it, RAC offers this medical-only policy .
• Annual Multi-Trip Insurance: if you’re planning to take more than one trip over 12 months, RAC offers an annual travel insurance policy which covers you for multiple holidays up to 60 days in length. You can roll your children and grandchildren into your coverage for free, and if you’re taking more people, you can even turn it into a family or dual travel insurance policy.

Whether you’re jetting off to the UK or just taking a flight to Perth, it’s important to compare policies with Savvy so you can find the best travel insurance for your next holiday.

What optional extras are available through RAC?

RAC, like many other travel insurers, provides optional extras for both international and domestic holidays. These include:

• Ski and winter sports cover: taking part in some snow sports on your holiday? RAC offers cover for those who want to snowboard, ski, play ice hockey, ice skate or even go snowmobiling for overseas medical costs, the hire of snow equipment and piste closure.
• Cruise cover: if you’re taking a domestic or international cruise holiday and purchase your travel insurance through RAC, you’ll need to tack this onto your coverage to get protection for medical expenses, cabin confinement and other expenses at sea.
• Medical conditions: RAC automatically covers a raft of pre-existing medical conditions, such as glaucoma, hernias and nocturnal cramps. However, if you have a more serious health condition such as a heart condition or asthma and you’re over 60, you may need to pay a higher premium to get it covered.

What exclusions should I be aware of when buying travel insurance through RAC?

While some travel insurance policies in Australia can offer wide-ranging coverage, the benefits aren’t limitless and there are some circumstances where your claim won’t be given the green light. With RAC, some of these include:

• Unapproved pre-existing health issues, such as claims of mental illness and certain types of diabetes
• Partaking in an unapproved activity or sport such as BASE jumping or hang gliding
• Travel on a privately chartered boat or plane
• Complications following an elective surgery
• Travelling against the advice of your doctor
• If you’re filing a claim due to terrorism or war
• Travelling to a country against Australian government advice
• Accidents caused by the consumption of drugs or alcohol

If you’ve found a policy that suits your next holiday to a tee, make sure you review the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) before you set your decision in stone.

What we think of RAC travel insurance

What we like, discount if you’re a rac member.

If you’re a RAC member, you can receive a 15% discount on your travel insurance policy . This compares to some of their competitors who offer 10% discounts on policies (or most who offer none at all).

Extensive cooling-off period

RAC gives you 21 days to change your mind and cancel your policy, which is seven days longer than most other insurers. This allows you to continue shopping around to find a deal which beats the policy you already have.

Generous legal liability

You’re covered for up to $10 million if you’re found personally liable for damage to property or the injury of another person, whereas many other insurers cap this at $5 million or lower.

What we don't like

Higher premium for cruise cover.

You’ll need to pay a higher premium if you’re taking a cruise holiday and want to go with RAC as it’s not automatically included under standard policies.

Strict pregnancy cover requirements

RAC travel insurance policies will cover pregnancy; however, you’ll only be covered for complications before your 26th week of gestation and won’t be covered for routine doctor’s visits.

Limited coverage for pets

While RAC’s comprehensive policy allows you to claim up to $650 if you need to book extra boarding for your pet because your return is delayed, this coverage isn’t available on domestic, medical-only or essentials policies.

Types of travel insurance

International.

International travel insurance can offer cover for a range of events, including medical expenses, lost luggage or items, cancellation fees and more when you're overseas and a long way from home.

If you're journeying within Australia, domestic policies are designed to offer many of the same protections as international travel insurance (with the exception of medical expenses).

Single trip

The most standard and common type of travel insurance, this policy can cover you for one trip starting and ending in Australia (and is available for both international and domestic travel).

Annual multi-trip

As the name suggests, this type of travel insurance covers multiple trips over a 12-month period. Depending on your insurer, you may be able to take an unlimited number of trips up to 90 days each.

You don't have to have a return ticket booked to take out cover while you're overseas. One-way travel insurance enables you to access cover without a set end date, such as if you're moving temporarily.

You may need to take out specialist coverage if you're setting sail on a cruise. Fortunately, cruise insurance can cover emergency evacuation, cabin confinement and more.

Just because you're older doesn't mean travel insurance isn't still important. If you qualify for cover, seniors' travel insurance can offer greater peace of mind for included events while you're travelling.

Adding winter sports or ski cover to your policy can add protection against damage to your equipment, piste closure due to bad weather and activities such as back-country skiing, heliskiing and more.

Adventure sports

Looking to enjoy some adventure sports on holiday? An adventure sports pack can grant you cover for a range of activities, such as hiking, scuba diving and motorcycle or scooter riding.

Jetsetting with the whole clan in tow? Some insurers offer family travel insurance, which enables you to include yourself, your partner and your dependent children under one policy to help you save.

If you're travelling interstate or overseas with your partner (or simply another friend or family member), you may be able to access a discount by taking out a joint or duo travel insurance policy.

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

Reputable insurance partners, fast and convenient online process.

You can complete the quote, comparison and purchase process online through Savvy quickly and easily.

Competitive quote costs

Regardless of the type of insurance you’re looking for, we can help you compare between competitive quotes.

Frequently asked questions about RAC travel insurance

RAC’s comprehensive policy offers you limited coverage for a range of COVID-19-related costs, including hospital and medical expenses and cancellation costs.

All claims can be submitted either by phone or electronically, online or by email with RAC. If you’re filing your claim by phone or e-mail, you’ll be sent a claim form to fill out, along with information on what supporting paperwork is required. Once you’ve submitted your claim, RAC sends you a confirmation email and the estimated turnaround time is about ten working days.

The price of travel insurance varies from person to person based on a wide range of factors, such as:

• Your date of birth
• Your chosen destination
• The level of coverage you buy
• Any optional extras you need
• Pre-existing medical conditions you need to disclose
• The policy excess you choose
• The type of insurer and insurance policy you buy

Single-trip travel insurance will only cover one round trip. On the other hand, annual multi-trip insurance protects you against financial loss for as many trips as you take each year (often up to 60 travel days per trip). A one-way travel insurance coverage may cover your whole trip if you are on an ongoing journey (up to a year). An extra year of insurance coverage may be bought for many plans.

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Travel Insurance for Expats

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Please Note - If you are cruising around Australia you need to select Pacific. With Regions, variances can apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. You are not required to enter stop-over countries if your stop-over is less than 48 hours.

If you don’t know where you’re traveling to within the next 12 months, choose Worldwide to ensure you’re covered no matter where you go. If you’re travelling to multiple countries choose the region that you are visiting that is furthest away (excluding stopovers less than 48 hours). In most cases you will be covered for the closer regions as well. For example, if you choose Europe, you will also be covered in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.

Worldwide means anywhere in the world

Americas means USA, Canada, South America, Latin America, Hawaii and the Caribbean

Europe means all European countries, including UK

Middle East refers to the area from Syria to Yemen; Egypt to Iran

Asia generally means Asia and the Indian subcontinent. For some insurers this excludes Japan*

Pacific means the South West Pacific, Australia and Indonesia/Bali*. Select Pacific for domestic cruises in New Zealand waters

New Zealand means domestic travel within New Zealand only

*Note: Variances apply for Bali, Indonesia, Japan and Middle East. Check that your destination is covered once directed to your chosen insurer’s site.

RAC Travel Insurance Reviews

Very Disappointed

READ the FINE PRINT. There are so many exemptions that making a claim is almost impossible. Lost...  Read more

READ the FINE PRINT. There are so many exemptions that making a claim is almost impossible. Lost or Stolen passports must be on your person to claim! How does that work? Luggage must be in your possession! How does that work? We were checking into our accomodation and left one bag in the locked car because we couldn't carry everything in one trip. It was obscured from view and locked but RAC refused our claim which included $5000+ of extra expenses related to the bag containing our passports. I was stranded in the UK for 3 weeks until a new passport was issued while my husband had to return to Australia on his own. Very disappointed in the whole experience

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DO NOT BUY the RAC Travel insurance (underwriters Tokio Marine) to travel abroad

I bought RAC travel insurance when I was traveling for holidays in December 2022. My mother died and ...  Read more

I bought RAC travel insurance when I was traveling for holidays in December 2022. My mother died and I have to come back. I provided all information as required include cause of death, date and all other documents they required. But they refused to approve the claim. Disgusting and Rude behaviour experienced with RAC travel Insurance - under written by Tokio Marine Company mania branch is in Tokyo. Main point is when we bought the RAC travel Insurance they never informed us that their underwriters company's main branch is in Tokyo and all our communication came from Tokyo. They were pretty rude and gave us so much trouble to push our limit so that we will get fed-up and leave the claim. This is a huge industry malpractice not informing the customers that we are contracting with underwriter company based in Tokyo. I never thought RAC will practice such unethical behaviour. Do not ever take RAC travel insurance or if any travel insurance under written by Tokio Marine company.

I bought insurance to travel for holidays. My mother died and I have to come back. I provided all inf...  Read more

I bought insurance to travel for holidays. My mother died and I have to come back. I provided all information as required include cause of death, date etc. But they refused to approve the claim. Very bad service. Do not ever take RAC travel insurance or if any travel insurance under written by Tokio Marine company.

Awful experience when trying to claim from RACV Travel Insurance

RACV Travel Insurance is operated by Tokio Marine Management Australasia. When taking out the policy,...  Read more

RACV Travel Insurance is operated by Tokio Marine Management Australasia. When taking out the policy, the service was great. BUT my experience when trying to make a claim has been absolutely awful. Only 4 days before our departure on a long-delayed (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) trip to Europe, my husband suddenly and completely unexpectedly became severely ill, and was rushed to hospital. He was diagnosed with acute, sudden onset leukaemia. He has absolutely no medical history that indicated this would happen. Obviously we couldn't go on our trip, and we made a claim for the lost payments for a cruise on the Croatian coast, and the first couple of nights accommodation which were the only parts of the trip not cancellable at short notice. All up, we made a claim for around $6000, having paid $977 for the policy, with a $250 excess. Trying to make the claim has become a nightmare. The approach of RACV/Tokio Marine has been to continually ask for more and more medical information, over a period of more than 3 months. Each time we submit additional medical information, the response comes back that they want more information, or the same information already supplied in a different format. I have now uploaded into their online claim system (you can't email them) a total of 27 documents supporting our claim (from our GP, hospitals and medical specialists), but once again RACV/Tokio Marine has responded that more medical details are required. They have already been provided with more than 2 years of complete medical records, but have rejected them because their assessor, Manus, says (in a recorded telephone conversation) that patient consultation notes have to be sourced from a digital patient medical record system - which our family GP doesn't have - our GP still writes all his patient medical/consultation notes by hand during each consultation, and has already provided scans of 4 pages of his very detailed medical notes to RACV. Our GP has also offered several options that RACV/Tokio Marine can use to confirm all the scanned notes provided are genuine. But RACV/Tokio Marine wont accept his proposed verification solutions. In fact, the RACV/Tokio Marine assessor falsely accused me (in a recorded telephone conversation) that "you could have written them yourself" because the medical notes were handwritten by the GP. I strongly objected to being accused of fraud - there was absolutely no basis for this appalling accusation (call was recorded), but the assessor, Manus Bhatt, refused to retract the false accusation. RACV/Tokio Marine also warns on their claims website that "they are experiencing long delays" and that it can take them up to 20 working days to respond to any messages you send them about your claim. So this means that each time they ask for more information, and you upload more documents into the claim website, it can be up to 20 working days before they turn around a response. Hence our claim has taken more than 3 months of hours and hours of preparing the documents they keep asking for. All this is despite the fact that my husband's medical specialists (at Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre), as well as his GP of more than 30 years, have provided written confirmation/documentation provided to RACV/Tokio Marine that his leukaemia was completely and totally "out of the blue" with absolutely no prior medical indication or history that this could happen. Our claim was first lodged on 2 September with RACV/Tokio Marine and 27 supporting documents have been uploaded to their system over this period. But when I provided feedback that our GP does not use a computerised system for patient medical records, and can only provide handwritten notes for the last 2 years of medical consultation notes, our claim was immediately denied by Manus Bhatt. Sharing this so that others (particularly long-standing, 30+ years RACV Club Members like me) are aware that claiming on RACV Travel Insurance can be a total nightmare. They will deny a medical claim if your GP does not keep their patient medical records in their required format (which they don't specify, and seems to change with each communication) and none of this is mentioned in the PDS. Several times I asked that they supply a template of the format they require for medical records, but RACV/Tokio Marine advised the didn't have one. Our GP has also offered several options that RACV/Tokio Marine can use to confirm with him that all the scanned medical notes provided are genuine - but they have refused to accept any of our GP's proposed solutions. RACV, as a 30+ years Gold Club Member, the service provided by Tokio Marine is seriously damaging your brand and reputation as an organisation that purports to look after its members.

Not worth it

Is has been more than 8 weeks since we lodged our claim. Only after we contacted their eastern states...  Read more

Is has been more than 8 weeks since we lodged our claim. Only after we contacted their eastern states office, they admitted they forgot to request additional evidence. We have been placed back in the queue twice so far. As long term RAC members this experience with their travel insurance has been very disappointing!

Don't get travel insurance with these guys

They don't tell you that your not covered if the world gets coranavirus and you cancell your flig...  Read more

They don't tell you that your not covered if the world gets coranavirus and you cancell your flight plans, so you and your family don't get sick or die. Shame on rac They have riped me off and they will rip you off. Please everybody boycott getting any insurance from rac.

Terrible terrible travel insurance

Took out RAC travel insurance and became ill overseas. Had a total of over $2500 in medical expenses,...  Read more

Took out RAC travel insurance and became ill overseas. Had a total of over $2500 in medical expenses, lost flights, accomodation and large roaming bills RE booking from hospital. Was put through to Tokio Marine RACs insurance provider and they are the worst company I have ever dealt with. Takes far too long to reply to emails, disgusting customer service and are incompetent to say the least.

RAC Gadget Cover - TERRIBLE

- Lost my original claim - Delays in replying to my second claim - Ask for unreasonable infor...  Read more

- Lost my original claim - Delays in replying to my second claim - Ask for unreasonable information. After I provided proof of my purchase, IMEI number, police report, proof of address and more I was told that as I did not have a letter from the original purchaser of the handset (of which was impossible to get as I bought it second hand) I was told that they could not process my claim. - They will find any way possible to not help you with your claim. - DO NOT BOTHER to get this cover unless you have done 1 week prep to gather all of the information about your phone. REGARDLESS it is not worth the hassle as the customer service is laughable.

30 day limit

Watch RACQ multi-trip insurance. A good deal obtained by us initially but when we tried to plan a tr...  Read more

Watch RACQ multi-trip insurance. A good deal obtained by us initially but when we tried to plan a trip over 30days we were going to have to take out a completely new policy

How many people can I include in my policy?

Their online quoting engine allows you to purchase for two adults.

Am I covered if I go on a cruise?

Yes, you don’t even need to pick a cruise specific policy. Here’s a top tip: Even if you’re travelling in Aussie water you still need to pick pacific.

Am I covered for skiing and my equipment?

Yes if you purchase extra ski cover. RAC ski & winter sports cover includes unlimited medical, $2,000 equipment hire, $1,000 ski pack, $1,000 piste closure...and more! Dare devils can even ski off piste (with a professional guide).

Can I pay to reduce or cancel my excess?

You can choose to vary Your Excess. Their default international policy Excess is $250 but can be reduced to $100 or $0 for an increased Premium.

What additional extras are there?

New for old cover on luggage, ski cover, rental vehicle excess, and way more!

I'm not an Australian resident- can I buy cover?

Sure! Temporary Residents over the age of 18 are covered, provided: You hold a current Australian Visa that will remain valid beyond the period of Your return from Your Trip; and You hold a return ticket; and You have a Home address in Australia that You intend to return to; and You purchase Your policy before You begin Your Trip; and for international cover Your Trip begins and ends in Australia; or for domestic cover Your Trip must be wholly within Australia.

What size moped or motorbike am I covered to ride overseas?

RAC will cover you for any engine size you ride as long as you’re insured to do so in Australia. Just make sure you get your International Drivers Permit (IDP) before you leave!

How long is their single trip cover for?

Can i extend my policy from overseas.

Having too much fun? No problems! You can extend your policy with RAC as long as you extend five days before your previous policy has not expired.

Do they cover for my rental vehicle excess?

Yes, for up to $5000. Cover includes sedan, station-wagon, coupe and hatchback, SUV, four wheel drive, mini bus or a campervan/motorhome rented or hired by you from a recognised motor vehicle rental company for the carriage of passengers and does not include any vehicle designed to be used for the carriage of commercial goods.

Who underwrites them?

RAC Travel Services Pty Ltd ABN 17 009 164 176, AR 228577 is an authorised representative of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246548, the insurer underwriting this product.

Our Travel Insurance Comparision Helps You

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Comparetravelinsurance.com.au is Australia’s leading comparison site solely focused on travel insurance.

Our comparison is a free service that allows users to compare quotes in a few simple steps based on limited personal criteria. Comparisons supplied are not a recommendation or opinion about the suitability of a policy for a user. Comparisons are default ranked according to price and users have the ability to sort by popular cover levels. Whilst we compare a vast range of policies, we do not compare all providers in the market. This site compares the following brands: 1Cover, AllClear, Budget Direct, Downunder, Fast Cover Travel Insurance, Insure4Less, InsureandGo, iTrek, Simply Travel Insurance, Ski-Insurance, Travel Insurance Saver, Travel Insuranz, Wise Traveller, Zoom Travel Insurance . The directors and shareholders are common with companies i-Trek Pty Ltd, Zoom Travel Insurance and 1Cover Pty Ltd including it’s subsidiary brand Ski-insurance. CoverDirect takes all reasonable care when preparing this information but does not warrant its accuracy. Pricing information is supplied by the providers who participate on this site and should be verified with the insurer before you purchase. This site links users to the website of the provider to verify quotes and access the relevant PDS to understand what is, and is not, covered by a policy prior to purchase.

CoverDirect Pty Ltd owns and operates this website under AFS Licence 383590.  Located at Level 12, 338 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia.

For further information view our FSG and Terms of Use . Contact us by calling 1300 659 411.

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CALL US ON: 0330 159 0405

Before you buy

Covid-19 Cover is automatically included within your policy at no extra cost.

This includes:

• Cancellation if you have a COVID-19 diagnosis within 14 days of your departure date
• Emergency medical treatment and repatriation if you contract COVID-19 while abroad
• Unlimited medical expenses included with our 'Black cover'

It is essential that you check the latest FCDO advice for your destination before you travel. Out travel insurance policies do not provide cover for travel to an area where the FCDO advises against all but essential travel, unless you purchase our optional Enhanced Covid-19 cover that will protect you if the advice is given solely as a result of Covid 19. This cover is available to purchase and will be displayed on the ‘Extra cover options’ page presented to you after you have completed the ‘Your Quote’ page. Please note, this cover only applies to travel in Europe.

Customers with serious pre-existing medical conditions

We are happy to offer cover for many medical conditions. However, if you would like an alternative quote for your medical conditions or if we are unable to offer you a quote, you can access a directory of specialist medical travel insurers who may be able to provide you with cover. You can access this by clicking here or by calling 0800 138 7777 .

The maximum trip duration for Single trip policies is 94 days.

If you are travelling to multiple countries during the same trip, please enter each country so that we can make sure you have the right cover.

Cruise cover: For single trip policies If you are travelling on a cruise, please ensure that you select the Cruise cover add on. Available on the Extra cover options page.

You won't be covered under this policy if you're going on a cruise unless you select this cover which will incur an additional premium.

A 12-month policy that allows you to travel on multiple occasions up to 92 days per trip for Black cover and 62 for Orange and Silver cover.

Cruise cover is not covered on our Annual multi trip policies: If you are travelling on a cruise, please purchase a Single trip policy and select the Cruise cover add on.

Single trip

Annual Multi-trip

Europe including the UK

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, the Azores, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the Faroe Islands, Finland (including Lapland), France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece (including the Greek Islands), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland (Republic), Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands), Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the Vatican City.

Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean

All countries of the world EXCEPT: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba, Canada, Caribbean Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, St Barthelemy / St Barts, St Croix, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten/ St Martin, St Pierre and Miquelon, St Thomas, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, the United States of America, Virgin Islands (UK), Virgin Islands (US).

Worldwide including USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean

All countries of the world.

Important: Cover is not provided for travel to a country, specific area or event which the Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice has advised against all travel or all but essential travel.

Winter Sports

You won't be covered under this policy whilst taking part in Winter Sports unless you select this cover which will incur an additional premium. Winter sports insurance provides cover for emergency medical treatment caused by your participation in Winter Sport activities, the delay, loss, theft or damage to your ski equipment, cover for ski pack expenses, piste closure and avalanche closure. Cover is not available to policyholders aged 65 and over. Under annual multi trip, cover is for up to 17 days.

Important: For Annual multi trip policies you will not be covered for holiday cancellation until your policy start date. Please choose today's date if you want cover as soon as possible.

One person who is 18 years of age or over.

An individual and their partner provided they have lived together for at least six months or longer.

A maximum of two adults (aged 18 or over) can be covered by a 'Family' policy.

An individual and their partner provided they live together and up to nine of their dependent children (which can include fostered or adopted children) who are 17 years of age or under at the date of buying this policy and are either in full time education or living with them; or

An individual and their partner provided they live together for at least six months or longer and up to nine of their grandchildren who are travelling with them for the full duration of the trip, and who are 17 years of age or under at the date of buying this policy.

Group travel

A group of individuals who may not all be related and are named on one policy schedule under a Single Trip policy. All members of the group must travel together.

10% OFF TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR RAC CUSTOMERS

You must have a standalone RAC Breakdown policy, RAC European Breakdown Cover or RAC Car Insurance policy and provide your membership or policy number at the time of purchase to qualify for the 10% discount.

RAC Travel Insurance must be purchased directly from us and this discount is not available on price comparison or cashback websites.

The discount will not apply to extended gadget cover.

This offer can be withdrawn or amended at any time.

PROMOTIONAL CODE

If you have a promotional code for one of our seasonal offers, please insert it here.

Only one discount will be applied. If you have a 10% off RAC members or RAC Car Insurance discount, you can’t also use a promotional code.

By clicking the 'Get Your Quote' button you are confirming that you have read, understand and meet our eligibility conditions .

Help & more information

Email us: Click here to email

Call centre opening times

0330 159 0405

Monday to Friday: 09:00-17:00 (except bank holidays)

Useful links

• Policy Wording
• Insurance Product Information Document (IPID)
• Retrieve Quote
• Essential Information
• Eligibility

Important declarations

• You are 18 years of age or over at the date of buying the Policy
• You and all persons to be insured have an address in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man; and
• You and all persons to be insured have lived in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for at least 6 of the last 12 months; and
• You and all persons to be insured are registered with a GP in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
• You and all persons to be insured are in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or the Isle of Man when the policy is purchased and have not started a trip
• You and all persons to be insured will obtain any recommended vaccines, inoculations, or medications prior to your trip.

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Blueprint is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service focused on helping readers make smarter decisions. We receive compensation from the companies that advertise on Blueprint which may impact how and where products appear on this site. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impact any of the editorial content on Blueprint. Blueprint does not include all companies, products or offers that may be available to you within the market. A list of selected affiliate partners is available here .

Travel Insurance

Cheapest travel insurance of April 2024

Mandy Sleight

Heidi Gollub

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Updated 9:52 a.m. UTC April 11, 2024

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Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy .

WorldTrips is the best cheap travel insurance company of 2024 based on our in-depth analysis of the cheapest travel insurance plans. Its Atlas Journey Preferred and Atlas Journey Premier plans offer affordable travel insurance with high limits for emergency medical and evacuation benefits bundled with good coverage for trip delays, travel inconvenience and missed connections.

Cheapest travel insurance of 2024

Why trust our travel insurance experts

Our team of travel insurance experts analyzes hundreds of insurance products and thousands of data points to help you find the best travel insurance for your next trip. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content . You can read more about our methodology below.

• 1,855 coverage details evaluated.
• 567 rates reviewed.
• 5 levels of fact-checking.

Best cheap travel insurance

Top-scoring plans

Average cost, medical limit per person, medical evacuation limit per person, why it’s the best.

WorldTrips tops our rating of the cheapest travel insurance with two plans:

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheaper travel insurance plan of the two, with $100,000 per person in emergency medical benefits as secondary coverage and an optional upgrade to primary coverage. It’s also our pick for the best travel insurance for cruises .
• Atlas Journey Premier costs a little more but gives you $150,000 in travel medical insurance with primary coverage . This is a good option if health insurance for international travel is a priority.

Pros and cons

• Atlas Journey Preferred is the cheapest of our 5-star travel insurance plans.
• Atlas Journey Premier offers $150,000 in primary medical coverage.
• Both plans have top-notch $1 million per person in medical evacuation coverage.
• Each plan offers travel inconvenience coverage of $750 per person.
• 12 optional upgrades, including destination wedding and rental car damage and theft.
• No non-medical evacuation coverage.

Cheap travel insurance for cruises

Travel insured.

Top-scoring plan

Travel Insured offers cheap travel insurance for cruises and its Worldwide Trip Protector plan gets 4 stars in our rating of the best cruise travel insurance .

• Worldwide Trip Protector offers $1 million in emergency evacuation coverage per person and a rare $150,000 in non-medical evacuation per person. It also has primary coverage for travel medical insurance benefits, which means you won’t have to file medical claims with your health insurance first.
• Cheap trip insurance for cruises.
• Offers a rare $150,000 for non-medical evacuation.
• $500 per person baggage delay benefit only requires a 3-hour delay.
• Optional rental car damage benefit up to $50,000.
• Missed connection benefit of $500 per person only available for cruises and tours.

Best cheap travel insurance for families

Travelex has the best cheap travel insurance for families because kids age 17 are covered by your policy for free when they’re traveling with you.

• Free coverage for children 17 and under on the same policy.
• $2,000 travel delay coverage per person ($250 per day) after 5 hours.
• Hurricane and weather coverage after a common carrier delay of any amount of time.
• Only $50,000 per person emergency medical coverage.
• Baggage delay coverage is only $200 and requires a 12-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for seniors

Evacuation limit per person

Nationwide has the best cheap travel insurance for seniors — its Prime plan gets 4 stars in our best senior travel insurance rating. However, Nationwide’s Cruise Choice plan ranks higher in our best cheap travel insurance rating.

• Cruise Choice has a $500 per person benefit if a cruise itinerary change causes you to miss a prepaid excursion. It also has a missed connections benefit of $1,500 per person after only a 3-hour delay, for cruises or tours. But note that this coverage is secondary coverage to any compensation provided by a common carrier.
• Coverage for cruise itinerary changes, ship-based mechanical breakdowns and covered shipboard service disruptions.
• Non-medical evacuation benefit of $25,000 per person.
• Baggage loss benefits of $2,500 per person.
• Travel medical coverage is secondary.
• Trip cancellation benefit for losing your job requires three years of continuous employment.
• No “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) upgrade available.
• Missed connection coverage of $1,500 per person is only for tours and cruises, after a 3-hour delay.

Best cheap travel insurance for add-on options

AIG offers the best cheap travel insurance for add-on options because the Travel Guard Preferred plan allows you to customize your policy with a host of optional upgrades.

• Travel Guard Preferred upgrades include “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage , rental vehicle damage coverage and bundles that offer additional benefits for adventure sports, travel inconvenience, quarantine, pets, security and weddings. There’s also a medical bundle that increases the travel medical benefit to $100,000 and emergency evacuation to $1 million.
• Bundle upgrades allow you to customize your affordable travel insurance policy.
• Emergency medical and evacuation limits can be doubled with optional upgrade.
• Base travel insurance policy has relatively low medical limits.
• $300 baggage delay benefit requires a 12-hour delay.
• Optional CFAR upgrade only reimburses up to 50% of trip cost.

Best cheap travel insurance for missed connections

TravelSafe has the best cheap travel insurance for missed connections because coverage is not limited to cruises and tours, as it is with many policies.

• Best-in-class $2,500 per person in missed connection coverage.
• $1 million per person in medical evacuation and $25,000 in non-medical evacuation coverage.
• Generous $2,500 per person baggage and personal items loss benefit.
• Most expensive of the best cheap travel insurance plans.
• No “interruption for any reason” coverage available.
• Weak baggage delay coverage of $250 per person after 12 hours.

Cheapest travel insurance comparison

How much does the cheapest travel insurance cost?

The cheapest travel insurance in our rating is $334. This is for a WorldTrips Atlas Journey Preferred travel insurance plan, based on the average of seven quotes for travelers of various ages to international destinations with a range of trip values.  

Factors that determine travel insurance cost

There are several factors that determine the cost of travel insurance, including:

• Age and number of travelers being insured.
• Trip length.
• Total trip cost.
• The travel insurance plan you choose.
• The travel insurance company.
• Any add-ons, features or upgraded benefits you include in the travel insurance plan.

Expert tip: “In general, travelers can expect to pay anywhere from 4% to 10% of their total prepaid, non-refundable trip costs,” said Suzanne Morrow, CEO of InsureMyTrip.

Is buying the cheapest travel insurance a good idea?

Choosing cheaper travel insurance without paying attention to what a plan covers and excludes could leave you underinsured for your trip. Comparing travel insurance plans side-by-side can help ensure you get enough coverage to protect yourself financially in an emergency for the best price. 

For example, compare these two Travelex travel insurance plans:

• Travel Basic is cheaper but it only provides up to $15,000 for emergency medical expense coverage. You’ll also have to pay extra for coverage for children.
• Travel Select will cost you a bit more but it covers up to $50,000 in medical expenses and includes coverage for kids aged 17 and younger traveling with you. It also offers upgrades such additional medical coverage, “cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage and an adventure sports rider that may be a good fit for your trip.

Reasons to consider paying more for travel insurance 

Make sure you understand what you’re giving up if you buy the cheapest travel insurance. Here are a few reasons you may consider paying a little extra for better coverage. 

• Emergency medical. The best travel medical insurance offers primary coverage for emergency medical benefits. Travel insurance with primary coverage can cost more than secondary coverage but will save you from having to file a claim with your health insurance company before filing a travel insurance claim.
• Emergency evacuation. If you’re traveling to a remote location or planning a boat excursion on your trip, look at travel insurance with a high medical evacuation insurance limit. If you are injured while traveling, transportation to the nearest adequate medical facility could cost in the tens to hundreds of thousands. It may make sense to pay more for travel insurance with robust emergency evacuation coverage. 
• Flexibility. To maximize your trip flexibility, you might consider upgrading your travel insurance to “ cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage . This will increase the cost of your travel insurance but allow you to cancel your trip for any reason — not just those listed in your policy. The catch is that you’ll need to cancel at least 48 hours before your trip and will only be reimbursed 50% or 75% of your trip expenses, depending on the plan. 
• Upgrades. Many travel insurance plans have optional extras like car rental collision and adventure sports (which may otherwise be excluded from coverage). These will cost you extra but may give you the coverage you need. 

How to find the cheapest travel insurance

The best way to find the cheapest travel insurance is to determine what you’re looking for in a travel insurance policy and compare plans that meet your needs.

 “Travel insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every trip is different, and every traveler has different needs, wants and concerns. This is why comparison is key,” said Morrow.

Consider the following factors when comparing cheap travel insurance plans.

• How often you’re traveling. A single-trip policy may be the most cost-effective if you’re only going on a single trip this year. But a multi-trip travel insurance plan may be cheaper if you’re going on multiple international trips throughout the year. Annual travel insurance policies cover you for a whole year as long as each trip doesn’t exceed a certain number of days, usually 30 to 90 days. 
• Credit card has travel insurance benefits. The best credit cards offer perks and benefits, and many offer travel insurance-specific benefits. The coverage types and benefit limits can vary, and you must put the entire trip cost on the credit card to use the coverage. If your trip costs more than the coverage limit on your card, you can supplement the rest with a cheaper travel insurance plan.
• The coverage you need. When looking for the best travel insurance option at the most affordable price, only buy extras and upgrades you really need. A basic plan may only provide up to $500 in baggage insurance, but if you only plan to take $300 worth of clothes and accessories, you don’t need to pay more for higher coverage limits.

Is cheap travel insurance worth it?

Cheap travel insurance can be worth it, as long as you understand the plan limitations and exclusions. Taking the time to read your policy, especially the fine print, well before your trip can ensure there won’t be any surprises about what’s covered once your journey begins.

“If a traveler is looking for coverage for travel delays, cancellations, interruptions, medical and baggage — a comprehensive travel insurance policy will provide the most bang for their buck,” said Morrow. But if you’re on a tight budget and are only worried about emergency medical care and evacuation coverage while traveling abroad, stand-alone options are cheaper.

Before buying travel insurance, you should also consider what your health insurance will cover. 

“Most domestic health insurance plans, including Medicare, will not cover medical bills abroad,” said Morrow. Even if you’re staying stateside, you may find value in an affordable travel insurance plan with medical coverage if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP). 

A cheap travel insurance plan is better than none at all if you end up in a situation that would have covered some or all of your prepaid, nonrefundable trip expenses.

Methodology

Our insurance experts reviewed 1,855 coverage details and 567 rates to determine the best travel insurance . From those top-scoring travel insurance plans, we chose the most affordable for our rating of the cheapest travel insurance.

Insurers could score up to 100 points based on the following factors:

• Cost: 40 points. We scored the average cost of each travel insurance policy for a variety of trips and traveler profiles.
• Medical expenses: 10 points. We scored travel medical insurance by the coverage amount available. Travel insurance policies with emergency medical expense benefits of $250,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Medical evacuation: 10 points. We scored each plan’s emergency medical evacuation coverage by coverage amount. Travel insurance policies with medical evacuation expense benefits of $500,000 or more per person were given the highest score of 10 points.
• Pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver: 10 points. We gave full points to travel insurance policies that cover pre-existing medical conditions if certain conditions are met.
• Missed connection: 10 points. Travel insurance plans with missed connection benefits of $1,000 per person or more received full points.
• “Cancel for any reason” upgrade: 5 points. We gave points to travel insurance plans with optional “cancel for any reason” coverage that reimburses up to 75%.
• Travel delay required waiting time: 5 points. We gave 5 points to travel insurance policies with travel delay benefits that kick in after a delay of 6 hours or less.
• Cancel for work reasons: 5 points. If a travel insurance plan allows you to cancel your trip for work reasons, such as your boss requiring you to stay and work, we gave it 5 points.
• Hurricane and severe weather: 5 points. Travel insurance plans that have a required waiting period for hurricane and weather coverage of 12 hours or less received 5 points.

Some travel insurance companies may offer plans with additional benefits or lower prices than the plans that scored the highest, so make sure to compare travel insurance quotes to see your full range of options.

Cheapest travel insurance FAQs

When buying travel insurance, cheapest is not always the best. The most affordable travel insurance plans typically offer fewer coverages with lower policy limits and few or no optional upgrades. Add up your total nonrefundable trip costs and compare travel insurance plans and available features that cover your travel expenses. This strategy can help you find the cheapest travel insurance policy that best protects you from financial loss if an unforeseen circumstance arises.

Get the coverage you need: Best travel insurance of 2024

According to our analysis, WorldTrips , Travel Insured International and Travelex offer the best cheap travel insurance. Policy coverage types and limits can vary by each travel insurance provider, so the best way to get the cheapest travel insurance plan is to compare several policies and companies to find the right fit for your budget.

A good rate for travel insurance depends on your budget and coverage needs. The most comprehensive travel insurance plan is usually not the cheapest. But cheap trip insurance may not have enough coverage or the types of coverage you want. Comparing different levels of coverage and how much they cost can help you find the best cheap insurance for travel. 

The average cost of travel insurance is between 5% to 6% of your total travel expenses for one trip, according to our analysis of rates. However, you may find cheaper travel insurance if you opt for a plan with fewer benefits or lower coverage limits. How much you pay for travel insurance will also depend on the number of travelers covered, their ages, the length of the trip and any upgrades you add to your plan.

Travel insurance covers nonrefundable, prepaid trip costs — up to the policy coverage limits — when your trip is interrupted or canceled for a covered reason outlined in your plan documents. Even the cheapest travel insurance policies usually provide coverage for:

• Medical emergencies.
• Trip delays.
• Trip interruption.
• Trip cancellation.
• Lost, stolen or damaged luggage.

However, if you’re looking to save on travel insurance, you can shop for a policy that only has travel medical insurance and does not include benefits for trip cancellation .

Even when you buy cheap travel insurance, you can often use upgrade options to customize your policy to meet your specific needs. 

Some common travel insurance add-ons you may want to consider include:

• Rental car damage coverage. 
• Medical bundle.
• Security bundle.
• Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
• Adventure sports bundle.
• Pet bundle.
• Wedding bundle.
• “Cancel for work reasons” coverage.
• “Interruption for any reason” (IFAR) coverage.
• “Cancel for any reason” (CFAR) coverage .

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Mandy is an insurance writer who has been creating online content since 2018. Before becoming a full-time freelance writer, Mandy spent 15 years working as an insurance agent. Her work has been published in Bankrate, MoneyGeek, The Insurance Bulletin, U.S. News and more.

Heidi Gollub is the USA TODAY Blueprint managing editor of insurance. She was previously lead editor of insurance at Forbes Advisor and led the insurance team at U.S. News & World Report as assistant managing editor of 360 Reviews. Heidi has an MBA from Emporia State University and is a licensed property and casualty insurance expert.

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More From Forbes

Planning a vacation here’s your 2024 summer travel insurance guide.

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The joy of a summer vacation. But do you have protection for your trip?

Planning a vacation this summer? Yeah, you and just about everyone else.

More than 9 out of 10 Americans say they'll travel more this year, according to a recent Nationwide Travel Insurance survey . Most of those trips will happen in June, July and August.

Not just that, but 40 percent of the respondents say they'll spend more this year than last year. So how do you protect your vacation investment?

Travel insurance is the standard answer, but what kind of insurance — and how do you find it? That's the question many Americans are wrestling with as they make their travel plans.

Protecting your vacation is a serious concern this summer, experts say.

“Travelers are beefing up their trip protection with security advisory and extraction protection," notes Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies .

It's not just that they're spending more. It's that there's more to lose. The ongoing war in Ukraine, the Hamas attacks on Israel, and other violent conflicts have made travel insurance a key part of trip planning.

This summer may break travel records, experts say.

Apple Confirms Innovative iPhone 16 Pro Upgrade

Wwe smackdown results winners and grades after wrestlemania 40, ‘civil war’ star on why the film’s president is not based on donald trump, it's going to be a busy summer for travel.

Overall policy sales for the 2024 summer travel season are up this year, but there's a spike in sales for policies in August, which is typically the busiest time of the summer. "Sales are up more than 25% over last year," says Stan Sandberg, co-founder of travel insurance site TravelInsurance.com .

Western Europe continues to be the most popular summer destination for Americans, with some notable hotspots. Travel insurance sales for Greece are up over 60% this year compared with 2023, followed by Norway and Portugal, which are up 57% and 52%, respectively, according to Sandberg.

Everyone's travel insurance needs are different, according to the pros.

What should you insure when you travel this summer?

Laura Heidt, the insurance desk manager for Brownell Travel in Birmingham, Ala., says there are some things every travel insurance policy should cover this summer.

"I always recommend people insure for the unexpected, such as flight delays, missed connections and medical coverage while out of the country," she says. "If you are willing to forgo the cancellation and delay coverages, which are typically the most expensive parts of a policy, you should still, absolutely, cover yourself with at least the medical component."

Heidt says she's seen a 10% boost in travel insurance sales for this summer compared with the same time last year, and many people are opting for the pricier "cancel for any reason" policies, which allow you to cancel your trip and receive a partial refund of your prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses.

Travel insurance companies are seeing a similar trend.

"A majority of travelers choose a comprehensive travel insurance plan which includes coverage for trip cancellation, emergency medical, lost or delayed baggage and delay," explains Tim Dodge, vice president of marketing at Arch RoamRight .

He says this year, travelers are purchasing travel insurance on average within 11 days of their trip deposit to receive the additional benefit of the waiver exclusion for pre-existing conditions.

If you're traveling with kids, you'll need extra travel insurance protection.

Get a policy that's tailored to your needs

Travel insurance comes in all shapes and sizes. So you'll want to try a few on for size before you buy. You can actually do that, since most policies have a "free look" period that makes them fully refundable for the first week or two (depending on the policy).

"It's important to consider your specific travel plans and any potential disruptions in order to protect your investment," says Robert Gallagher, president of the US Travel Insurance Association (USTIA).

He says traditional plans offer coverage for unexpected cancellations, interruptions, delays, emergency medical expenses and lost or delayed baggage. For international travel, USTIA advises opting for a plan with emergency medical and medical evacuation coverage.

It also depends on who you're traveling with. For example, if you're traveling with your children, you'll want to consider a family-friendly priced travel insurance plan. But your destination also matters, says Carol Mueller, vice president at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP).

"For young families, I typically recommend the ExactCare plan due to its pricing of two children at no additional cost for every one adult on the policy," she says. "However, for families venturing abroad, I’d suggest considering a plan like BHTP's LuxuryCare, which is designed to meet the distinctive needs of a high-investment vacation.”

You have choices when it comes to family coverage. For example, Allianz’s OneTrip Prime plan also includes coverage for kids 17 and younger when traveling with a parent or grandparent.

Medical evacuations can be expensive.

Look beyond travel insurance for extra protection

Mike Hallman, CEO of the air medical transport and travel security program Medjet , says MedjetHorizon memberships are selling briskly. They offer 24/7 security and crisis response, as well as transportation to a hospital at home if you're injured. Travelers are skittish even if they aren't going bungee-jumping.

"With geopolitical tensions still growing — all the riots in France, Italy, Ecuador and other tourist destinations over the last year — and crime causing the threat level to be raised for the Bahamas and Jamaica, it’s no wonder," he adds.

He makes a good point. Travel insurance can cover many of the events you're likely to encounter, such as a missed connection, lost luggage or a medical emergency. But it's also important to know what isn't covered — and to make plans accordingly.

Beware of travel insurance "overconfidence"

The summer travel season is still a few months away, but insurance experts are worried. Yes, they've seen a general uptick in insurance sales, but some travelers remain unprotected.

"We've started to see early signs that travelers are exercising less caution and are slightly less likely to sign up for travel insurance," says Joe Cronin, CEO of International Citizens Insurance .

By comparison, travelers purchased plenty of medical insurance in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic. Cronin believes travelers were terrified of getting stuck with COVID-19 in a foreign country without insurance.

"To those who are thinking about traveling internationally without travel insurance, my recommendation is to spend a few minutes looking deeper before deciding," he adds.

Some types of insurance, such as a standalone medical policy, cost just a few dollars a day. A medical evacuation membership is also affordable. And even full-featured travel insurance policies can be cost-effective when you consider the benefits.

"Don’t put your summer travel memories, or your investment, at risk by forgoing the right vacation coverage," says Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Partners USA . "With international travel peaking during the summer season, an unprotected trip can leave travelers on the hook for costs resulting from an unexpected trip delay or medical emergency abroad."

Bottom line: Seriously consider travel insurance to protect your trip — and don't be overconfident. You never know what might happen this summer.

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