Tesco Travel Insurance Review: How do Prices Compare?

Tesco Travel Insurance Review: How do Prices Compare?

Tesco's Economy and Standard plans offer solid value but if you want end supplier failure and access to a virtual doctor, you'll need to spring for Premier.

Good for

  • Getting a Tesco Clubcard discount
  • Covering end supplier failure and virtual doctor acces (top-tier Premier Plan)
  • Good add-on options

Bad for

  • Mobile phone only covered if you get the gadget add-on

Editor's Rating

4.5/5.0

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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Tesco travel insurance offers 3 tiers of cover, from a bare bones Economy plan to their top-rated Standard and Premier covers. Here's what you need to know about what they offer.

In This Review

Tesco Holiday Insurance

Tesco offers three levels of Annual and Single Trip travel insurance—Economy, Standard and Premier, which are underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance (par of the AXA group).

Trip cancellation is included on all policies, in addition to emergency medical expenses and travel delay.

The higher tiers include higher coverage limits and the top tier include access to a virtual doctor and end supplier failure, which can be a valuable feature.

Here are some key points:

Tesco Holiday Insurance Key Points

  • 3 levels of cover (Economy, Standard and Premier)
  • Multi-trip cover for any number of trips up to 31 days each
  • Single-trip cover for trips up to 365 days
  • 10% Tesco Clubcard discount when you buy direct (enter your Clubcard number when you get your quote)
  • Top-tier Premier policy includes end supplier failure and access to a virtual doctor
  • Optional extras: winter sports, golf, gadgets, cruise and car hire excess insurance cover
  • Covid cover includes: if you have to cancel or cut short your trip as a result of contracting COVID-19; medical treatment if you contract COVID-19 abroad; if you’ve got to return home early because the region you’re in goes into lockdown.

Does Tesco Travel Insurance Cover Trips in the UK? Holidays in the UK are covered under Tesco Annual Multi-Trip policies, so long as you pre-booked at least 2 consecutive nights of pre-booked accommodation or pre-booked transport at least 50 miles from home.

Pre-Existing Conditions: Tesco may be able to offer cover for some pre-existing medical conditions, for an added cost in most cases. If Tesco is not able to offer cover for your pre-existing conditions, then claims arising as a result of those existing conditions would not be covered. As part of the quote process you will be asked a number of questions about the health of you and your travelling companions.

Over 65s: The policy booklet states that the age limit for single and annual multi trip policies is 79 years old, with a max of 65 years for the winter sports add on. However, those 80 or older can call 0345 030 6127 to discuss a quote over the phone.

Is Tesco travel insurance any good?

Tesco prices seem competitive relative to others in the market, considering the features. While their claims figures for 2021 left us with some questions, figures for 2022 look more promising. , has lower claims acceptance rates. The latest data from the Financial Conduct Authority shows that their underwriter, Inter Partner Assistance SA, accepted 70-75% of claims made on annual European policies in January to December 2022, just a touch below the industry average of 76.15%. In terms of worldwide policies, it accepted 80-85% of claims (much better than the 60-65% the previous year), just on target with the industry average of 81.56%.

Does Tesco Travel Insurance Cover Cruises?**

Cruise cover is available with Economy, Standard and Premier Tesco travel insurance policies as an optional add-on for an additional cost. Over 80s who buy Later Life travel insurance get cruise cover included as standard for no additional cost.

Tesco cruise protection
Missed port of departure (to help you catch up with your cruise if necessary)£1,000
Cabin confinement (if you’re confined to your cabin because of illness)£1,000 (£100 per port)
Itinerary change (scheduled port visit cancelled due to adverse weather or timetable restrictions)£500 (£100 per port)
Unused excursions (due to accident or illness)£500

Tesco Holiday Insurance Price Comparison

We gathered Tesco travel insurance quotes for a solo 30-year-old traveller, for single trip cover (2 week trip) and annual, multi-trip cover, across a range of geographical locations, and found prices starting from under £40 for a 2-week trip.

Oddly, we found that annual, multi-trip cover was in some cases cheaper than single trip cover, so if you think you can save money buying single trip cover be sure to check annual prices as well!

For example, single trip cover for a 2-week trip to France was quoted at £39.94, but an annual policy cover Europe was only £27.65, clearly the better deal there.

According to our research, prices of Tesco's provide good value according to the average cost of travel insurance.

Chart showing estimated costs for Tesco Bank travel insurance

Unsurprisingly, Tesco's Premier travel insurance is noticeably more expensive—Premier policies not only include higher levels of cover for baggage, trip cancellation, etc. but also include end supplier failure and virtual doctor access.

Not reflected in these prices is a 10% discount for Tesco Clubcard holders. You need your Tesco Clubcard membership number on hand when applying online to get the discount.

Cost of Tesco Travel InsuranceEconomyStandardPremier
Single trip cover
France£39.94£49.68£82.37
USA£39.80£50.17£84.08
South Africa£39.94£49.68£82.37
Annual multi-trip cover
Europe£27.65£40.72£56.21
Worldwide including USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico£60.46£89.05£122.90
Worldwide excluding USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico£43.19£63.61£87.78

Insurance quotes can vary significantly from day to day and according to each individual's details, so please just use this data for general educational purposes only; your quotes may reflect a large degree of variation.

You can learn more about average costs for these locations in our other research on UK travel insurance costs for Europe and America.

Cover for a family of 4 is basically 2X the cost of cover for a solo traveller, because kids go free!

Tesco Holiday Insurance types - Economy, Standard Premier

Tesco offers three tiers of travel insurance—Economy, Standard and Premier.

Optional extras that you can add on to all three tiers include winter sports, golf, cruise, gadget and car hire excess insurance cover.

Tesco Single Trip travel insurance covers trips up to 365 days abroad. Tesco Annual Multi-Trip policies cover any number of trips a policy year, up to 31 days each. Those under age 65 can extend the maximum trip duration to 45 or 60 days for an extra charge. There is a 15-day maximum trip length for Winter Sports trips, if that option is purchased.

Tesco Economy

Economy is Tesco's entry-level travel insurance plan. Emergency Medical expenses and Travel Delay are included, plus you get £1,000 per person for Trip Cancellation.

However, there's no cover for end supplier failure, no cover for missed inbound departures, no access to a virtual doctor and lower limits for most coverage categories across the board.

The excess is £99 per person.

Tesco Standard

As Tesco's solid mid-tier offering, Standard policies have similar features to the Economy plan, but offer cover for missed inbound departures and higher limits across most coverage categories.

The excess is £75 per person.

Tesco Premier

Tesco Premier is the top-tier travel insurance plan with the highest levels of cover across nearly all categories. Additional cover includes end supplier failure and access to a virtual doctor.

Another perk is that there is no excess with Premier plans if you have a successful claim.

Cover Limits (Single & Annual Multi-Trip) per Insured Traveller

FeaturesEconomyStandardPremier
Excess£99 per person£75 per personNo excess
Cancellation or cutting short your trip£1,000£5,000£10,000
End supplier failuren/an/a£5,000
Medical and repatriation£10 million£10 million£20 million
Emergency dental£250£350£1,000
Hospital benefit£500£500£1,000
£20 a day£40 a day£50 a day
Virtual doctorn/an/aYes
Missed departure (outbound)£500£1,000£1,500
Missed departure (inbound)n/a£1,000£1,500
Travel delay£500£500£1,000
£20 per day£40 per day£50 per day
Baggage£1,000£2,000£3,000
Single article and valuables limits £250Single article and valuables limits £350Single article and valuables limits £500
Delayed baggage£250£500£1,500
If lost in transit during the outward journey and not returned to you within 12 hours (if the loss is permanent this will be deducted from your baggage allowance).£50 per 24hrs£75 per 24hrs£100 per 24hrs
Personal money£250£500£750
If you purchase your travel money at a Tesco Travel Money Bureau or online via the Tesco Bank website prior to your trip then your Cash limit will be doubled.Cash limit of £100Cash limit of £200Cash limit of £500
Important documents£250£250£500
Legal expenses and assistance£25,000£25,000£25,000
Personal liability£2 million£2 million£2 million
Personal total disablement or loss of limb / eye£10,000£20,000£30,000
Death£5,000£10,000£15,000
If aged 15 or under or 65 and over cover is £2,500If aged 15 or under or 65 and over cover is £2,500If aged 15 or under or 65 and over cover is £2,500

Please read some of our Travel Insurance Guides if you're trying to decide between Single Trip or Multi-Trip policies, learn about What May Not be Covered by Travel Insurance or decide if you Need Travel Insurance or Not.

Tesco Travel Insurance Reviews

To better understand the value of Tesco travel insurance you need to look at it in the context of other available options. We compared it to other plans in the market so you can see which may be more suitable for you.

Tesco Travel Insurance vs Admiral Travel Insurance

Admiral travel insurance offers three tiers of travel insurance cover, all for very competitive prices and including Personal Belongings protection.

Those looking for cover for catastrophes (e.g., volcanic ash cloud and storms) should consider one of Admiral's top two tiers—Gold or Platinum.

If your plans include a cruise in the next year, then Admiral offers comprehensive Cruise cover for an added cost (included on Platinum), which includes Missed Port Departure, Cabin Confinement, Unused Excursions and Cruise Interruption. Insolvency is not covered on Admiral plans, however.

Bottom Line: If your travel plans include a cruise, then Admiral might provide more comprehensive travel insurance for you—but you can buy cruise cover as an add on with Tesco.

Tesco Travel Insurance vs Saga Travel Insurance

Saga travel insurance if offered as one, simple travel insurance plan to those over 50 years of age—with no upper age limit.

We like that Saga includes cover for Catastrophe and a higher level of Personal Belongings/Baggage cover on all policies, plus Golf.

Another perk is that travellers whose international flight is delayed more than 2 hours can benefit from access to a LoungeKey airport lounge, as part of Trip Delay cover.

While travellers can be covered of any age, prices do rise steadily for older customers.

Bottom Line: If you are an older traveller, especially in your 70s or 80s, Saga may be a more viable travel insurance option for you, as they specialize in "mature" travellers.

Tesco Travel Insurance vs Direct Line Travel Insurance

Direct Line travel insurance plans include cover for End Supplier Failure and Natural Disasters, plus cover for the replacement cost of used points or miles in case of Cancellation/Curtailment for a trip bought with air miles or another rewards structure.

While prices are a bit higher than average, according to our analysis, you are getting these extra cover features.

One surprising extra is Baggage—you'll need to pay extra to cover your personal belongings as they're not included as standard—BUT once purchased, your mobile phone will be covered as part of Personal Belongings/Baggage.

Bottom Line: If you really want cover for your mobile phone when you travel, you can get cover through Direct Line's optional Baggage cover.

Tesco Travel Insurance Phone Number

Tesco's emergency lines are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
24-hour medical emergency helpline0345303837
Erin Yurday

Erin Yurday is the Founder and Editor of NimbleFins. Prior to NimbleFins, she worked as an investment professional and as the finance expert in Stanford University's Graduate School of Business case writing team. Read more on LinkedIn.

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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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