Cheap Travel Insurance for Trips to Australia
No single travel insurance company or policy is the best for everyone. With this in mind, we've researched and analyzed dozens of travel insurance plans for trips to Australia to arrive at a selection of travel insurance plans that stand out for their combination of features and price. Read our research to decide if any are right for you.
The guidance on this site is based on our own analysis and is meant to help you identify options and narrow down your choices. We do not advise or tell you which product to buy; undertake your own due diligence before entering into any agreement. Read our full disclosure here.
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Cheaper Travel Insurance to Australia
Coverforyou, Sainsbury's, Admiral, Explorer Travel, Fit2Travel -
Best Premium Travel Insurance to Australia
Economycover.com, Boots, Spectrum -
Learning
Do I Need Travel Insurance to Australia?
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Pre-Existing Medical Conditions
Travel Insurance to Australia with Medical Conditions -
Cost
How Much is Travel Insurance to Australia?
We gathered pricing data for Single Trip travel insurance to Australia from over 100 policies from dozens of insurance providers. Choosing the best travel insurance for you will depend on factors like price points and features that you might find valuable. For a discussion of major differences between buying direct and buying from a comparison site, please see the individual reviews. Please use the information in this review to help you narrow down your choices.
Best Cheap Travel Insurance to Australia
Travel insurance to Australia can cost from £8 to £100, or more, for a healthy, young traveller. For those on a budget, we've picked six insurance providers that offer cover for 2-week trips to Australia for under £30 yet still provide at least £1,000 of Baggage and £2,000 of Cancellation cover. Families will pay around 2X as much.
Coverforyou: Diamond
We think Coverforyou's top-tier Diamond plan stands out amongst other plans in the same price range for quite high levels of Baggage and Cancellation cover—£3,000 and £6,000, respectively. Coverforyou can also be a great option for those wanting more cover for gadgets like mobile phones, tablets and laptops. Coverforyou sells optional Gadget cover providing either £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000 of extra gadget cover, to suit your needs. (Without this optional add on, there's no cover for gadgets.)
Cost of Coverforyou Extended Gadget Cover via Comparison Site
| Total Gadget Cover | Single Article Gadget Limit | Emerald | Ruby | Diamond | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual, Multi-trip | £1,000 | £500 | £22.25 | £31.75 | £36.75 |
| £2,000 | £750 | £33.75 | £47.75 | £55.50 | |
| £3,000 | £1,000 | £45.00 | £64.00 | £69.00 | |
| Single Trip Policies | £1,000 | £500 | £14.00 | £14.00 | £14.00 |
| £2,000 | £750 | £18.25 | £18.25 | £18.25 | |
| £3,000 | £1,000 | £22.25 | £22.25 | £22.25 |
Additionally, you get £2,500 of Scheduled Airline Failure (SAFI) and End Supplier Failure (ESF) cover, which again is pretty unique at that price point.
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- Optional Gadget cover up to £1,000, £2,000 or £3,000
- £2,500 SAFI/ESF
Sainsbury's Bank: Standard & Premier
Sainsbury's Bank sells travel insurance plans that represent good value. The top two tiers, Sainsbury's Bank Standard and Premier, provide £1,500 and £2,000 of Baggage and £3,000 and £5,000 of Cancellation, respectively. Both plans include £1,500 of SAFI; top-tier Premier also covers £1,500 of ESF cover. While gadgets aren't covered under standard Valuables, you can buy Optional Gadget cover of £2,000 on the Standard plan and £3,000 on the Premier plan. Catastrophe cover—a relatively high amount of £3k or £5k—is also available through an optional add-on feature called "Travel Disruption Cover".
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- Optional Catastrophe/Travel Disruption up to £3k (Standard) or £5k (Premier)
- Optional Gadget cover up to £2k (Standard) or £3k (Premier)
- SAFI & ESF
Admiral: Gold and Platinum
While you may get less Baggage and Cancellation cover for the price than with some other "cheap" plans, we're mentioning this household name as another option for a higher Valuables limit and for adding optional Gadget cover to protect your mobile phone, tablet and/or laptop. The Gold plan provides £1k for Cancellation and £1,500 for Baggage, while the Platinum protects more valuable holidays and belongings with £5k for Cancellation and £2.5k for Baggage.
Whilst mobile phones, tablets and computers are already included in Valuables cover of Admiral Gold plans up to the £300 (Gold) or £400 (Platinum) limit, you can buy the Gadget add on to provide £1k of protection for up to 3 gadgets (max £500 Single Item Limit) for a cost of £13.92, which is spot on the average cost of Optional Gadget cover for a Single trip—at £49.92, Admiral Gadget cover for an Annual, Multi-Trip plan costs more.
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- Catastrophe up to £1,000
- Mobile phones, tablets, computers included in Valuables cover, up to £300
- Optional Gadget cover up to £1,000
- No SAFI/ESF
Explorer Travel: Gold Plus
Providing £2,500 of Cancellation cover and £1,500 of Baggage cover, Explorer Travel Gold Plus plans can insure budget trips to Australia for a starting price of less than £15. Whilst phones and laptops are covered via the Valuables section, there's a pretty low limit of only £200—and there is NOT an optional add-on Gadget feature to top up your cover.
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- Catastrophe up to £500
- Phone/laptop covered up to £200 through Valuables
- £1k SAFI
- No ESF
Fit2Travel: Gold and Platinum
Fit2Travel's Gold and Platinum plans will cover your non-refundable travel and accommodation expenses up to £2,500 or £5,000, plus Baggage up to £2k or £3k, respectively. Whilst still on the cheaper end for travel insurance with policies starting around £15 (Gold) and £24 (Platinum), you'll get SAFI cover of £1k or £1.5k and Catastrophe of £500.
Mobile phones are not covered on Fit2Travel plans, but laptops are covered under the Valuables section up to £500.
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- Catastrophe up to £500
- No mobile phone cover but £500 for laptops
- SAFI (£1k or £1.5k)
- No ESF
Premium Travel Insurance to Australia
Those insuring more expensive holidays worth over £5,000 and/or luggage worth more than £3,000 and Valuables of at least £400 will likely pay in the range of £40 to £65 for sufficient cover.
Economycover.com: Premier Plus
Economycover.com's Premier Plus plan offers a higher level of cover for financial failure, with £5,000 of SAFI and £2,000 of ESF cover. For a starting price to Australia under £40 you get £8,000 of Cancellation and £5,000 of Baggage—definitely some of the best cover limits in that price range. While there's no extra Gadget add on available, gadgets are covered up to £400 through the Valuables section.
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- £1,000 Catastrophe
- £5,000 SAFI
- £2,500 ESF
Boots: Platinum
Yes, Boots sells travel insurance. And a look through the 500+ customer reviews on Trustpilot shows they're doing something right—easy-to-use website, simple to declare medical conditions, great customer service and solid value for money. Their top-tier Platinum plan stands out for offering £7,500 of Cancellation cover and £3,500 of Baggage cover for a premium starting under £50 for a 2-week stay in Australia.
In particular, we like that you get £1,000 for Gadgets included on all Platinum policies (separate from the £500 Valuables limit), without needing to pay extra. Plus the standard excess is £0 on the plan.
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- Gadget cover up to £1,000 included
- £1,000 Catastrophe
- £3,000 SAFI
- No ESF
- £0 Cancellation excess
Spectrum: Prestige
For those worried about losses due to financial failure of a provider, the Spectrum prestige plan offers higher limits of £4k SAFI and £3k ESF cover. With £7,500 of Cancellation and £4,000 of Baggage cover, the Spectrum Prestige plan has some of the highest cover in our study. Additionally, those looking to insure their gadgets can buy optional gadget cover providing £2,000 of protection for phones, tablets, etc.
- Baggage Delay and Travel Delay
- Optional Gadget cover of £2,000 for up to 5 gadgets
- £4,000 SAFI
- £3,000 ESF
- £0 Cancellation excess
Do I Need Travel Insurance to Australia? Why it's Important
Travel insurance is a must have for those travelling from the UK to Australia. The right travel insurance plan can lesson the financial burden of a holiday gone wrong, whether due to an accident, a health emergency, lost bags or a myriad of other reasons. Having protection through travel insurance can be even more meaningful when you're so far from home.
Given that return flights to Australia can easily set you back £800 or more, the Cancellation section of a travel insurance plan can be quite valuable should you need to unexpectedly cancel or cut short your trip due to circumstances out of your control, like a medical emergency. Similarly, Repatriation to the UK in the event you've suffered a serious illness or accident while abroad and need to be brought back to the UK under special circumstances would be very costly coming from Australia, and can be a key element of travel insurance to Australia.
Medical cover is equally important. The Australian Government Department of Human Services recommends that all visitors get travel insurance, even when coming from countries with which Australia has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA). For more details on what's covered by the RHCA, please see the DHS website. As a side note, if you do use the RHCA to access health care whilst in Australia, it is recommended to have your passport and NHS card (if you have it) with you—or if you don't have an NHS card (they're not issued anymore) then be sure to carry your NHS number with you.
If you'd like more detailed information on the ins and outs of travel insurance plans, you can read more in our Travel Insurance Guide.
How To Pick a Good Travel Insurance Plan for You
Here are some key features to look for when choosing a travel insurance plan to Australia:
- Cancellation/Curtailment cover to reflect the price you paid for any non-refundable travel and accommodation expenses.
- Medical expenses of £5 million to £10 million or more.
- Repatriation to the UK in the event you've suffered a serious illness or accident while abroad and need to be brought back to the UK under special circumstances.
- Baggage/Personal Belongings in case your bags or belongings are lost, stolen or damaged.
- Baggage Delay to reimburse you for the purchase of necessary personal items should your bags be delayed.
- Travel Delay/Missed Departure can protect you in case unexpected events beyond your control (e.g., adverse weather) wreck havoc with your travel itinerary.
When considering plans you may also want to check features like personal liability, loss or theft of your passport, and Gadget cover (if you want more cover for your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, etc.).
Single Trip or Multi Trip Cover
You'll also need to decide whether to buy a an Annual, Multitrip Plan or a Single Trip Plan. If you travel at least 2 times per year then it's usually cheaper to buy Annual Plan rather than individual Single Trip Plans each time you travel, but this can vary from destination to destination and depending on your individual details.
If you're considering an Annual, Multi-Trip policy, be sure to check the Maximum Trip Length before committing. The Maximum Trip Length on Annual plans is typically in the 30 to 45 day range, but can be shorter or longer depending on the provider and plan. Those going on extended trips may find they'll be away longer than is covered by an Annual policy and might only get valid cover through a Single Trip policy.
Travel Insurance with Pre-Existing Conditions to Australia
Travel insurance is even more critical for those travelling to Australia with a pre-existing medical condition, as the odds may be higher that you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to illness. Additionally, the cost of medical repatriation from Australia could easily reach tens of thousands of pounds for an air ambulance, since it's so far away. But whether or not your medical condition is minor or serious, those travelling to Australia with pre-existing conditions such as stroke, heart conditions (e.g., cardiomyopathy), cancer, etc. may be best served by a specialist travel insurance company. Either way, you're likely to pay more for travel insurance if you have a medical condition.
Travel insurance companies that specialize in medical conditions include goodtogoinsurance.com, JustTravelcover.com, OK To Travel, Saga or even household name Virgin Money. You may find that these companies have more appetite for providing travel insurance to those with a risky medical history. In particular, Fit2Travel and Free Spirit Travel Insurance are known to offer cover when other companies may not due to serious medical conditions.
Travel Insurance to Australia for Families
There are many reasons a family should take out travel insurance, beyond the norm. Children are often more prone to injury and may require foreign medical treatment. And no matter how easy your children, travelling with them feels like a disaster if your luggage has been lost. And just imagine being trapped with little kids in an airport for over 12 hours due to a delayed flight—you'll need sustenance and all the better if it's paid for by your insurance through Travel Delay cover.
More than other travelling groups, we think travel insurance is critical for a family on the go, to help them ease the stress and burden of a holiday mishap.
Generally speaking, when it comes to travel insurance, children often travel free. That is, travel insurance for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) costs roughly 2X the cost of an individual, adult traveller. If only the airlines would follow suit! The travel insurance plans mentioned above still stand out for families due to their features, and—so important for families—all offer some level of travel delay and baggage delay cover.
Average Cost of Travel Insurance to Australia
The cost of travel insurance to Australia starts from around £15, and a healthy, young adult can find a Defaqto 5 star policy for under £25 for a 2-week stay. A family of four will pay around twice as much as a solo traveller. Prices reflect the average of the five cheapest plans available from Compare Cover as a proxy for the UK travel insurance market.
| Starting Costs for Travel Insurance for Australia | Solo Traveller | Family of 4 |
|---|---|---|
| 3 star | £15.8 | £32.2 |
| 4 star | £19.4 | £42.7 |
| 5 star | £24.6 | £55.3 |
Prices are largely a function of the overall Medical, Baggage and Cancellation limits, as you can see below. And the cheaper plans tend to have a higher excess (the amount you contribute towards a claim.) You get what you pay for.
Backpacker Insurance for Australia
Long stay cover for Australia starts from around £50 for Defaqto 3 star cover for a 3-month stay. 5 star Defaqto cover costs around 3X as much. And the longer your stay, the more you'll pay. Prices reflect the average of the five cheapest plans available from Compare Cover as a proxy for the UK travel insurance market for backpackers.
| Starting Costs for Long Stay, Backpacker Travel Insurance to Australia | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 star | £53.8 | £95.8 | £177.4 |
| 4 star | £96.0 | £160.8 | £234.2 |
| 5 star | £160.2 | £241.3 | £357.3 |
If you're interested in comparing the cost of travel insurance to other countries, see our other country-specific travel insurance studies:
FAQs
If you'd like to get quotes for the plans mentioned on this page, and more, please click on the link below.
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