westpac free travel insurance

Westpac Complimentary Credit Card Insurance and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) FAQ

Information for westpac eligible cardholders regarding covid-19.

Information on this page is correct as of  30 June 2022 .

Stay up to date on Travel Information for COVID-19 from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)  Smartraveller  website and  World Health Organisation  (WHO) and  Department of Home Affairs .

Always consult the smartraveller.gov.au website prior to any travel. In addition to visas, COVID-19 testing, and proof of vaccination requirements, many countries now have compulsory insurance and medical cover proof conditions. Check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you are entering. If you require additional documentation regarding the complimentary international travel insurance policy due to international entry requirements, please contact us on 1800 091 710.

From 30 June 2022, if during the period of your cover, you (and your spouse/dependents, if they’re eligible for cover) are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic (such as COVID-19), cover may be available under the following sections:

• 1.1 Overseas Emergency Assistance
• 1.2 Overseas Emergency Medical
• 1.4 Medical Evacuation & Repatriation
• 2.1 Cancellation
• 3.1 Additional Expenses

If your travel companion is positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, such as COVID-19, which impacts your journey, cover may be available to you under the following sections: 

Note, you won’t be covered while travelling against advice or warnings issued by the Australian government and you did not take reasonable care to avoid contracting the sickness, for example by delaying travel to the country listed in a warning.

The above is a summary only, please refer to  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet   and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet  for eligibility criteria, full terms, conditions, limits and exclusions.

A General Exclusion for epidemic/pandemic applies for all claims relating to any epidemic/pandemic outside of the select benefits in the applicable policy information booklet  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet   and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet . Please note, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply.

To receive a formal outcome, Eligible Westpac Cardholders must submit a claim.

Eligible Westpac travellers who meet the eligibility criteria should be aware that other General Exclusions have the potential to apply.

What is a General Exclusion?

A General Exclusion is an exclusion which will be applied across all sections of an insurance policy, and applies regardless of when eligibility for cover was gained. Should a General Exclusion apply, this means that your complimentary credit card travel insurance excludes cover for the event, activities or circumstances (specified in the exclusion) that causes your claim.

To understand what is excluded from the Westpac Complimentary Insurance covers, please refer to Part D – Excesses & General Exclusions section and the section specific exclusions of the relevant Westpac Policy Information Booklet for which your eligible Westpac card is applicable under:  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet    and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet .

Other exclusions may apply depending upon the circumstances of an individual claim. General Exclusions include but are not limited to:

• by the Australian government (when a ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ or ‘Do not travel’ alert is in place), which can be found on  www.smartraveller.gov.au ; or
• which was published in a reliable mass media source.
• any interference with your travel plans by any government, government regulation or prohibition or intervention or official authority. For example, if  Smartraveller  has a warning, ‘Do not travel’ or ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ due to the risk of COVID-19 infection for a destination, and a cardholder chooses to ignore the warning and is infected with COVID-19, cover may be excluded. Or if a government closes its borders to inbound travellers due to COVID-19 and you are unable to enter and follow your planned travel across the closed border, cover may be excluded.

What if a Westpac Eligible Cardholder has booked travel and needs to cancel due to contracting COVID-19?

If you are unable to travel as a result of contracting COVID-19, Cancellation cover may be provided to eligible travellers, if you or your travel companion are positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic such as COVID-19, and cover is expressly included under the Cancellation section of the relevant Westpac Policy Information Booklet for which your eligible Westpac card is applicable under:  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet   and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet . If you are unable to travel as a result of an Epidemic or Pandemic related event which does not include you or your travel companion being positively diagnosed as suffering a sickness recognised as an epidemic or pandemic, for example a border closure, there may be no provision to claim as a general exclusion for epidemic and pandemic applies. A General Exclusion for epidemic/pandemic applies for all claims relating to any epidemic/pandemic outside of the cancellation benefits in the applicable policy information booklet. Please note, terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply.

You therefore need to consider your own personal circumstances. We are not able to provide you with a cover decision before submitting a claim. To receive a formal outcome, Westpac Eligible Cardholders must submit a claim.

You should also contact your travel agent or travel service provider (airline, cruise line or Tour Company, etc) as they may be able to support you in obtaining refunds, credits or travel re-scheduling.

Can Westpac Eligible Cardholders make a claim for consideration?

Every Westpac Eligible Cardholder can submit a claim and have their individual circumstances considered in accordance with the eligibility criteria which includes the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions that apply as set out in the  Westpac Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet    and  Westpac Business Credit Cards Complimentary Insurance Policy Information Booklet .

If you would like to claim, we encourage you to claim online via  insurance.agaassistance.com.au/westpac

Call the Allianz Global Assistance Claims team

• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

Cruising. Westpac and ANZ complimentary Travel Insurance

By sanne , July 19, 2023 in Australia & New Zealand Cruisers

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I’ve searched the T&C PDFs of both Westpac and ANZ Credit card Complimentary Travel Insurance and can’t find any mention of cover for cruises and medical evacuation from a cruise ship. Maybe someone can point me in the right direction.   

And from what I read, the cancellation of a trip is capped at $20,000 for ANZ and in unlimited for Westpac. Maybe someone is able to confirm that.

Thanks for your help. 

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I can only guide you re ANZ Complimentary Insurance.

The Booklet I refer to covers these cards

ELIGIBLE CARDS: The complimentary insurance outlined in this booklet is available to the eligible beneficiaries of the following credit cards: • ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum • ANZ Frequent Flyer Black • ANZ Rewards Platinum • ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures • ANZ Rewards Black • ANZ Platinum

Do you have one of these cards? If so, page 14 defines Overseas as

"outside of Australia and its territories, and includes when you are aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters"

Therefore further down on whats covered, page 21

Overseas Emergency, medical and evacuation are unlimited.

And yes, cancellation is capped at $20,000 so you need to work out if that is good for your situation.

For us, our cruise holidays are never more than that.

31 minutes ago, sanne said: I’ve searched the T&C PDFs of both Westpac and ANZ Credit card Complimentary Travel Insurance and can’t find any mention of cover for cruises and medical evacuation from a cruise ship. Maybe someone can point me in the right direction.    And from what I read, the cancellation of a trip is capped at $20,000 for ANZ and in unlimited for Westpac. Maybe someone is able to confirm that.   Thanks for your help. 

Further to cheznandy The Westpac has a similar cluase under their Definitions see below

Definitions There are some words in this booklet that have a special meaning. These words and their meanings are set out in the table below and are highlighted in italics throughout the booklet. Headings have been included for ease of reference but do not form part of the terms and conditions of the cover available Word Meaning

Overseas     

outside of Australia and its territories, and includes when you are aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters.

So you are covered as I see it for Unlimited Overseas Emergency, medical and evacuation 

as cheznandy said above.

BUT as always don't assume we are right, contact your bank and make sure your are covered.

And that there are not small riders or conditions we missed in our readings of the T&Cs and PDS

5 minutes ago, Ozwoody said: Hi Sanne   Further to cheznandy The Westpac has a similar cluase under their Definitions see below   Definitions There are some words in this booklet that have a special meaning. These words and their meanings are set out in the table below and are highlighted in italics throughout the booklet. Headings have been included for ease of reference but do not form part of the terms and conditions of the cover available Word Meaning   Overseas      outside of Australia and its territories, and includes when you are aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters.   So you are covered as I see it for Unlimited Overseas Emergency, medical and evacuation  as cheznandy said above.   BUT as always don't assume we are right, contact your bank and make sure your are covered. And that there are not small riders or conditions we missed in our readings of the T&Cs and PDS      

Great advice John, I have called often over the years we have been using this insurance to clarify any changes in wording, they have always been great to talk to over the phone.

2022cruisey

The ANZ FF Black definitely covers cruising.  They will also email you with a certificate that you can show if you are going to New Caledonia.

Thank you very much  cheznandy, 2022cruisey, and Ozwoody for your excellent reply to my queries. Very kind of you all to post the relevant paragraphs. Much appreciated. 

We use the ANZ card cover for cruising. There is a handy webpage to 'check your cover ' (underwritten by Allianz) where you enter your type of card, destination (I always select worldwide) and dates of trip. They then send you a certificate via email which shows the cruise and covid cover on page 2.  This is what we show when boarding a cruise to New Caledonia where this cover is required.

Similar to answer above, we never require more than $20000 cancellation cover.

LittleFish1976

Prior to covid I used ANZ card insurance for a cruise. I was very concerned about making sure I would be covered for a cruise by them, and more importantly for any medical evacuation from the ship. I emailed them and asked them if they could confirm those things. The email they sent me was comforting as they clearly stated that yes, I was covered for those specific eventualities. I felt happy having it in writing from them and particular to my situation. They can also send you the master policy number for complimentary insurances in case you need to present it as proof of insurance anywhere.

• 2 weeks later...

Only last week I applied for and received free travel insurance through our Westpac mastercard, for next year's trip, which includes two cruises (Oceania and Cunard).  I completely missed reading the last section of the Letter of Eligibility we received, and being concerned about cover for the cruises, I rang the helpline.  A patient and efficient person confirmed we are automatically covered for cruises, and directed me to, "Eligibility for Cover while Cruising and for Epidemic/Pandemic (such as COVID-19) Cover".  

Hope this answers your question, as it did mine  🙂

11 hours ago, Mareblu said: Only last week I applied for and received free travel insurance through our Westpac mastercard, for next year's trip, which includes two cruises (Oceania and Cunard).  I completely missed reading the last section of the Letter of Eligibility we received, and being concerned about cover for the cruises, I rang the helpline.  A patient and efficient person confirmed we are automatically covered for cruises, and directed me to, "Eligibility for Cover while Cruising and for Epidemic/Pandemic (such as COVID-19) Cover".   Hope this answers your question, as it did mine  🙂

I wish the Westpac card (underwritten by Allianz) covered my pre existing medical condition.

7 hours ago, cruisine21 said: I wish the Westpac card (underwritten by Allianz) covered my pre existing medical condition.

Yep! Me too!

I agree that pre-existing conditions are a real problem, and probably why more people don't travel.

Really like that people are ringing there Credit Card Insurer to clarify cover, and reporting back here.

Gives us some confidence that we are covered, not just thinking we might be.

Thanks guys for your posts.

4 hours ago, Mareblu said: I agree that pre-existing conditions are a real problem, and probably why more people don't travel.

Agree with that comment, Linda.

Re the Westpac CC insurance. My son has this card and asked me if his fiancé who lives  with him at the same address is considered his ‘spouse’ in the T&C. I will give them a call but first of all I’d ask since there are some very knowledgeable and helpful people here. 

1 hour ago, sanne said: Re the Westpac CC insurance. My son has this card and asked me if his fiancé who lives  with him at the same address is considered his ‘spouse’ in the T&C. I will give them a call but first of all I’d ask since there are some very knowledgeable and helpful people here. 

If they live together and are in a relationship then the law views them as being in a de facto relationship which is as good as married in the eyes of the law so I should think the answer is 'yes'. Do the T&Cs mention 'de facto spouse'?

Thank you LittleFish1976. I have just received this from Westpac ( Allianz). I’ve posted it to be helpful to others.

Please be advised that according to Policy information booklet (on page 18), Definition of   Spouse:

“ the partner of the cardholder who is in a permanent relationship with the cardholder at the time the journey or trip starts.”

According to above information if you are in permanent relationship however not married, you will be considered as partners  under this definition

Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us on the number below.

17 minutes ago, sanne said: Thank you LittleFish1976. I have just received this from Westpac ( Allianz). I’ve posted it to be helpful to others.     Please be advised that according to Policy information booklet (on page 18), Definition of   Spouse:   “ the partner of the cardholder who is in a permanent relationship with the cardholder at the time the journey or trip starts.”   According to above information if you are in permanent relationship however not married, you will be considered as partners  under this definition   Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us on the number below.  

You're welcome sanne. Glad you had confirmation that works out well for your family.

• 4 months later...

On 7/28/2023 at 3:52 PM, Mareblu said: Only last week I applied for and received free travel insurance through our Westpac mastercard, for next year's trip, which includes two cruises (Oceania and Cunard).  I completely missed reading the last section of the Letter of Eligibility we received, and being concerned about cover for the cruises, I rang the helpline.  A patient and efficient person confirmed we are automatically covered for cruises, and directed me to, "Eligibility for Cover while Cruising and for Epidemic/Pandemic (such as COVID-19) Cover".   Hope this answers your question, as it did mine  🙂

Hi, I'm just sorting my insurance now for a January cruise and have Westpac Platinum card. Was this sentence "Eligibility for Cover while Cruising and for Epidemic/Pandemic (such as COVID-19) Cover"  specifically stated in the letter you received or in the policy document?

Many thanks

Hi phoenixx,

On Page 3 of Letter of Eligibility:

"Under this group policy, the eligible traveller/s listed  below have access to International Travel Insurance which includes epidemic/pandemic (such as COVID-19) coverage and cover while cruising including while aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters.  Cover is outlined in the sections below, subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits outlined in the Policy Information Booklet."

The PI Booklet is viewable online as part of the complete information forwarded by Westpac, and a scan through reveals the normal travel insurance inclusions and exclusions.  Allianz is the underwriter.

Hope this helps.

2 hours ago, Mareblu said: Hi phoenixx, On Page 3 of Letter of Eligibility:   "Under this group policy, the eligible traveller/s listed  below have access to International Travel Insurance which includes epidemic/pandemic (such as COVID-19) coverage and cover while cruising including while aboard a foreign registered cruise vessel in Australian territorial waters.  Cover is outlined in the sections below, subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and applicable sub-limits outlined in the Policy Information Booklet."   The PI Booklet is viewable online as part of the complete information forwarded by Westpac, and a scan through reveals the normal travel insurance inclusions and exclusions.  Allianz is the underwriter. Hope this helps.  

I'm in NZ and policy is with AIG. I've just spoken to them and there is no Covid cover! How stupid is that, if Westpac Australia cover Covid but NZ does not, what's the difference? (Rhetorical question but really, that's seems unfair). It also does not cover when in NZ waters, which I see yours does.

MicCanberra

Be very wary of CC insurance as it can be very tricky, some have a minimal spend on each item of travel I.e. $250 on flights, another on hotel, another on the cruise  not just on the whole trip.

56 minutes ago, MicCanberra said: Be very wary of CC insurance as it can be very tricky, some have a minimal spend on each item of travel I.e. $250 on flights, another on hotel, another on the cruise  not just on the whole trip.

Thanks, Mic, but we checked that point, and we are clear.  W’s is cumulative.

1 hour ago, phoenixx said: I'm in NZ and policy is with AIG. I've just spoken to them and there is no Covid cover! How stupid is that, if Westpac Australia cover Covid but NZ does not, what's the difference? (Rhetorical question but really, that's seems unfair). It also does not cover when in NZ waters, which I see yours does.

Gosh, that’s very one-sided.

Newbie here….I have ANZ card with complimentary travel insurance.  I know that Covid is covered.   

Wondering if you get confined in your room on a cruise for say 5 days, anyone knows whether there is any compensation from ANZ Allianz travel insurance?  

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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.

Credit card travel insurance

Complimentary or 'free' credit card travel insurance is a popular feature which many travellers rely on for cover during their travels.  Checking the fine print of your credit card travel insurance policy terms is essential - otherwise, you might find common exclusions leave you out of pocket.

What is  credit card travel insurance?

Pros and cons of credit card travel insurance.

Here's the top four pros and cons of complimentary credit card travel insurance:

Most credit card policies are underwritten by the same companies as standalone policies, so you know legitimate claims will be paid. 

Most credit card travel insurance policies specifically exclude pre-existing conditions from cover.

While standard travel insurance gets more expensive as you get older, there's no extra cost on credit card travel insurance policies. 

Many cards have an age limit or restrictions once you hit 75 years of age. Trip duration is often limited of 1 to 6 months, so you might not be covered at all even though you've paid your annual fee. 

You don't have to pay extra to be covered for places like Japan and the USA, which typically cost more with standalone policies due to .

If you're going skiing, riding a motorcycle, or partaking in adventure activities be sure to check the policy detail as they may be excluded.

You've already paid for your policy using your annual fees, so there's no additional cost to you. 

Annual card fees can be hefty. Depending upon your trip details, a standalone policy may be cheaper than your credit card annual fee.

Activating  credit card travel insurance

1. ​activation on purchase, 2. activation on value or percentage of trip purchases, 3. activation on flight purchase, 4. activation on notification.

You need to call your card provider or log in to their internet banking or app and notify them of your trip to activate the policy.

compare credit card  travel insurance conditions 

The information provided is factual at the time of writing and general in nature.  We have not considered your personal circumstances.  Eligibility requirements and terms and conditions for cover are subject to change from time to time.  Please refer to your credit card provider and the latest policy wording prior to your travels. 

Will credit card insurance cover you?

Spouse or family members, trip length.

what credit card travel insurance may not cover

Pre-existing conditions, holiday activities,   high-value items, what credit card travel insurance covers, overseas emergency medical treatment, cancellation fees and lost deposits, luggage and personal effects, public liability, credit card travel cover  faqs, is credit card travel insurance any good.

Whether credit card travel insurance is as good as or better than standalone travel insurance depends entirely on you and your circumstances. If you're going for a short trip, you've paid for your flight on your card, and you have no pre-existing medical conditions, taking advantage of 'free' credit card travel insurance might be a winner. But if you're going for a while, doing any adventurous activities, or you're got existing health issues, a standalone product may offer you the coverage you're looking for.

Which Australian credit cards come with travel insurance?

Not every credit card comes with travel insurance. Complimentary travel insurance is typically offered on premium credit or rewards cards that have higher annual fees. Check your policy documents for details or contact your bank. You can also check the table above for some of the more popular credit cards.

What is the best credit card for travel insurance?

The benefits you get with credit cards varies based on the type of card you have, the policy provider and your individual circumstances, so there isn’t actually a “best” credit card for travel insurance. Our table lists Australia's premium cards that provide travel insurance and outlines any activation criteria.

Can I cover my medical conditions with my credit card cover?

In most cases, pre-existing medical conditions will not be covered by travel insurance that comes with your credit card, but you may be able to get cover for this by contacting the insurer and paying an additional premium. You will need to check the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), also known as policy wording to find out whether pre-existing medical conditions are covered. The alternative is a standalone travel insurance, learn more about covering your medical conditions.

Am I covered if I go skiing?

Like all insurances, some limitations apply to the travel insurance that comes with your credit card or rewards card and skiing is often one of them. Winter sports activities such as skiing and snowboarding are often excluded from credit card travel insurance, so if you're planning on hitting the slopes you should contact your provider to ensure that you have adequate cover for your planned activities. If not, opt for a standalone ski insurance policy.

Crystal Moran

With a research and journalism background, and certified in Tier 2 General Insurance General Advice, Crystal is passionate about investigating customers’ tricky travel questions and helping them find the answers they’re looking for. A writer and filmmaker whose favourite trips have been to film festivals in Cuba and South Korea, and campervanning around the USA, she loves getting to know new people and seeing a glimpse of the world through their eyes.

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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.

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Westpac Travel Insurance

Our verdict: westpac travel insurance covers the basics and offers helpful add-ons, but its cover for covid-19 could be stronger..

In this guide

Summary of Westpac International Comprehensive policy

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

Destinations

• You can set your own cancellation limit on both the comprehensive and essential plans, making it suitable for trips of all budgets.
• Rental vehicle excess is included as standard in the comprehensive policy.
• Cover for COVID-19 is limited. In most cases, you or your travelling companion would need to be diagnosed with COVID-19 to claim.
• Pregnancy isn't covered after the 23rd week, but we found 11 brands that would extend cover for longer.

Compare other options

Table updated October 2023

Westpac offers some cover for claims related to COVID-19. Here's what you can expect:

• Any costs incurred from having to cancel, delay or change your trip because you or a travelling companion are diagnosed with COVID-19 - that includes additional accommodation and travel expenses.
• Overseas emergency medical costs if you need treatment for COVID0-19while on your trip
• Transport of your remains or burial costs if you die as a result of COVID-19 during your trip.

There are some scenarios that are not covered by Westpac including costs incurred as a result of mandatory quarantine or isolation, border closures or government travel bans.

Also, if you were diagnosed with COVID-19 before heading on your trip but you went anyway, you won't be covered for any COVID-related overseas medical expenses.

Westpac offers five insurance policies to travellers: Comprehensive, Essentials, Domestic, Multi-Trip and Non-Medical.

Comprehensive

Non-Medical

The insurer of this product is Allianz Australia Insurance Limited. It comes with a cooling-off period of 14 days and choice of $200 standard excess for international plans.

These are some of the main insured events that Westpac will cover. Some of these benefits may only be available 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

Westpac also offers four add-ons that provide cover for a wider range of risks.

• Adventure Pack. Cover for a broader range of activities that are deemed higher-risk, including moped riding, river tubing and quad biking.
• Snow Pack. Cover for participation in snow sports, plus cover for specific risks such as piste closure, avalanches, and equipment hire.
• Cruise Pack Extends your insurance policy to cover cruises and covers a range of specific risks such as cabin confinement, missed short excursions, and marine rescue.

Unfortunately, travel insurance doesn't cover everything. Generally, Wetpac 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
• An act of war, invasion or revolution
• Insolvency of a travel agent , tour operator or accommodation provider
• Mandatory quarantines or isolations
• You being unfit to travel or travelling against medical advice
• Childbirth or pregnancy complications after the 24rd week of gestation or if you have had previous pregnancy complications
• A multiple pregnancy or one where the conception was medically assisted
• 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 Westpac PDS for a detailed breakdown of what won't be covered, found under its list of general exclusions .

You can lodge a claim online via the AGA website, or email [email protected].

Alternatively, you can lodge a claim over the phone by calling AGA on 1800 502 077, 8am–7pm, Monday–Friday or 8am–5pm on Saturday.

Westpac has a decent range of customisations, including an adjustable excess and cancellation limits, as well as specific add-ons for snow sports, adventure activities, and cruising.

This makes the policy suitable for a wide range of travellers and trip types. However, cover for COVID-19 is limited so if you want comprehensive protection, you might have to look elsewhere.

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

Is there an age limit on Westpac travel insurance?

No, anyone over the age of 18 can buy a Westpac travel insurance policy. However, the Snow Pack and Adventure Pack are only available to under 75s.

Is there travel insurance included on my Westpac credit card?

Some Westpac credit cards come with complimentary travel insurance. If you have a credit card, check whether it includes travel insurance, if it suits your needs, and how you can activate it.

Do I have to have to bank with Westpac to get Westpac travel insurance?

No, you can get travel insurance from Westpac even if you are not an existing customer.

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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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10 Responses

my brother Garry legge has account with Westpac and we are going to England and France in August he has travel insurance through you he said if he pays my fair i can be covered under a family pack is this true

Generally, the travel insurance offered on a credit card can only extend to the spouse and children. You can read more about it here . It is unlikely you will be covered, but you can contact Westpac for confirmation on 13 20 32.

I have booked a hotel in Bali by using my Westpac credit card. I have also paid taxes for the Jetstar flights to Bali. How much do I need to spend to be covered by WBC travel insurance

Thank you for visiting finder.

To be eligible for the Complimentary Travel Insurance from Westpac, you need to have a return ticket to Australia and use your credit card to pay for a minimum of $500AUD of your travel cost. The eligible cost includes:

*Return overseas travel tickets *Airport/departure taxes *Prepaid overseas accommodation *Prepaid overseas itinerary items

Once you have met all the conditions above, you will be automatically covered by the travel insurance.

I hope this helps.

Let us know if there is anything else that we may assist you with.

Cheers, Ash

Do I have to bank with Westpac to be eligible to purchase travel insurance

Thanks for your inquiry.

No, you don’t. You may purchase a policy without banking with Westpac. Some Westpac cards do offer complimentary travel insurance. You may also check our Westpac Complimentary Insurance Policy Overview for more information.

As a gentle reminder, please ensure you review the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions before applying.

Hope this information helps

Cheers, Arnold

Hi I have Westpac credit card .do Westpac give free travel insurance to it customers like comm bank do for there customers.

Thanks for your question. Some Westpac cards do offer complimentary travel insurance. You may find our Westpac credit card’s complimentary insurance policy review useful.

I hope this was helpful, Richard

I have a west pac altitude platinum credit card i am travelling overseas does the complimentary travel insurance bring a discount to a full travel insurance policy ?

Thanks for your question.

Westpac Altitude Platinum Travel insurance provides a range of cover benefits. Please consult the Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card Offers Travel Insurance page for the full review. You may also find credit card vs standalone travel insurance useful.

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The benefits of free travel insurance with credit cards

Who doesn’t love free stuff? When it comes to credit cards, ‘free’ stuff will always be appealing. From free insurances, to bonus rewards points, to cashback, to gift cards, credit card providers are always coming up with new incentives to attract new customers.

To help you make the right decision, we’re going to look at the pros and cons of credit card travel insurance, and what it does and doesn’t cover. We’re also going to look at which credit cards offer free travel insurance – from American Express, all the way to Westpac.

Which credit cards offer free travel insurance?

In the past, only premium credit cards offered incentives such as free travel insurance. Nowadays however, standard credit cards, rewards cards and frequent flyer credit cards often offer complimentary insurances as well.

Scroll down for our list of credit cards currently offering free travel insurance.

What to be aware of when choosing a credit card with free travel insurance

When credit card providers offer ‘free’ features such as insurance, it can often mean the card is more costly in fees and interest. Just as you would do when comparing rewards credit cards , think about what you are getting from the card, and how much you are paying for those features. (Find out more about making the most of your rewards card here .)

The key to choosing the right credit card – in any circumstance – is making sure it offers value for money. Think about what you are getting from the travel insurance, what cover it offers, what exceptions there are, and how often you are going to use it.

What are the benefits of credit card travel insurance?

The main benefit of credit card travel insurance is the cover it provides. Your credit card provides you with travel cover, so you don’t have to buy standalone travel insurance, which should save you money – and the hassle of looking for cover.

Depending on your insurer, you could be covered for medical costs, travel delays and cancellations, lost baggage and personal belongings, and lost money and travel documents. You may also be covered for flight ‘inconvenience’, transit accidents, and car rental excess.

Here are the main types of insurance available on credit card travel insurance (bear in mind that most of the travel insurance is for overseas trips only).

• International/Overseas Travel Insurance : Travel cancellation, overseas medical expenses, lost luggage or travel documents, accidental death and disability, missed connections, personal liability and more.
• Interstate Flight Inconvenience Insurance : You’re usually covered if, during an interstate flight, your luggage is lost or delayed or if you have to cancel or amend an interstate flight due to serious illness.
• Transit accident insurance : Covers you if you or members of your family die or are seriously injured in an accident while travelling.
• Rental Excess Cover : Reduces your excess payment if you made the car hire on the credit card, but usually only if you took the comprehensive insurance option.

In order to make the most out of your credit card travel insurance, be sure to read the terms and conditions of the cover, and find out about any possible exclusions.

And remember…

• Always remember the free insurance will only be activated if you purchase the item on the card, for example the full price of the air fare or the holiday. (Find out more about booking travel and accommodation on your credit card here .)
• Always read and understand the terms and conditions closely before relying on the insurance cover, all of the banks use reliable insurers but there are still subtle differences to be found.
• Supplementary card members are often NOT covered unless they’re an immediate family member. So a friend or colleague who has an additional card on the account may not be covered.

Find out more about credit card travel insurance and what it covers here .

American Express Credit Cards

American Express cards provide extensive free travel insurance options. The most important difference is the domestic cover – most other providers don’t offer this. American Express free travel insurance is provided by ACE Insurance. The Platinum card has 18 different insurance benefits including roadside assistance and hijack cover.

ANZ Credit Cards

ANZ’s four platinum cards all feature free travel insurance. The travel and medical insurance covers a trip of up to 6 months. Interstate flight inconvenience covers you for return flights purchased for up to a 14 day period, and transport accident insurance covers plane, bus, ferry or train journeys when you’ve bought the full fare on your ANZ Platinum card.

Bank of Melbourne, Bank SA and St George Credit Cards

Bank of Melbourne , BankSA and St George all provide the same products under different branding, and therefore the same insurance cover. All cover is for the main cardholder, their spouse and dependent children.

Citi Credit Cards

All Citi credit cards shown on this site are regarded as premium and include international travel insurance. The Signature and Prestige cards are more comprehensive than the Platinum cards in terms of domestic cover – there is no domestic flight inconvenience insurance included on those.

Commonwealth Bank Credit Cards

Commonwealth Bank credit cards ’ free travel insurance is only really extensive on the Awards Platinum card option.  The other credit cards provide overseas travel insurance but not interstate flight inconvenience or transit accident insurance. The cardholder’s spouse and dependent children are automatically covered.

Diners Club Credit Cards

Diners Club (yes it still exists) offers extensive free travel insurance as it’s a premium credit card offering. It offers cover for the card holder, spouse and dependent children for all items, the cover of which is provided by Zurich Insurance.

HSBC Credit Cards

HSBC updated the free travel insurance for its HSBC credit cards in 2022 to include a spouse and dependants aged under 16, making it a better all-round option for travelling overseas with family. It also includes rental vehicle excess insurance up to $3000, funeral expenses if you’re travelling for an overseas funeral or return of remains, and domestic pet travel cover if your journey is delayed.

NAB Credit Cards

NAB credit cards ’ free travel insurance covers the cardholder and their immediate family, it is limited however, if you or another family member is 75 years old or older. NAB does include some interesting additional extras such as domestic hotel burglary insurance, kidnappings and hijacks.

Virgin Credit Cards

Virgin credit cards only provide free overseas travel insurance on their premium High Flyer card , but do provide transit accident insurance on the Flyer Card. Insurance is applicable to spouse and dependant children too.

All in all, there is a huge range of options to consider. If you are travelling with family and book the whole trip on the card, there are good options to save yourself a lot of money on separate travel insurance – if you’re sure your credit card has you covered. Always check the terms and conditions thoroughly.

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Pauline hatch.

Pauline is a personal finance expert at CreditCard.com.au, with 8 years in money, budgeting and property reporting under her belt. Pauline is passionate about seeing Aussies win by making their money – and their credit cards – work smarter, harder and bigger.

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10 Credit Cards That Provide Travel Insurance

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Travel insurance helps you get your money back when things go wrong with your trip. And it remains a debate: Do you really need it, and is it worth it?

Personally, I’ve often skipped travel insurance, preferring to put the extra money toward my trip. Yet as I pulled into the airport after a winter ski trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, in my SUV rental, a snowplow kicked up a rock and a crack extended across the windshield. And just like that, I got in the dreaded rental car accident .

Thankfully, I had rented my car with my Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card , which covered rental car windshield reimbursement. Note that I had also specifically opted out of the car rental's insurance coverage offered at the counter, which is a requirement in order to allow my credit card coverage to kick in. Terms apply.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

A number of credit cards provide various types of travel insurance (including trip cancellation, trip interruption and car rental loss and damage insurance) when you use your card to pay for flights, rental cars and other travel expenses. So do you need additional travel insurance? Maybe not.

What does your travel insurance cover?

First, let’s look at the different types of coverage that your credit card may offer to help protect your trip, from your bags to your rental car to your health.

Baggage delay . If your luggage doesn’t arrive when you do, you may receive a reimbursement to offset the costs of having to purchase new attire and other items you may need. The length of delay required and the coverage offered varies by card.

Lost/damaged baggage . If your bags are lost or damaged by a carrier, or items have been stolen from your baggage, your provider may provide monetary compensation.

Trip delay . If your trip on a common carrier is delayed, you may receive monetary compensation to help cover meals, hotels, transportation and necessary purchases up to a certain amount per ticket.

Trip cancellation . If you need to cancel a prepaid, nonrefundable trip, you may receive compensation to offset the lost funds. This benefit generally applies to cancellations for covered reasons, which vary by card.

Trip interruption . If you miss a portion of your trip due to a covered reason, this benefit will reimburse you for any unused, prepaid, nonrefundable reservations (i.e., excursions, hotel nights).

Medical treatment . If you are hurt while traveling and require medical treatment, medical expenses may be covered up to a certain dollar amount.

Medical evacuation . If your illness or injury requires you to return home immediately for care, the insurance coverage through your card may cover the costs.

Travel accident insurance. In the case of accidental death or dismemberment, your credit card may provide coverage to you or to your beneficiary

Rental car insurance. This coverage provides protection to your rental car against theft and damage. Coverage may be primary or secondary to your personal auto insurance, depending on the card.

» Learn more: Should you insure your cruise?

Popular credit cards with travel insurance

Some of the best travel rewards cards include various forms of travel insurance. These are a few of our favorite cards that offer certain types of coverage. If you have a different travel rewards card, it’s a good idea to check the benefits of your card before assuming that it either does or doesn’t have any of the coverage listed here.

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $40,000 per 12-month period.

Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than six hours.

Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days.

Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger.

Travel accident: Up to $1,000,000.

Rental car insurance: Up to $75,000.

2. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Trip delay: Up to $500 per ticket for delays more than 12 hours.

Travel accident: Up to $500,000.

Rental car insurance: Up to the actual cash value of the car.

3. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Lost luggage: Up to $2,000 for checked bag and up to $3,000 for checked and carry-on bag. New York state residents get $2,000 per bag, up to a maximum of $10,000 for all covered persons per trip.

Travel accident insurance. Up to $500,000.

Trip delay insurance: Up to $500 per trip. Maximum benefit of $1,000 per 12-month period.

Trip cancellation: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

Trip interruption: Up to $10,000 per trip. Maximum benefit of $20,000 per 12-month period.

4. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for five days for essential purchases like toiletries and clothing for delays of over six hours.

Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger for checked or carry on luggage.

Damaged luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger for checked or carry on luggage.

5. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Baggage delay: Up to $100 per day for three days.

Travel accident insurance: Up to $250,000 to $500,000 (Visa Platinum and Visa Signature, respectively).

Rental car insurance: Up to actual cash value of vehicle.

Travel and emergency assistance services: Assistance and referral via the Benefit Administrator, cardholder is responsible for all costs.

6. United℠ Explorer Card

Trip cancellation: Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

Trip interruption: Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip.

Rental car insurance: Covers damage or theft with restrictions.

7. Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card

Lost carry on luggage: Up to $1,250 per person for carry on baggage while in direct transit to or from a common carrier terminal, while traveling on a common carrier or while at a common carrier terminal.

Lost checked luggage: Up to $500 per person while traveling on a common carrier.

Rental car insurance: Up to $50,000.

Terms apply.

8. The Platinum Card® from American Express

Trip delay: Up to $500 per trip for delays more than 6 hours.

9. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Lost luggage: Up to $3,000 per passenger. For New York state residents, coverage is limited to $2,000 per bag.

Travel accident insurance: Up to $250,000.

Rental car insurance: Covers damage or theft with restrictions. Eligible rental periods are limited to 15 consecutive days in the cardholders home country or 32 consecutive days outside it.

10. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Baggage delay: Up to $100 per carrier for three days.

Do I need additional travel insurance?

Even with the coverage listed above, some credit cards offering travel insurance benefits may not provide enough insurance for your needs. For example, if you have paid $10,000 for a vacation using your card and trip cancellation is not offered, you may want to purchase additional coverage. Likewise, if you book a very expensive trip but your card only covers $10,000 in trip cancellation coverage, you may want to consider additional coverage.

American Express offers full travel insurance options through AmEx Assurance . This specific benefit is available to all travelers and does not require an American Express card. You can pick and choose the coverage you want, and a quote will be processed based on your age, trip expense and days traveling.

For example, here's what we found when requesting insurance for a two-day trip that costs $1,000. You can decide what coverage you'd like and see the full cost of your options:

The quote we received covered 100% reimbursement for cancellation, then offered different levels for other types of coverage.

Medical protection was available for $25,000 to $100,000.

Travel accident protection was available for $250,000 to $1,500,000.

Baggage protection was available for up to $500 to $2,500.

Trip delay coverage was offered for $150 to $1,000 per day, depending on selecting basic, silver, gold or premium options.

When renting a car, be sure to check the specific requirements of your credit card, which may vary by location and type of vehicle.

So do you need travel insurance? A good rule of thumb is if the amount you could lose is more than you want to lose (or can afford to lose) if something goes wrong, get the insurance. For a list of travel insurance companies that provide online quotes, read more about how to find the best travel insurance .

» Learn more: Does trip insurance cover award flights?

Cards with travel insurance, recapped

If you are concerned about an upcoming trip and want to be fully protected, combine your travel credit card insurance with a build-your-own plan to cover what your credit card does not.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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You will receive a welcome email shortly, how to activate free travel insurance cover on your credit card.

One of the biggest perks of having a rewards card or travel credit card in your pocket is the potential for complimentary travel insurance .

While it’s a great freebie to have, the fine print on credit card travel insurance can really get you. There’s nothing worse than discovering mid-trip that you aren't adequately covered.

To ensure your travel insurance is activated before you head overseas, we’ve rounded up the major Australian credit card providers who offer complimentary travel cover for their credit cards , as well as how to activate the included travel insurance.

NOTE: Before signing up for a new card, always read the terms and conditions and get across what's covered. Most included travel insurance will exclude pre-existing conditions, and may not cover for additional activities like cruise cover or snow sports.

Credit Card Providers

American express, commonwealth bank.

Underwritten by: Chubb

Eligible American Express Credit Cards :

• Qantas American Express Ultimate Credit Card
• Qantas American Express Premium Credit Card
• American Express Platinum Edge Credit Card
• American Express Velocity Platinum Credit Card
• American Express Explorer Credit Card

How to activate: Your travel insurance cover starts when you:

• Buy a return ticket from Australia.
• INTERNATIONAL:  Pay for the full fare of that ticket with your American Express card or corresponding membership points.
• DOMESTIC:  Spend at least $500 on accommodation or the full transport fare for domestic trips on your American Express card or with corresponding membership points.
• You must be a resident of Australia, a current American Express card holder (or their spouse or dependent), and are 79 or younger at the time of purchase.

What prepaid travel costs count? This one is very specific - only the full fare of your return trip counts towards activating your travel insurance cover, including flights and cruises. For domestic trips, you will need to either spend the entire cost of your return fare (bus, train, flight, cruise, etc) or at least $500 in domestic accommodation costs to activate your travel insurance cover.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? This will depend on the type of card you have, as certain cards will cover your spouse and dependents under the age of 22. 

Underwritten by: Insurance provided by Zurich Australian Insurance Limited through its agent Cover-More Insurance Services. 

Eligible Commonwealth Bank Credit Cards:

• Commonwealth Bank Smart Awards Credit Card
• Commonwealth Bank Ultimate Awards Credit Card

How to activate: Activate cover with the press of a button via NetBank, the CommBank app, or directly with Cover-More.

What prepaid travel costs count? Cover is automatically activated for 12 months from when you make the booking for your trip. However, if you're trying to activate mid-trip keep in mind a three day waiting period applies.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? Yes, your spouse and up to ten children are covered as long as they are travelling with you (the cardholder) for the duration of the trip.

Underwritten by: Allianz

Eligible NAB Credit Cards :

• NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Credit Card
• NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Credit Card
• NAB Rewards Signature Credit Card
• NAB Rewards Platinum Credit Card
• NAB Low Fee Platinum Card

How to activate: NAB have range of travel insurance plans on their credit cards and each one is activated in a slightly different way. For your overseas travel insurance plan, you need to:

• Have an eligible card.
• Have a return trip booked from Australia.
• Before leaving Australia, spend $500 on your prepaid travel costs on the eligible NAB credit card.
• Be an Australian resident and under 91 years of age at the time of departure.

What prepaid travel costs count? Your return flights or boat trip, transport, accommodation and tours DO count, but travellers cheques and foreign currency DON’T count (check T&Cs for further information). To qualify, you need to use your NAB card or card details to purchase these items – using the account linked to your debit card via BPay or PayPal won’t activate your travel insurance.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? Yes, but they will also need a return ticket for the trip and a $500 spend each on prepaid travel costs, paid on your eligible card, and they will need to satisfy the relevant eligibility requirements.

Eligible Westpac Credit Cards :

• Westpac Altitude Black Credit Card (available in Altitude Rewards, Velocity Frequent Flyer, and Qantas Frequent Flyer varieties)
• Westpac Altitude Platinum Credit Card  (available in Altitude Rewards, Velocity Frequent Flyer, and Qantas Frequent Flyer varieties)

How to activate:  To activate travel insurance on your Westpac credit card, you'll need to have:

• A return ticket to Australia booked before you leave
• An eligible Westpac card
• Paid for $500 of your prepaid travel costs with that card before leaving Australia

You must also be under 81 years old and an Australian resident.

What prepaid travel costs count? Your return flight, accommodation, other travel while you’re away and any tours that might be on your itinerary can be included in the $500 figure.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? Yes, as long as they also have a return ticket and $500 of their travel costs have been paid on the Westpac credit card in question, and are travelling with the cardholder for at least 50% of their travel time.

Eligible ANZ Credit Cards :

• ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum
• ANZ Frequent Flyer Black
• ANZ Rewards Platinum
• ANZ Rewards Black
• ANZ Rewards Travel Adventures
• ANZ Platinum

How to activate: At $250, ANZ has one of the lowest thresholds for activation. To activate your ANZ travel insurance, all you need to do is:

• Have one of the above eligible cards
• Use it to purchase just $250 of your prepaid travel costs
• Have a return flight from Australia
• Be under 81 years old

What prepaid travel costs count? This can include flights, other transport, accommodation or tours for you and your spouse or dependent children. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use your reward points towards your $250 payment.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? As long as they are travelling with you, have a return ticket and $250 of their prepaid travel costs have been paid on your ANZ card.

Eligible Citi Credit Cards :

• Citi Prestige Credit Card
• Citi Premier Credit Card
• Citi Rewards Credit Card

How to activate:  To get your insurance up and running, you’ll need to make sure:

• Your overseas trip does not last more than 6 consecutive months.
• Your travel ticket was purchased using an eligible Citi credit card or via the associated frequent flyer program.
• If you're purchasing with frequent flyer points, you must spend a minimum of 15,000 points accrued on a Citi Card or through Citi Rewards over a 12 month period prior to buying your travel ticket. 

What prepaid travel costs count? Only the cost of your overseas travel ticket is relevant to your travel insurance policy activation.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? Yes, as long as they’ve met the same eligibility requirements as the cardholder, which means paying for their ticket using the eligible Citi credit card. They will also need to be travelling with you for at least 50% of the trip.

Eligible HSBC credit cards :

• HSBC Platinum Qantas Credit Card
• HSBC Platinum Credit Card
• HSBC Premier World MasterCard
• HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card

The HSBC Low Rate Credit Card does offer domestic travel insurance, but not international. 

How to activate: There are two simple steps to activating travel insurance on an HSBC credit card, which are:

• Have a return ticket for your trip
• Spend at least $500 with your card on prepaid travel costs before you leave.

You will also need to be an Australian resident.

What prepaid travel costs count?  In the $500 you need to spend towards your trip, you can include your return tickets and prepaid accommodation costs.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? Yes, but they need to activate their travel insurance in the same way you do. They’ll also have to be travelling with you for at least 50% of the trip.

Eligible St. George Credit Cards :

• St. George Amplify Rewards Signature Credit Card
• St. George Amplify Rewards Platinum Credit Card
• St. George Amplify Qantas Signature Credit Card
• St. George Amplify Qantas Platinum Credit Card

How to activate: To activate your St. George travel insurance cover, you’ll need to make sure:

• You've bought a return ticket to Australia for your trip
• You've paid $500 of your prepaid travel expenses with your eligible St. George card
• You're under 81 years old and an Australian resident

What prepaid travel costs count? Accommodation, flights, other travel, and tours can all contribute to the $500 required to activate your included travel insurance.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? Your spouse and any dependents are covered as long as they are travelling with you at least 50% of the time and meet the criteria of having a return ticket, $500 of their prepaid travel expenses paid on your card, and are under 81 years old. 

Underwritten by: Cover-More

Eligible Bankwest Credit Cards :

• Bankwest Qantas World Mastercard
• Bankwest Qantas Platinum Mastercard
• Bankwest More Platinum Mastercard
• Bankwest More World Mastercard
• Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
• Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard

How to activate: You’ll be automatically covered as long as you hold one of the eligible Bankwest cards. Keep in mind if you're over 80 years old you won't have access to complimentary medical cover. 

What prepaid travel costs count? There are no minimum prepaid travel costs required to activate your cover. You can see your complimentary cover through either the Cover-more or Bankwest apps. This policy only covers the basics. You do have the option to upgrade to a more comprehensive cover for an added premium.

Are my spouse and dependants covered? Yes! Once you are eligible, they are too, as long as they’re travelling with you for the duration of the trip.

Don’t forget these important rules!

Our mantra here at Mozo may as well be, “Always read the product disclosure statement ”, as this will tell you what the inclusions/exclusions are of your chosen policy.

Here are some things to keep in mind about your travel insurance policy if you activate it through your credit card:

• Pre-existing medical conditions aren’t covered under most of these policies. If you’re travelling with a pre-existing medical condition, you might have to think about purchasing a standalone policy that suits your needs.
• Unless it's specified (like with Amex or HSBC) you don’t NEED to pay for your return ticket with your credit card to be eligible, but it’s a good way to spend a chunk of the required amount.
• The period of cover generally ranges from 3-6 months, but it’s important to check your particular policy.
• Most of the time, there’s no need to tell your bank that you’re travelling - your cover is automatically applied once you meet the eligibility requirements. It might be helpful anyway, to prevent foreign charges being flagged as fraudulent!
• For spouses or dependent children to be covered, they usually need to be travelling with the card holder for the duration of the trip. Check your policy for an exact definition of who qualifies as a dependent, because the age limit sometimes changes from policy to policy. (Otherwise, check out our guide to family travel insurance ).
• A lot of these travel insurance policies have age limits, usually up to 80 years of age. If you or someone you’re travelling with needs seniors' coverage, take a look at our handy seniors guide.

Ready to jet-set? Here’s a pre-trip travel document checklist to get you started.

Head to the best travel insurance hub for more expert tips, or find more of the best credit cards for some year round picks. 

Meanwhile, if complimentary travel insurance isn't enough, start comparing standalone travel insurance policies below.

Compare travel insurance policies - last updated 29 April 2024

Mozo experts choice awards won:

• Exceptional Value Ski Travel Insurance - 2024
• Exceptional Value Essential Travel Insurance - 2024
• Exceptional Value Comprehensive Travel Insurance - 2024

International Travel Insurance

Covid medical cover, covid cancellation cover, overseas hospital, cancellation cover.

Get protection in a few simple steps with Freely travel insurance all in the palm of your hand. Freely Travel offers 24/7 emergency and medical support, 24/7 customer service. Plus, you can tailor your policy so you only pay for what you need, and adapt your cover in near real time. Add-ons such as car rental excess, snow sports or other activities also available. Receive 10% off your travel insurance policy with promo code: MOZO10. T&Cs apply, go to site for full detail.

Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

To see the Pre-existing Conditions and Activities covered by this policy please visit our detailed page about this product.

Comprehensive

Enjoy unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services when you travel. Get unlimited cover for cancellation fees and prepaid travel expenses. Cover for luggage and travel documents. $5,000,000 personal liability cover.

Be prepared for the unexpected on your adventures with Butter Travel Insurance. Emergency medical and hospital cover. COVID-19, accident and personal liability cover. Optional trip cancellation & interruption cover. Customise your cover with added extras like Motorcycle and ski cover (T&Cs apply).

Backed by the NIB, one of Australia’s largest travel insurance providers, Travel Insurance Saver brings you peace of mind on your travels. Compare three tiers of insurance cover, featuring benefits like 24 hour emergency assistance, emergency medical cover, luggage cover, cancellation cover and more.

• Exceptional Value Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance - 2024

International Comprehensive Single

Enjoy the security of single trip cover on your next holiday with Southern Cross Travel Insurance. Get 24 hour emergency assistance, cover for cancelling or changing your journey before you leave, protection for lost, stolen or damaged goods as well as cover to replace lost or stolen cash, banks or travel documents. Be in to win 1 of 5 $1,000 cash prizes! T&Cs Apply. Offer ends 30 September 2023.

• Exceptional Quality Travel Insurance - 2024
• Travel Insurance Company of the Year - 2024

Be covered for international overseas and medical expenses. Emergency medical assistance 24 hours/365 days a year. Cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits. Cover for luggage and personal money. Dependents covered free of charge (conditions apply). Limited COVID cover available. Cancellation cover for COVID claims limited to $3,500.

Get the security of unlimited medical cover and 24/7 emergency assistance services when you travel. Get cover for cancellation fees and prepaid travel expenses. Cover for luggage and travel documents. $2,500,000 personal liability cover.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Travel Insurance Awards

Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.

While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.

Who we are and how we get paid

Our goal at Mozo is to help you make smart financial decisions and our award-winning comparison tools and services are provided free of charge. As a marketplace business, we do earn money from advertising and this page features products with Go To Site links and/or other paid links where the provider pays us a fee if you go to their site from ours, or you take out a product with them. You do not pay any extra for using our service.

We are proud of the tools and information we provide and unlike some other comparison sites, we also include the option to search all the products in our database, regardless of whether we have a commercial relationship with the providers of those products or not.

'Sponsored', 'Hot deal' and 'Featured Product' labels denote products where the provider has paid to advertise more prominently.

'Mozo sort order' refers to the initial sort order and is not intended in any way to imply that particular products are better than others. You can easily change the sort order of the products displayed on the page.

Important information on terms, conditions and sub-limits

Terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits may apply to any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. These terms, conditions, exclusions, limits and sub-limits could affect the level of benefits and cover available under any of the insurance products shown on the Mozo website. Please refer to the relevant Product Disclosure Statement and the Target Market Determination on the provider's website for further information before making any decisions about an insurance product.

The 9 best credit cards with travel insurance of April 2024

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page .

Many things can go wrong on a trip, so having one of the best credit cards with travel insurance in your wallet can provide invaluable peace of mind. Having protection against unforeseen trip cancellations and delays is an essential part of modern-day travel. It can be incredibly valuable to know that you are protected from the financial loss of travel disruption on your next adventure. 

Many credit cards include extensive coverage when you use them for your trip purchases, and our expert team has chosen the best credit cards with travel insurance to help ensure that your trips are as secure as they are captivating. 

Why Trust Us?

At The Points Guy, our goal is to help you maximize your travel experiences while minimizing spending. Our travel and credit cards experts share their own experiences and give honest analyses to help you make decisions that benefit you the most. While we do receive compensation through our credit card application links, ads, and clearly indicated sponsored content, our editorial content , points valuations and card analysis are entirely our own.

Why you can trust The Points Guy

Since 2010, TPG has been dedicated to helping you make informed credit card and travel decisions. We know that credit card rewards can unlock travel that changes lives, and we strive every day to help our readers achieve their financial and travel goals.

In addition to credit cards expertise, we have a variety of industry experts on our editorial team to help every reader make the best travel decisions available. We believe every redemption matters, whether someone is using points and miles to take a dream trip or looking to save money on holiday travel.

As our team and library of resources has grown, so has our influence in the industry. Our TPG Awards are a badge of honor that winning banks, hotel groups and airlines all wear proudly. Our dedication to producing honest reviews and helpful content for our readers is what allows readers and companies alike to place their trust in us.

• No Annual Fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

• 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
• 2x 2x on all other travel purchases.
• 1x 1x on all other purchases.

Why We Chose It

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the most popular travel rewards credit card on the market. Offering an excellent return on travel and dining purchases, the card packs a ton of value that easily offsets its $95 annual fee. Cardholders can redeem points at 1.25 cents each for travel booked through Chase or transfer points to one of Chase’s 14 valuable airline and hotel partners.

• You’ll earn 2x Ultimate Rewards points on travel and 3x Ultimate Rewards points dining including eligible delivery services and takeout.
• Premium travel protection benefits including trip cancellation insurance, primary car rental insurance and lost luggage insurance.
• The card comes with a $95 annual fee.
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Pros & Cons

More details, united club℠ infinite card.

• 4X Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• 2X Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
• 1X Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Only the United Club Infinite Card grants you complimentary United Club lounge membership, worth up to $650 per year. Although this card comes with a steep $525 annual fee, the lounge benefit alone can more than cover this annual cost. Not to mention the other ongoing perks of this card, from two free checked bags and up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. For frequent United flyers, this card can provide tons of value each year.

• Earn 4x on United purchases; 2x on travel and dining; 1x on everything else
• United Club℠ membership for you and your eligible travel companions at all United Club locations and participating Star Alliance lounges worldwide
• Up to $100 statement credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck application every four years
• Free first and second checked bags for you and one travel companion on the same reservation
• 25% inflight purchase statement credit
• High $525 annual fee
• Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
• Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
• Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
• 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
• Earn up to 10,000 Premier qualifying points (25 PQP for every $500 you spend on purchases)

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

• 3X Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year
• 1X Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases – with no limit to the amount you can earn

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card’s sign-up bonus is among the highest we’ve seen from Chase. Plus earn points across the four bonus categories (travel, shipping, advertising and telecommunication providers) that are most popular with businesses. The card comes with travel protections, shopping protections and will also have primary coverage when renting a car for business purposes for you and your employees.

• One of the highest sign-up bonuses we’ve seen — 100,000 bonus points after $8,000 worth of spend in the first three months after card opening
• Access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for points redemption
• Reasonable $95 annual fee
• Bonus categories that are most relevant to business owners: primary car insurance, and perks including cellphone and purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, and trip delay reimbursement;
• High spending needed to get 100,000-point sign-up bonus
• No travel perks
• Subject to Chase's 5/24 rule on card applications
• Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

• 5X 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com
• 1.5X Earn 1.5X points on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• 1X 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a great card for frequent travelers looking to add a touch of luxury to their business trips. While the card does come with a high annual fee, you’re also getting a ton of valuable benefits in return. They include generous annual travel credits, unparalleled lounge access that includes Amex Centurion Lounges and more.

• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every four to five years
• Up to $400 annual credit for eligible U.S. Dell purchases (enrollment required)
• Gold status at Marriott and Hilton hotels (enrollment required)
• Access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program and Hotel Collection
• International Airline Program and Cruise Privileges Program
• Steep $695 annual fee
• High spend needed for welcome offer.
• Limited high bonus categories outside of travel
• Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. See how you can unlock over $1,000 annually in credits on select purchases with the Business Platinum Card®, here.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to the Card.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

The Amex Platinum is unmatched when it comes to travel perks and benefits. If lounge access, hotel elite status and annual statement credits are important to you, this card is well worth the high annual fee.

• The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. TPG values it at 1,600.
• This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, and at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more (enrollment required)
• The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway
• The $695 annual fee is only worth it if you’re taking full advantage of the card’s benefits. Seldom travelers may not get enough value to warrant the cost
• Outside of the current welcome bonus, you’re only earning bonus rewards on specific airfare and hotel purchases, so it’s not a great card for other spending categories
• The annual airline fee credit can be complicated to take advantage of compared to the broader travel credits offered by competing premium cards
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

• 3X Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases.
• 1X Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.

The Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card is the premier choice for Delta loyalists who value an accelerated path to elite status, Delta SkyClubs lounge access, an annual companion certificate and strong earning rates on Delta purchases. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.

• Statement credit for Global Entry ($100 every 4 years)/TSA PreCheck (up to $85 every 4.5 years)
• Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25 access will be changing.
• High annual fee of $650
• Lower fee Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
• Earn 60,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Reserve your piece of history with the new limited edition Boeing 747 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card design.
• Enjoy complimentary access to the Delta Sky Club® and bring up to two guests or immediate family members at a rate of $50 per person per visit when flying Delta. Effective 2/1/25, Reserve Card Members will receive 15 Visits per year to the Delta Sky Club; to earn an unlimited number of Visits each year starting on 2/1/25, the total eligible purchases on the Card must equal $75,000 or more between 1/1/24 and 12/31/24, and each calendar year thereafter.
• Receive four Delta Sky Club® One-Time Guest Passes each year when you fly together on Delta. After that, you may bring up to two guests at a per-visit rate of $50 per person, per location.
• Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge when you book a Delta flight with your Reserve Card.
• Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars each Medallion Qualification Year and get closer to Status with MQD Headstart.
• Earn $1 Medallion® Qualification Dollar for each $10 of purchases made on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card in a calendar year and get a boost toward achieving elevated Medallion Status for next Medallion Year.
• Receive a Companion Certificate on First Class, Delta Comfort+®, or Main Cabin domestic, Caribbean, or Central American roundtrip flights each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Ticket requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights and no more than $250 for roundtrip international flights (both for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
• $240 Resy Credit: With the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Resy Credit, earn up to $20 per month in statement credits on eligible Resy purchases using your enrolled Card.
• $120 Rideshare Credit: You can earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month on U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers after you pay with your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. Enrollment Required.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
• With your Card receive upgrade priority over other Medallion Members within the same Medallion level and fare class.
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members with an eligible ticket will be added to the Complimentary Upgrade list, after Delta SkyMiles Medallion Members.
• Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• See Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
• 5x Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• 1x Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of our top premium travel cards. With a $300 travel credit, generous 3x on dining and travel purchases and other benefits, you can get excellent value that far exceeds the annual fee on the card.

• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
• Access to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners: 10 airline and three hotel programs
• Unlimited 3x on the broad category of travel and dining
• 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel directly through Chase Travel
• Steep initial $550 annual fee
• May not make sense for people that don't travel frequently
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more

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Comparing the best credit cards with travel insurance

Frequently asked questions, what card should i use for travel insurance.

The  Amex Platinum’ s 5x for airfare booked directly through airlines or  Amex Travel  is impressive. But the  lack of baggage delay protection  and the  requirement of round-trip travel  for some benefits usually discourages me from using Amex-issued cards for flights.

Instead, I use the  Chase Sapphire Reserve®  when booking flights and other common carrier travel due to its  solid mix of earnings and protections . But, if you can’t quite justify the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s  $550 annual fee , the  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card  and  Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card  both provide reasonable travel protections for  a sub-$100 annual fee .

Related:  Why the Sapphire Preferred should still be the first rewards card in your wallet

Are credit cards with travel protection worth it?

Credit card travel protections are easy to under-value. However, I’ve gotten thousands of value from credit card travel insurance over the years. As such, I’ll often forgo better earning rates to put airfare and award flight taxes and fees on a card I know provides solid protection. For me, this card is usually the  Chase Sapphire Reserve®  or the  Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card . However, I purchase  independent travel insurance  for select trips when I want additional benefits, such as  cancel or any reason coverage  or non-medical evacuation coverage.

More details on our best credit cards for travel insurance

Many of the  best travel rewards cards  offer travel insurance when you use your card to purchase travel. Although some cards will provide coverage even if you only pay taxes and fees on an award ticket, some cards require you to pay for your entire trip with the card. See the links below for more information on the types of travel insurance offered by select cards and the best cards for each kind of insurance:

• Baggage delay protection
• Lost/damaged baggage protection
• Trip delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection
• Medical evacuation benefit and travel accident insurance
• Emergency medical and dental benefit (offered by the  Chase Sapphire Reserve )
• Rental car coverage

As you’ll notice in this guide, the types and levels of protection vary significantly across credit cards. And most protections have  exclusions or limitations . So be sure to read the guide to benefits on your card before  assuming something  or  someone will be covered .

Related:  TPG’s comprehensive guide to independent travel insurance — including coronavirus coverage

Now let’s take a closer look at each card to determine how you can use these perks when things go wrong on a trip.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Sign-up bonus : Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points  after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on  TPG’s valuations , this bonus is worth $1,230.

Rewards : 10x on Lyft rides through March 2025 ; 3x on dining  and  travel ; 1x on everything else

Travel insurance :

• Baggage delay : Up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days if a passenger carrier delays your baggage more than six hours
• Lost/damaged baggage : Up to $3,000 per passenger per trip, but only up to $500 per passenger for jewelry and watches and up to $500 per passenger for cameras and other electronic equipment
• Trip delay reimbursement : Up to $500 per ticket if you’re delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection : Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses
• Medical evacuation benefit : Up to $100,000 for necessary emergency evacuation and transportation when on a trip of five to 60 days and traveling more than 100 miles from home (100-mile requirement waived for New York residents)
• Travel accident insurance : Accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $100,000 (up to $1,000,000 for common carrier travel)
• Emergency medical and dental benefit : Up to $2,500 for medical expenses (subject to a $50 deductible) when on a trip arranged by a travel agency and traveling more than 100 miles from home (100-mile requirement waived for New York residents)
• Rental car coverage :  Primary coverage  for damages caused by theft or collision up to $75,000 on rentals of 31 days or less

Annual fee : $550 ($75 for each  authorized user )

The Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on all travel purchases. Due to its 6% return and excellent travel protections, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is my go-to card for travel expenses. Plus, the Chase Sapphire Reserve provides protections on award tickets even when I only charge the award’s taxes and fees to the card .

To learn more, check out the full  Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card review  and  guide to benefits . If you decide to apply, here’s the official application link:  Chase Sapphire Reserve .

Related:  The power of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Preferred and Freedom Unlimited

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

Sign-up bonus : Earn 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations , this bonus is worth $1,230.

Rewards : 5x total points on all travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out, 3x points on select streaming services, 3x points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2x points on all other travel, 1x point on all other purchases

• Baggage delay : Up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days if a common carrier delays your baggage more than six hours
• Trip delay reimbursement : Up to $500 per ticket if you’re delayed more than 12 hours or require an overnight stay
• Travel accident insurance : Accidental death or dismemberment coverage of up to $100,000 (up to $500,000 for common carrier travel)
• Rental car coverage :  Primary coverage  for damages caused by theft or collision up to the actual cash value of most rented cars on rentals of 31 days or less

Annual fee : $95

The  Chase Sapphire Preferred  is one of the  best travel rewards credit cards for the average traveler . Although a 4% return on travel purchases (not booked through the Chase portal) isn’t fantastic, it’s still respectable considering the card’s modest $95 annual fee and travel protections. As with the Chase Sapphire Reserve , you’ll get coverage on award tickets even when you only use your Chase Sapphire Preferred to pay the taxes and fees.

To learn more, check out our  Chase Sapphire Preferred review  and the complete  guide to benefits . And here’s the official application link:  Chase Sapphire Preferred Card .

Related: Five reasons why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should be your first card

Sign-up bonus : Earn 100,000  Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on  TPG’s valuations , this bonus is worth $2,050.

Rewards : 3x on the first $150,000 spent each account year in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines; 1x on everything else

• Trip cancellation and interruption protection : Up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip for pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses
• Rental car coverage : Primary coverage (except when renting for personal reasons in your country of residence, in which case coverage is secondary) for damages caused by theft or collision up to the actual cash value of most rented cars on rentals of 31 days or less

The Ink Business Preferred is one of the  best business travel rewards cards  on the market. It earns a  6% return on the first $150,000 spent in select categories , which is excellent considering the card’s $95 annual fee and travel protections. As with other  Chase cards , you’ll be protected on award tickets as long as you use your Ink Business Preferred to pay the taxes and fees.

To learn more, check out the full  Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review . And here’s the official application link:  Ink Business Preferred Credit Card .

Related: Five reasons to get the Chase Ink Business Preferred credit card

Sign-up bonus : Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Based on TPG’s valuations , this bonus is worth $1,120.

Rewards : 4x on purchases with United ; 2x at restaurants (including eligible delivery services), and on other travel; 1x on everything else

• Baggage delay : Up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to three days if a common carrier delays your baggage more than six hours
• Rental car coverage : Primary coverage for damages caused by theft or collision up to the actual cash value of most rented cars on rentals of 31 days or less

Annual fee : $525

The  United Club Infinite Card provides decent travel protections, a 5.8% return on purchases with United and a United Club membership . But, its 2.9% return on other travel purchases and 1.45% return on all other purchases means you’ll earn rewards slowly. As with other Chase-issued cards, you’ll be protected on award tickets even when you only use your United Club Infinite Card to pay the taxes and fees.

To learn more, check out the full  United Club Infinite Card review . And here’s the official application link:  United Club Infinite Card .

Related:  Best ways to use the United Club Infinite Card

The Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer : Earn 80,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the card in the first six months of card membership. Based on TPG’s valuations , the 80,000-point bonus is worth $1,600. However, you may be able to snag an targeted offer up to 125,000-point offer  through the CardMatch tool (offer subject to change at any time).

Rewards : 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or with Amex Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year); 5x on prepaid hotels  booked with Amex Travel ; 1x on other purchases

• Lost/damaged baggage : Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for Covered Persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a common carrier vehicle (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the Entire Fare for a ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible card. Coverage can be provided for up to $2,000 for checked Baggage and up to a combined maximum of $3,000 for checked and carry-on Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier. The coverage is also subject to a $3,000 aggregate limit per covered trip.  For New York State residents, there is a $2,000 per bag/suitcase limit for each Covered Person with a $10,000 aggregate maximum for all covered persons per covered trip. Note that you must pay the entire fare with your card (including Pay with Points ).
• Trip delay reimbursement : Up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed and up to two claims per 12-month period per card if a common carrier delays you by more than six hours. Coverage only provided on round-trip travel purchased entirely with an eligible card (paying taxes and fees on award tickets or Pay with Points tickets is covered).
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection : Up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12-month period for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses. Coverage only provided on round-trip travel purchased entirely with an eligible card (paying taxes and fees on award tickets or Pay with Points tickets is covered).
• Rental car coverage : Get secondary coverage of up to $75,000 for damages caused by theft or collision on rentals of 30 days or less when you pay for the entire rental with an eligible card (including Pay with Points). You can pay per rental to upgrade to primary coverage through the  American Express Premium Car Rental Protection program . This does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicles types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.
• Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Annual fee : $695 ($195 for additional Platinum cards , see rates and fees )

The Amex Platinum provides an impressive 5x on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 per calendar year). It also offers 5x for prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel. So, using TPG’s latest valuations , you’ll get a 10% return on these purchases. But even with a 10% return on select airfare purchases, I still don’t use the Amex Platinum to book flights . Instead, I use the Amex Platinum primarily as a membership card since the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s travel protections provide better coverage for my travel style.

To learn more, check out our  Platinum Card from American Express card review  and take a look at the  terms and conditions  of each benefit. Here’s the official application link:  The Platinum Card from American Express . But, you may also want to check the  CardMatch Tool  to see if Amex has targeted you for a different offer. However, CardMatch offers are subject to change at any time.

Related:  Comparing built-in travel insurance with the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Amex Platinum

The Business Platinum Card from American Express

Welcome offer : Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases with your card within the first three months of card membership. Based on TPG’s valuations , the 150,000-point bonus is worth $3,000.

Rewards : 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel ; 1.5x on each eligible purchase  in select business categories ,as well as on each purchase of $5,000 or more (up to $2 million per calendar year); 1x on other eligible purchases

• Trip delay reimbursement : Up to $500 per covered trip that is delayed and up to two claims per 12-month period per card if a common carrier delays you by more than six hours. Coverage only provided on round-trip travel purchased entirely with an eligible card (paying taxes and fees on award tickets or Pay with Points tickets is covered). Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection : Up to $10,000 per covered trip and $20,000 per eligible card per 12-month period for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses. Coverage only provided on round-trip travel purchased entirely with an eligible card (paying taxes and fees on award tickets or Pay with Points tickets is covered). Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Annual fee : $695 (see rates and fees )

The  Amex Business Platinum provides an impressive 5x on flights and prepaid hotels booked through  Amex Travel . Based on  TPG’s latest valuations , this means you’ll get a 10% return on these purchases. But, if you don’t want to book through Amex Travel and would prefer to earn bonus points on a wide variety of business expenses, you may be better off with the  Ink Business Preferred Credit Card .

To learn more, check out our  Business Platinum Card from American Express card review  and take a look at the  terms and conditions  of each benefit. And here’s the official application link:  The Business Platinum Card from American Express .

Related:  Why you should consider having both the personal and business Amex Platinum cards

Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card

Welcome offer : Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new card in your first six months.

Rewards : 3x on purchases made directly with Delta; 1x on all other eligible purchases.

• Lost/damaged baggage: Baggage Insurance Plan coverage can be in effect for eligible persons for eligible lost, damaged, or stolen Baggage during their travel on a common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus) when the entire fare for a common carrier vehicle ticket for the trip (one-way or round-trip) is charged to an eligible Account. Coverage can be provided for up to $1,250 for carry-on Baggage and up to $500 for checked Baggage, in excess of coverage provided by the common carrier (e.g. plane, train, ship, or bus). For New York State residents, there is a $10,000 aggregate maximum limit for all covered persons per covered trip.
• Trip delay reimbursement : Up to $500 per covered trip and up to two claims per 12-month period per card if a common carrier delays you more than six hours. Coverage only provided on round-trip travel purchased entirely with an eligible card (paying taxes and fees on award tickets or Pay with Points tickets is covered). Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Annual fee : $650 (see rates and fees )

The  Delta Reserve Amex  provides a 3.3% return on purchases made directly with Delta as well as travel protections that can protect you on eligible round-trips. I’d personally use the  Chase Sapphire Reserve ,  Chase Sapphire Preferred  or  Ink Business Preferred Credit Card  instead of the Delta Reserve when buying flights. But the Delta Reserve offers decent travel protections if you don’t have any of these Chase-issued cards or want to  earn Delta miles .

To learn more, check out the full  Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card review  and take a look at the  terms and conditions  of each benefit. And here’s the official application link:  Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card .

Related:  Choosing the best credit cards for Delta flyers

Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

Sign-up bonus : Earn 60,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening. This bonus is worth $600.

Rewards : 2 points per $1 on travel and dining and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases.

• Trip delay reimbursement : Up to $500 per ticket for unexpected trip delays of more than 12 hours
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection : Up to $2,500 per person, per trip for unused pre-paid, non-refundable travel expenses
• Baggage delay : Up to $100 reimbursed per day for up to five days for baggage delays of more than six hours
• Lost luggage reimbursement : Provides coverage for luggage and its contents if they are lost or stolen due to theft or misdirection by your common carrier
• Emergency evacuation and transportation coverage : Covers eligible medical services and transportation if you or a member of your immediate family are injured or become sick during a trip far from home that results in an emergency evacuation.
• Rental car coverage : Get secondary coverage for damages caused by theft or collision.

The  Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card  offers solid value in exchange for its $95 annual fee. For example, you’ll get an up to  $100 Global Entry/TSA Precheck application fee credit  every four years and an  annual up to $100 airline incidental fee statement credit .

But, this card is ideal for  Bank of America Preferred Rewards®  members. After all, these members can earn between 25%-75% more points on their purchases. That means the card’s 2x earnings on travel and dining could increase up to 3.5 points per dollar. Meanwhile, the 1.5x earnings on all other purchases could rise as high as 2.625 points per dollar.

To learn more, check out our  Bank of America Premium Rewards Visa Credit Card review .

Related: Five reasons to get the Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card

U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card

Sign-up bonus : Earn 50,000 points after you spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening. These points are worth $750 when redeemed to offset eligible travel purchases. However, this card is only available to U.S. Bank customers who have an eligible U.S. Bank account relationship open and active at least five business days before applying.

Rewards : 5x on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center; 3x on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending; 1x on other purchases

• Trip delay reimbursement : Up to $500 per ticket purchased with your card if you’re delayed more than six hours or require an overnight stay
• Trip cancellation and interruption protection : Up to $2,000 per person, but only to cover non-refundable common carrier tickets
• Lost baggage reimbursement : Up to $3,000 per trip (up to $2,000 per bag for New York residents) if your checked or carry-on bag (or its contents) is lost due to theft or misdirection by a common carrier
• Travel accident insurance : Up to $500,000 of accidental death and dismemberment coverage when you use your card to purchase a ticket for eligible forms of transportation
• Rental car coverage : Primary coverage for physical damage and theft, reasonable and customary towing and valid loss-of-use charges

Annual fee : $400

The  U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card  can be an excellent choice for daily spending and  travel purchases , especially if the merchants you shop with accept  mobile wallet payments . But the card doesn’t include baggage delay protection and the trip cancellation and interruption protection only covers common carrier tickets. However, the Altitude Reserve provides a solid alternative to those who  can’t get accepted for a Chase card .

For more information, check out our  U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card review .

The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude Visa Infinite card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related:  What credit score is needed for a U.S. Bank Card?

Main benefits of having a credit card with travel insurance

There are multiple benefits to having a credit card that provides travel insurance when you pay for eligible travel expenses with your card. The main advantage is simplicity: I don’t need to research  independent travel insurance  unless I’m going on a trip for which my credit card’s travel insurance  doesn’t provide the level of coverage I want .

Having a credit card with travel insurance can also save you money. My sister-in-law paid more than $100 to buy theft and collision insurance from a  car rental company . After that experience, she finally got the  Chase Sapphire Preferred  to obtain similar coverage as a card perk. Now, she can recoup her annual fee even if she just rents a car a couple of times each year.

Finally, having a credit card with travel insurance provides reassurance. I don’t need to worry if bad weather causes a flight cancellation and strands me overnight since I know my card will provide  trip delay protection . And, I’m almost happy when the airline temporarily misplaces my checked bag for a few days, as my card’s  baggage delay insurance  means I can purchase some essential clothing items while I wait.

Related:  Why you might want to get a premium credit card instead of purchasing travel insurance

How to submit a claim

If you’re in a situation where you believe you may be eligible for your credit card’s travel insurance, your first step should be to read your card’s guide to benefits or call the number on the back of your card. Even if you believe you’ll be covered after reading your card’s guide to benefits, it is usually a good idea to call the number on the back of your card. By calling, you can ensure you’re covered, learn about deadlines for making your claim and determine what documents you’ll need to collect.

The benefits administrator will usually walk you through the necessary steps for making your claim. Luckily, many card issuers now allow you to file claims online, so you may not need to send in physical documents. Be sure to pay attention to any deadline for starting your claim and uploading documents, as well as any specific requirements for requested documentation.

Related:  Your guide to Chase’s trip insurance coverage

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, please click  here . For rates and fees of the Amex Business Platinum, please click  here . For rates and fees of the Delta Reserve Amex, please click  here .

Featured photo of the Beachfront Villa, Residence Terrace at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort. (Photo courtesy of Four Seasons)

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Car Insurance Companies In Australia

Published: Apr 25, 2024, 10:03pm

Table of Contents

What are car insurance companies, how to choose the right car insurance provider, frequently asked questions (faqs).

It’s a legal requirement to have some form of car insurance for your vehicle, but with so many car insurance options on the market, how can you know where to start? We break down the companies in Australia offering car insurance, helping you find a provider and policy that works for you.

Related: Our Pick Of The Best Comprehensive Car Insurance Providers In 2024

A car insurance company is an insurance company that offers drivers insurance policies specific to their cars or motorised vehicles, such as compulsory third party (CTP) insurance and comprehensive policies.

Often, these companies won’t only offer car insurance policies but also travel insurance, health insurance, home insurance and more.

Others are indeed specific to car insurance, and don’t offer anything else. Take Bingle, for example, a Suncorp-owned brand that only offers car insurance policies, or Famous Insurance, dedicated to car and bike insurance.

However, specialised insurance companies aren’t necessarily best suited for you and your vehicle’s needs.

The same goes for banks. Many Australian banks have started offering insurance policies, including car insurance, which may tempt pre-existing customers of said banks to automatically enrol in the insurance offer.

While it can at times be more beneficial to choose your car insurance policies based on a company you already use for ease and for discounts (such as multi-policy discounts), it’s still always worth shopping around to make sure you find the best car insurance policy for you.

Do your research, and don’t automatically choose your car insurance policy based on convenience.

Here’s a list of the companies in Australia that offer car insurance to help get you started on finding the best policy for you.

• AANT (only available to Northern Territory and New South Wales residents)
• Australia Post
• Australian Seniors Insurance Agency (only available to those aged over 50)
• Australian Unity
• Bendigo Bank
• Beyond Bank
• Bingle Car Insurance
• Budget Direct
• Elders Insurance
• Famous Insurance
• Guild Insurance Plus
• Huddle Insurance
• KOBA Insurance
• Kogan Insurance
• Lumley Special Vehicles
• MB Insurance
• National Seniors Australia
• Oceania Insurance
• Over Fifty (only available to those aged over 50)
• PD Insurance
• People’s Choice
• Qantas Car Insurance
• RAA (specific to South Australian residents)
• RAC (specific to Western Australian residents)
• RACQ (specific to Queensland residents)
• RACT (specific to Tasmanian residents)
• RACV (specific to Victorian residents)
• Real Insurance
• Retirease Insurance (only available to retired Australians)
• ROLLiN’ (formerly Poncho)
• Ryno Insurance
• St George Bank
• TIO (only available to Northern Territory residents)
• Toyota (only available to Toyota drivers)
• Virgin Money
• 1st for Women (only available to women)

Which Aussie Banks Offer Car Insurance?

As you can see from the list above, many Australian banks also offer insurance policies, including car insurance. This includes the Big Four—ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, NAB and Westpac—as well other smaller financial institutions.

While going with a bank for your insurance needs may seem tempting, you may find they aren’t as comprehensive as other car insurance companies, potentially more expensive, or simply not suited to your needs.

In our list of the top 10 best comprehensive car insurance policies available to Australians , only one bank made the list: ING.

Choosing the right car insurance company for your policy involves first understanding what type of car insurance you require.

In Australia, CTP insurance is a legal requirement for all drivers; it offers the most basic level of coverage. How you can purchase CTP insurance, and whether you need to pay for it, depends on where you live in Australia .

However, many Australian drivers will opt to purchase comprehensive car insurance for a more complete coverage option. Typically, a comprehensive car insurance policy will include (or give policyholders the option to add cover for):

• After accident care: cover for any transport, free towing or accommodation requirements following an accident
• Hire cars: when the insurer provides a hire car in the case of no-fault accident so you can continue driving while your car is being repaired
• Roadside assistance: the ability to call the insurer from the road to receive direct assistance, any time of day
• Theft and break-ins: cover provided in the event that items are stolen from your vehicle upon a break-in
• New-for-old replacements: a replacement of your car with a similar make or model in the event that it is written off

Along with the coverage options, you will need to consider the cost of a car insurance premium and establish if you can afford a policy with the car insurance company. This is easy to do, with most insurers having a quick quote calculation available via their website.

Comprehensive car insurance policies may also have offers available that will help lower your premiums, such as multi-policy deals, discount codes or a “ no claims bonus “. The discounts and offers available will depend on the car insurance company you choose.

Related: A Guide To Car Insurance Offers

What car insurance company has the best customer satisfaction?

According to a 2023 survey by CHOICE, RAA took out the top spot for customer satisfaction in car insurance, closely followed by RAC and RACQ.

Of the comprehensive car insurance policies that Forbes Advisor Australia analysed, Youi came in the equal top place of our best picks, alongside Allianz . Overall, it was the top- rated provider in terms of customer satisfaction with a 4- star rating on ProductReview from more than 7000 reviews.

How many car insurance companies are there in Australia?

According to research by Forbes Advisor Australia, there are 64 car insurance companies on the market that are actively offering car insurance policies.

Any car insurance company that is no longer issuing policies to new customers was removed from our list.

Do car insurance companies check your driving record?

Yes, most car insurance companies will check your driving record and history before issuing you a policy. Your driving history can affect the price of your premium, and your ability to receive certain discounts such as the “no claims bonus”.

Related: No Claim Discount Explained

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Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally.