Last minute travel insurance

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Gary Ross Hunter

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Tim Bennett

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Key takeaways

  • Many travel insurers will let you buy a policy up until your departure.
  • It is even possible to get a policy after you have departed.
  • You can get cover for medical expenses, cancellations, lost luggage and more.

Can you get last minute travel insurance?

Yes, you can get last minute travel insurance. If your trip hasn't already started, you should still be able to take out a policy with no major issues, with a few exceptions.

Use the comparison tool on this page to travel insurance from a tonne of different providers in seconds. The tool will automatically filter out any policies you don't have access to if your travel dates are too soon.

Getting travel insurance if you're already overseas

You can still get travel insurance if you're already overseas. However, your options will be a bit more limited, and there will be waiting periods before you can make a claim. If your trip is domestic, these restrictions will still apply, assuming you've started the trip already.

The main restriction is you won't be able to claim for 2 or 3 days. This is to stop people taking out last minute travel insurance for something that's already gone wrong. This article lists providers that sell travel insurance after a trip has started.

Last minute travel insurance for COVID-19

One important exception to the generally easy process of getting last minute travel insurance is COVID. Some travel insurance that covers COVID-19 has an exclusion if you buy the policy too close to the start of your trip. Generally you'll need to buy your travel insurance at least 21 days before the start of your trip to avoid these exclusions. Just another reason to buy travel insurance as soon as possible!

Last minute travel insurance tips

You might need travel insurance fast, but that doesn't mean you should just grab any old policy. There are some important things you shouldn't forget. These include:

  • Declaring pre-existing medical conditions: Travel insurance can cover pre-existing conditions, but only if you declare them. Don't and you might not be covered should something go wrong.
  • Taking out rental car excess cover: If you plan to rent a car, consider travel insurance with rental care excess. It'll cover your excess if you're involved in an accident and damage the car.
  • Cover for other activities: If you're going skiing, golfing or cruising, make sure you get a policy that is tailored to that activity.
  • Policy extension: Most insurers let you extend your travel insurance policy if you need to, making sure you're still covered if you have to extend your trip.
  • Check the limits: You might be in a hurry but there's no point getting a policy if the limits are so low it would barely cover you. Take into consideration the medical costs in the country you're visiting as well as the cost of your valuables before purchasing a policy.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.
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Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 529 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
  • Managing the cost of living
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