Why leaving travel insurance to the last minute could cost you this summer
Key takeaways
- Australians took a record 12.7 million short-term trips overseas in 2025–26, but 35% of travellers buy their travel insurance in the week before they leave.
- Cancellation cover starts the day you buy your policy, so buying when you book means you're covered if something goes wrong before your trip.
- What's next: Purchase a Southern Cross Travel Insurance policy through Finder between 22 October 2026 and 20 January 2027 to get a $20 digital Visa gift card.
When it comes to planning a holiday, most of us are pretty organised.
We jump on flight sales the moment they drop, lock in accommodation months ahead and have the itinerary, the restaurant list and even the packing list sorted well before we leave.
But as soon as we need to book travel insurance, we seem to lack the motivation.
RACV data shows 35% of travellers buy their cover in the week before they leave, and 5% buy cover the day they fly.
Why buying early can be a lifesaver
Most people think of travel insurance as something that protects them once they're overseas. But one of the most useful parts of a policy is cancellation cover, which can start from the day you buy it.
So if you book your trip in October and something happens in November, like an illness, an injury or a family emergency, a policy you bought when you booked could help you recover what you've paid for flights and accommodation, depending on your policy's terms and conditions.
If you wait until the week before you fly, you won't be covered for anything that happened before you purchased your policy.
Buying early also means you may be covered if something unexpected happens in the lead-up to your trip, like a natural disaster or a strike at your destination. Once an event is in the news, it's usually considered a "known event", and your insurer will most likely no longer cover it.
Be rewarded for getting on top of your cover early
If you're ready to sort out your cover, Finder has an exclusive offer with Southern Cross Travel Insurance.
All you need to do is buy a policy through Finder between 22 October 2026 and 20 January 2027, unless withdrawn early, and you'll receive a $20 digital Visa gift card.
The offer applies to both international and domestic policies. Here's what you need to know to ensure you collect your reward:
- Buy your policy through a Finder link.
- Your gift card will be issued within 120 days of signup or purchase.
- If you cancel your policy before then, you won't receive the digital Visa gift card.
- If you cancel after the 14-day cooling-off period, Southern Cross charges a $35 cancellation fee.
Tips for buying travel insurance this summer
- Buy when you book. Your cancellation cover can start from the day you buy your policy, not the day you fly.
- Declare any pre-existing conditions. Many common conditions are covered automatically, but others need to be declared or your claim could be knocked back.
- Add extras if you need them. Going on a cruise or hitting the slopes? These usually need to be added to your policy.
- Compare a few policies. Prices and cover can vary a lot between insurers, even for the same trip.
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