One-Way Travel Insurance
Compare a range of one-way insurance offers with Savvy today.
Fact checked
Not all holidays and overseas trips have to have clear structures to them; you might simply want to travel abroad and see where the wind takes you. If you’re booking a one-way trip and are looking for travel insurance to align with your journey, you can compare your options right here with Savvy.
We’re partnered with trusted travel insurance providers to give you high-quality options to compare before you buy your policy. Compare different insurers side-by-side by getting a free, no-obligation quote online with Savvy today.
What is one-way travel insurance and how does it work?
One-way travel insurance is a type of insurance which can cover those travelling overseas without a set end date or any concrete plans to return to Australia. This makes it different from standard travel insurance policies, which require your covered trip to begin and end in Australia. There are insurers which may be able to offer you cover for up to 12 months away from home under this type of insurance, though this will depend on meeting your insurer's eligibility criteria (for example, those over 65 may be limited to 90 days' worth of coverage).
As part of your policy, you’ll be required to outline to your insurer the destination or destinations you’re planning to travel to whilst overseas. Missing out any locations could leave you without cover if you need to make a claim. You may also have the option to extend your policy up to a maximum of two years with some insurers if you're extending your overseas stay, with any further coverage requiring a new policy to be bought.
What can I be covered for under a one-way travel insurance policy?
The coverage offered by one-way travel insurance is, in most cases, the same as what you’d receive under any other standard international travel insurance policy. However, this will depend on whether you elect to take out a comprehensive or basic policy, as well as other factors relating to meeting your insurer's qualification requirements. What your travel insurance policy covers can include:
- Medical expenses: you may be able to claim for expenses accrued due to injury or illness whilst overseas, which may extend to:
- Emergency medical attention
- General medical treatment
- Transportation to a hospital (such as in an ambulance or helicopter)
- Medical evacuation and repatriation in Australia
- Cancellations: your policy may allow you to claim fees charged as a result of having to make cancellations on your overseas holiday, such as flights, hotel and event bookings, due to certain claimable unforeseen circumstances. These may include:
- You or a family member falling ill (or if a relative passes away)
- A natural disaster striking, such as a flood or fire
- Unexpectedly being made redundant without any knowledge that this would take place
- If you, a travel companion or family member is posted overseas or required to stay in the country due to being a member of the defence or police force, nursing or ambulance services or a firefighter
- Personal items: your policy may be able to cover you for claims made on items such as your luggage, electronics, mobile phone, jewellery and even cash, up to an agreed limit. This may be due to:
- Loss of an item under a covered event
- Damage to an item under a covered event
- Theft of an item under a covered event
- Hire car excess: if you’re renting a car overseas and it’s damaged in your possession, your insurance policy may be able to offer cover for the cost of its excess. This is provisional on factors such as you not breaking any road rules or driving on unsealed roads at the time of the accident.
- Personal liability: if you’re found to be liable for causing damage to someone’s property or causing harm to them, you may be able to be covered for up to $5 million depending on your insurer, the coverage you buy and whether you qualify for that coverage as an individual.
It's important to bear in mind that all coverage will be subject to your insurer's qualification requirements and the terms and conditions of your policy agreement, so comparing different policies and insurers can help you gain a greater understanding of what is and isn't covered under your one-way travel insurance.
How do I compare one-way travel insurance policies?
There are many key areas to consider when comparing different travel insurance policies. Fortunately, you can do just that with Savvy. Consider the following factors when taking out one-way travel insurance:
Inclusions and exclusions
Not all policies will offer the same covered events, so it's crucial to determine what the inclusions and exclusions are before you buy. For instance, some policies won't include things like motorcycle cover or other, more risky activities like winter sports automatically, which would instead be available for purchase as an optional extra or not covered at all. Many policies will omit medical expenses as a result of a pre-existing health condition from their coverage, so if you find yourself in that boat, it’s crucial to compare your options.
Cost of premiums
Of course, you shouldn’t be forced to pay more than necessary for your insurance policy. Although the cheapest policies may not always offer the cover you need, it’s worth comparing your options thoroughly among insurers who can offer you suitable cover.
Excess requirements
When it comes to the excess on your travel insurance policy, the amount you can choose to set it at may vary depending on your profile and the insurer you choose to purchase with. With some insurers, you may not have to pay an excess at all in certain situations. However, it's worth noting that higher excesses will generally result in lower premiums, and vice versa.
Countries serviced
Insurance providers also don’t always offer coverage for all countries around the world, so it’s important to look for a policy which allows you to make a claim in any country or city you visit over your time away from home (if available).
Age limits
Finally, it’s worth making sure you can actually receive the cover you need based on your age. As mentioned, not all providers offer one-way policies for senior travellers beyond the age of 65, but this may not be the case across the board. As such, if you're a senior, it's worth comparing insurers based on their age limits and terms and conditions surrounding older travellers.
Types of travel insurance
Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?
Reputable insurance partners
Fast and convenient online process
You can complete the quote, comparison and purchase process online through Savvy quickly and easily.
Competitive quote costs
Regardless of the type of insurance you’re looking for, we can help you compare between competitive quotes.
The pros and cons of one-way travel insurance
PROS
Designed for more flexible holidays
If you want to travel freely around the world without a set end date, a one-way policy can help you do so without worrying about not being covered.
Same coverage as other policy types
Just because it’s travel insurance for a one-way trip doesn’t mean it offers different coverage than you might receive on a standard round-trip policy.
Suitable for temporary relocations
If you're moving overseas as part of your job or to live with your partner without a set end date, a one-way policy may be worth considering.
Ability to extend your coverage
Once you're overseas, you may be able to extend your coverage up to a maximum of two years (depending on your insurer and their terms and conditions).
CONS
Doesn’t cover all ages
If you’re an older traveller, not all insurers will be able to offer the coverage you might need if you want to travel the globe without an end date.
Less suitable for short-term trips
If you’re looking for cover for a short trip to New Zealand with a return date in mind, it may be less cost-effective to buy a standard policy than two one-way policies.
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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.
