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Single Trip Travel Insurance

Compare a range of offers for single trip travel insurance in one place with Savvy.

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, updated on September 4th, 2023       

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Compare Travel Insurance Quotes in 30 Seconds

Even if you're only taking a single short trip interstate or overseas, having a travel insurance policy to cover a range of different circumstances while on your holiday can bring greater peace of mind that you won't be out of pocket if a claimable event takes place. That's where single trip travel insurance can come in handy.

You'll be able to compare a variety of offers for single trip insurance side-by-side with Savvy. We're partnered with trusted and affordable travel insurance providers to give our customers quality options to choose from. Start the process with a free, no-obligation quote through our simple online form today.

What is single trip travel insurance and how does it work?

Single trip travel insurance is the standard, most basic type of travel insurance policy, which is applicable to both domestic and international travel. It can provide travellers with cover for one trip starting and ending in Australia, regardless of the number of countries or destinations you plan to visit while you're away. Under this type of policy, you can be covered for a trip as long as 12 months from departure to return in Australia. This sets it apart from other types of insurance such as multi-trip cover, which can provide protection for several trips over a 12-month period, and one-way cover, which is offers to travellers without a return date booked.

As is the case with all types of travel insurance, you'll be able to choose the level of cover you take out, which is generally between basic, mid-level and comprehensive coverage. The more comprehensive the coverage, the greater the number of benefits and the higher the claim limits you may have access to, but the more you're likely to pay overall. What your travel insurance policy covers will ultimately come down not only to the type of cover you purchase, but also the insurer you purchase from. As such, it's important to compare your policy options before you buy, which you can do right here with Savvy.

What does single trip travel insurance cover?

There are many areas which can be covered by a single trip travel insurance policy. It's important to take the time to determine what your policy covers before you buy it so you can have a clearer idea of what you can and can't claim. Although these can differ depending on your insurer and the type of policy you buy, the main inclusions under a single trip policy (subject to your insurer's terms and conditions and whether the circumstances qualify for coverage) include:

  • Emergency medical expenses and medical assistance: if you're travelling overseas (or, in some cases, on a domestic cruise), your travel insurance provider may be able to cover you for medical expenses, such as emergency treatment in or out of hospital or general assistance. You can also be covered for emergency evacuation and repatriation. In many cases, this can be unlimited cover.
  • Cancellation fees: if you have to cancel part or all of your trip and are liable to pay cancellation fees as a result (or not able to refund your booking), you may be able to access cover and claim back some or all of the expenses (subject to the nature of the fees and circumstances and your insurer's qualification criteria).
  • Loss or theft of, or damage to, personal effects: you can also access cover if your belongings, such as luggage, electronics and jewellery are lost, stolen or damaged. These will come with item limits, so be sure you're aware of what these are before you buy to help you find the most appropriate cover.
  • Personal liability: should you find yourself in a bind away from home and liable for an incident which injured a third party or damaged their property, your travel insurance can cover the cost of compensation and legal fees (up to a reasonable amount) within your policy's claim limit.
  • Rental car excess: this can be a valuable source of cover for those who are planning to hire a car while on their travels, as it can provide protection for your rental car's excess up to your policy's claim limit should it be damaged while in your care. If the incident is deemed claimable, this could save you thousands.

On top of these, there are many other inclusions which may apply under your single trip travel insurance policy. For instance, under some comprehensive policies, you may also have access to the following:

  • Accidental death
  • Permanent disability
  • Loss of income
  • Trip disruption expenses
  • Trip resumption expenses
  • Trip delay expenses
  • Delay of luggage and belongings
  • Lost or stolen passports or credit cards
  • Theft of cash

However, even the best single trip travel insurance can't cover everything. Providers and policies will come with exclusions, which are circumstances which you won't be eligible to claim for. Some of the most common exclusions to apply to travel insurance policies include the following:

  • Travelling against government advice, such as to a destination which has an advice level of “Do not travel” from the Australian Government
  • Any claims which arise from you having broken local laws
  • Any items which are lost, stolen or damaged after being left unattended
  • Medical treatment for undiagnosed pre-existing conditions
  • Cover for cancellation in the event there's a demonstration or terrorist incident at your destination

You can compare the inclusions and exclusions of a variety of different policies in one place with Savvy. You'll be able to consider the offers available from our insurance partners and determine which may offer the most suitable coverage for your needs at the best price among our panel. 

Types of travel insurance

Why compare travel insurance with Savvy?

What factors can impact the cost of my single trip travel insurance?

Pros and cons of single trip travel insurance

PROS

Take the edge off medical costs

Having to pay medical expenses out of pocket could set you back thousands, if not more, so if treatment is required and the circumstances qualify for coverage from your insurer, your policy can help you pay for it.

Avoid hefty cancellation costs

Additionally, if you have to cancel part or all of your holiday and the circumstances are deemed claimable, you could avoid having to fork out for cancellation fees and non-refundable bookings.

Widely accessible

Single trip travel insurance isn't a niche product, with almost all travel insurers offering it, which means you can be more certain of being able to compare your options thoroughly before you buy.

Greater peace of mind

With a travel insurance policy behind you, you can travel the country or the globe knowing that you can be compensated for a set of circumstances outlined by your insurer which qualify for coverage.

CONS

Not as suited to frequent travel

Single trip travel insurance may be less cost-efficient than a multi-trip policy if you end up having to travel more than twice per year.

Potentially costly if no claims are made

Although travel insurance can offer peace of mind on a range of different claimable circumstances, you may end up paying a significant amount for a policy which you don't end up using (which is always the aim anyway!).

Your single trip travel insurance queries answered

How should I compare single trip travel insurance?

There are several key factors which you should consider when comparing single trip travel insurance policies, which you can do right here through Savvy. Some of these include:

  • Cost of the policy
  • Inclusions and exclusions
  • Claim limits
  • Pre-existing conditions covered (if this is relevant to you)
  • Excess requirements
  • Countries covered
  • Optional extras offered
Can I get single trip travel insurance for my whole family?

Some insurers offer family travel insurance, which is a product designed to cater to either one or two parents or grandparents and can include dependent children for free (provided they meet your insurer's eligibility requirements, such as being under 21 and not working full-time). 

How do I know if single trip travel insurance is the best choice for me?

A good way to determine if single trip travel insurance will be the best travel insurance option for you is to consider whether you're likely to travel less than three times within the upcoming twelve-month period and whether you have a return date booked for your upcoming holiday/s. As a rule, annual travel insurance works out to be the most affordable option for people who travel three times per year or more, while one-way insurance isn't really suitable for short trips with a set start and end date.

Can I purchase single trip travel insurance after I've already left?

You may be able to purchase a travel insurance policy if you're already overseas. However, there will be certain criteria your insurer will require you to meet, such as restricting you from purchasing basic policies and you've either been overseas for less than two weeks or have been covered by another policy since you left Australia which expired no more than two weeks ago. Check with your insurer to determine whether you'll be able to buy your policy after your departure.

Can single trip travel insurance come with cover for COVID-19?

Some insurers can offer cover for certain COVID-19-related expenses, such as medical treatment or cancellation after contracting the virus (or becoming a close contact). However, other circumstances, such as cancellations relating to border closures or additional quarantine after becoming a close contact, may not be covered. Some insurers will also enforce a waiting period of 72 hours after you purchase your policy during which you won't be covered for an otherwise claimable event. It's important to check your insurer's COVID-19 policy to make sure you're across what can and can't be covered.

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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.