Cheap Domestic Travel Insurance

Compare with Savvy and find a cheap travel insurance deal for your next domestic holiday.

Written by 
Savvy Editorial Team
Savvy's content writing team are professionals with a wide and diverse range of industry experience and topic knowledge. We write across a broad spectrum of finance-related topics to provide our readers with informative resources to help them learn more about a certain area or enable them to decide on which product is best for their needs with careful comparison. Meet the team behind the operation here. Visit our authors page to meet Savvy's expert writing team, committed to delivering informative and engaging content to help you make informed financial decisions.
Our authors
, updated on September 4th, 2023       

Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in 30 Seconds

A trip along the Great Ocean Road or a family holiday to the Sunshine State are just some of the ways to explore your own backyard. If you’re planning a getaway within Australia, compare your options with Savvy to help you find cheap domestic travel insurance.

Comparing with us helps you find a policy which doesn’t break the bank. You can weigh up the pros and cons of each policy to find one with coverage best suited to your holiday so you can make a more informed choice on which is the cheapest and best for you. Start the comparison process with Savvy today.

How do I find cheap domestic travel insurance?

Finding the right travel insurance for your next domestic holiday is essential no matter how far away from home you are. Whether you’re planning a road trip to Broken Hill or jetting over to Perth to visit family and friends, it can give you a little extra piece of mind when you’re exploring Australia if you’re concerned about cancellations, lost belongings or travel delays.

When you’re browsing your options for travel insurance, you’re bound to be keeping your eyes peeled for the cheapest policy. While the cheapest policy won’t always be the best one for you and your holiday, there are ways to reduce the cost of your insurance and save you from forking out a large sum should you need to make a claim. Some easy things you can do to find a cheap policy include:

Consider your coverage

Weigh up how much coverage you need for your holiday. While it may be tempting to pick the cheapest insurance on the market, it’s wise to choose a policy that best suits your holiday. It may eventuate that basic insurance covers what you need to a tee, or that annual or single trip policies suit your travel needs perfectly.

Compare with Savvy

Getting cheap travel insurance for your next domestic holiday comes down to comparing some of the variables that make up the policies, such as the benefits, prices and limitations. By comparing these with Savvy, you’ll be able to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages to see which products most suit your trip.

Set a higher policy excess

If you make a claim, you’ll need to pay an excess. This out-of-pocket cost is usually in the ballpark of $100 to $250 for domestic policies, but you can choose to pay a higher amount in exchange for a reduced premium. This is because insurers will reward those willing to shoulder more of the financial burden in the event of a claim, so opting for a higher excess will help you secure a cheaper domestic travel insurance policy.

Read the fine print

Make sure you brush up on each provider’s Product Disclosure Statements while you’re shopping around and getting travel insurance quotes. You may find that the policy which has drawn your eye excludes automatic coverage for certain things that are important to you, such as coverage for the excess on a hire car, which can end up costing you more.

Weigh up the limits

Insurers put caps on how much you can claim if something goes awry while you’re on holiday and you need to make a claim on your policy. For example, some may allow you to claim up to $7,500 with top-level coverage if you lose your bags, while other insurers only allow you to claim $5,000. These caps tend to vary depending on who you purchase through, so it’s worth comparing to find limits which are suitable for your travel plans.

What factors can impact the cost of my domestic travel insurance?

Travel insurance companies take several variables into account when determining the price of their policies. If you’re shopping around for cheap domestic travel insurance, it’s worth understanding what factors go into shaping the cost of your premium. Some of these include:

Type of coverage

Domestic policies come with basic and comprehensive options. Basic coverage is cheaper but provides you with fewer benefits, while top-level cover protects you for a raft of incidentals while you’re travelling, including recouping the cost of lost, damaged or stolen luggage, but is typically more expensive.

Age

If you’re a senior looking for cheap travel insurance, you can expect to pay more for your cover based on your age. Insurers view senior travellers as more prone to illness and injury due to their age. In some cases, domestic policies for those over 75 can be up to four times more expensive than the same policy for a person under 30 years old.

Trip length

The longer you’re away from home, the more your coverage will cost. Longer trips tend to be more expensive because you’ll be paying a larger amount for accommodation, as well as other non-refundable bookings such as tours and activities. If you’re wanting to holiday on the cheap, consider coming home a little earlier than planned.

Number of travellers

Some providers allow you to include up to 25 people under the one domestic travel insurance policy. While this will be more expensive than an individual policy, it’ll work out to be cheaper overall if you split the costs between your troop of travellers.

Optional extras

If you’re looking to partake in some high-risk activities, whether it be cover for riding a motorcycle, abseiling or scuba diving, you will need to take out extra coverage. Most insurers offer coverage as a bonus add-on which comes at an extra cost.

What can I be covered for with cheap domestic travel insurance?

If you’ve opted to holiday at home instead of travelling to Bangkok this year, travel insurance is all about the protection it gives you while you’re on holiday, even if you’re just criss-crossing Australia. Some of the key benefits you’ll receive under some cheap domestic travel insurance policies include:

  • Cancellations: You’ll be reimbursed for the cost of any non-refundable bookings, such as flights and hotels, if you need to cancel due to a covered incident such as illness or a sick relative back home. Most domestic providers allow you unlimited coverage for this benefit.
  • Disruptions to your trip: If you need to spend more money on travel or hotels because of a disruption to your holiday, your insurance company will foot the bill up to a certain limit.
  • Lost, stolen or damaged luggage: Having your baggage damaged, lost or even stolen while you’re in transit can be a major inconvenience. If this happens, your insurer will reimburse you the cost of replacing or repairing your belongings up to an agreed limit.
  • Excess on rental vehicles: Getting a hire car for your holiday can be a convenient and relaxing way of soaking up the sights across Australia. If you’re involved in an accident, your excess can be covered by your insurer up to a certain limit.
  • Transport for special events: Got a wedding to attend but your mode of transport is delayed or cancels at the last minute? Your insurer foots the bill to make sure you get to your special event on time.
  • Personal liability: If you’re found personally liable for an accident or injury of another person, your insurer covers any legal expenses up to a pre-agreed limit (usually more than $1 million on domestic policies).
  • Accidental death: Your insurer covers the cost of bringing your body home and any necessary funeral costs if you die as a result of an incident covered by your policy.

Types of travel insurance

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

Why compare hotels with Savvy?

How do I compare domestic travel insurance policies?

Frequently asked domestic travel insurance questions

Can I get cheap domestic travel insurance if I have a pre-existing condition?

Yes – having a pre-existing medical condition is unlikely to affect your travel insurance if you’re staying within Australia. If you’re a permanent resident, any medical costs will be covered by Medicare or your private health insurer.

Will it cost more to include my kids in my domestic travel insurance policy?

Many insurers allow you to include children in your travel insurance policy for free, which can be a cheap way to travel if you’re going away as a family. However, insurers will require your children to meet the following conditions:

  • Up to the ages of 20 to 25 (depending on the insurer)
  • Financially dependent on you
  • Not working full-time
  • Staying with you for the entirety of the holiday
What do I need to purchase cheap domestic travel insurance?

You don’t need any documents or paperwork to buy domestic travel insurance online through a provider. All you need to do is get a quote, compare it with other insurers and buy the one that suits your trip the most. You will need to share some information with your insurer to get a quote, which will include your destination, travel dates, name, date of birth and the information of any other travellers.

Can I get cheap domestic travel insurance for a cruise holiday?

Yes – you can get cheap coverage for an upcoming cruise trip through many providers. Many insurers offer cruise cover automatically while certain providers sell it as an optional extra. It’s also important to double-check your insurance covers you for the cruise you’re planning, as some companies won’t cover you if you’re sailing away from the Australian coastline, such as to Norfolk Island.

Does domestic travel insurance cover COVID-19-related cancellations?

Yes – many travel insurance providers will be able to recoup the cost of flights, hotels and other pre-paid bookings up to a certain amount if you contract COVID-19. Any medical, hospital or evacuation-related expenses can be covered by Medicare or your private health insurance.

Can I cancel my domestic travel insurance for free at any time?

Yes – you can get a full refund on your travel insurance if you cancel within the cooling-off period. Most insurers have cooling-off periods of between 14 and 30 days. If you cancel outside this window, you may not get a full refund and may be charged a cancellation fee.

Helpful travel insurance guides

Travel Insurance Banner - Group of women smiling and enjoying drinks on a cruise.

Compare Cruise Travel Insurance

Setting sail on your next holiday? Compare cruise travel insurance with Savvy.  Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in 30 Seconds Get...

Travel Insurance Banner - Young expat couple walking arm-in-arm through a field.

Travel Insurance for Expats

Are you an Australian expatriate chasing travel insurance back home? Compare with Savvy and find the best policy. Compare Travel...

Travel Insurance Banner - Man looking on his computer at travel insurance.

How Much Is Travel Insurance?

Wondering how much your travel insurance might cost? Compare with Savvy and find out today. Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in...

Travel Insurance Banner - Young couple with their baby checking into a hotel with a young female concierge.

Best International Travel Insurance

Travelling abroad? Compare policies and find your international travel insurance here with Savvy. Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in 30 Seconds...

Travel Insurance Banner - Woman sitting on a luggage trolley being pushed by her partner with her arm in the air.

Benefits of Travel Insurance

Understand more about the benefits of travel insurance by comparing your options with Savvy. Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in 30...

Disclaimer:
We do not compare all travel insurance brands currently operating in the market. Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and does not consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.

Savvy earns a commission from our partners each time a customer buys a travel insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via their websites.

Before purchasing your policy, we recommend you refer to the provider’s PDS for any further information on the terms, inclusions and exclusions.