Travel insurance for Europe

Get travel insurance for Europe with a quick a 10-second quote.

From iconic countries like France to adventurous ones like Norway, Europe is home to 50 countries. Whether you explore one or explore them all, you should first explore your travel insurance options to be well covered should things turn south.

Viewing your options takes just a few minutes but could save you a bundle of hassle and money.

Compare 20+ travel insurance policies for Europe in a flash

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DID YOU KNOW

• You can filter your results to customise your cover!
• You can choose from Basic, Standard or Comprehensive Cover

Not long to go now …

DID YOU KNOW

• You can filter your results to customise your cover!
• You can choose from Basic, Standard or Comprehensive Cover

*Quote of $3/day based on a 30-year-old traveller going to Europe for 15 days and getting a basic travel insurance policy. Quote retrieved on 31 August 2018.

Extra discounts on Europe travel insurance

Medibank Travel Insurance Deals

15% off travel insurance + chance to win $1000 gift card

Medibank customers can save on the next travel insurance policy plus have a chance to win one EFTPOS gift card. T&Cs apply

Last verified 11 Jan 2019

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Deal ends 18 Mar 2019

Tick Travel Insurance

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Get 5% off all Tick travel insurance policies

Want to save more on your Tick travel insurance policy? Just enter this code to receive a 5% discount on your cover to destinations like Bali, New Zealand, USA, Europe, Thailand, Fiji, Vietnam and more.

Last verified 5 Jan 2019

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Budget Direct Travel Insurance Deals

15% off travel insurance + chance to win $10,000

Save on your policy to destinations worldwide, including Bali, Thailand, the US, UK, New Zealand and more when purchased online. Plus, have a chance to win a $10,000 cash prize.

Last verified 16 Jan 2019

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Fast Cover Travel Insurance Deals

Get 5% off travel insurance with Fast Cover

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Last verified 5 Jan 2019

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YouGo Travel Insurance Deals

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Save 10% on YouGo travel insurance

Get 10% off your YouGo travel insurance cover with this exclusive coupon code. Offer available for a limited time only!

Last verified 5 Jan 2019

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More about travel insurance for Europe:

What am I covered for?

Common incidents and occurrences covered by most travel insurance plans include the following:

• Medical treatment. Getting sick or injured overseas is bad enough, but paying large sums of money just to see a doctor makes things worse. Some countries could have you paying up to thousands of dollars if you need to be hospitalised, so it’s important to find an insurance policy that can cover large medical expenses upfront.
• Cancellations and delays. With so many countries being so close together, Europe is full of small budget airlines. This means that there may be a good chance some flights will be cancelled, and you will have to take a flight at a different time. Missing one flight may mean missing your next flight, train or bus, leaving you out of pocket and out of time. Most insurance policies will cover your travel expenses if your flight or train is delayed or cancelled.
• Lost/damaged luggage and personal items. Losing your luggage can really bring down the mood of your European adventure. Buying new clothes, electronics and luggage while overseas can put a major dent in your wallet. Fortunately, most travel insurance policies will cover any loss or damage to your personal items and luggage. Just make sure you double check what items are included in the cover.
• Emergency support. This is crucial to any good travel insurance policy. Having an insurance provider that offers 24/7 emergency support can be a lifesaver if you get into a sticky situation overseas. From lost luggage to theft to medical emergencies, it always helps to have someone you can contact to ensure you receive the support and guidance you need to get you out of the messy situation.
• Death or serious injury. Although no one really wants to consider the possibility of death or serious injury while travelling, it can happen. Most insurance providers will cover any expenses involved with death or serious injury, potentially saving your family and loved ones from spending thousands of dollars.

Before you travel anywhere, check out Smartraveller where you can find travel advice associated with the country you are travelling to. Knowing the situation in a country before you decide to travel there will dramatically influence what type of insurance you need to buy.

Check out these Europe travel tips

Which European countries are covered by travel insurance?

What am I not covered for?

Common losses insurance companies exclude from cover can include the following. If in doubt, contact your insurer for clarification and confirmation.

• Using a scooter/motor bike without a helmet. It is your responsibility to take all necessary safety precautions when riding a motorbike or scooter. If you injure yourself while not using appropriate protection, you will not be covered by travel insurance.
• Any undeclared pre-existing medical conditions. If you are hospitalised overseas for a pre-existing medical condition, you must have declared the condition when you bought your travel insurance or you will not be covered.
• Reckless or unlawful behaviour. If you purposely break the law or act in an irresponsible and aggressive manner, travel insurance will not cover you for any legal, medical or damage expenses.
• Being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Losses incurred while under the influence of drugs or alcohol are rarely covered by travel insurance brands. It’s completely fine to have a few cocktails while on holiday, but it is unacceptable to drink to a point where you put yourself and others at risk.
• Leaving your luggage with the hotel after you’ve checked out. If you have an early check out, but a late flight, some travellers leave their luggage with the hotel concierge for a last-minute explore. That travel insurance does not cover your luggage for any loss or damages in this situation.

How much does travel insurance to Europe cost?

From a study of 10,000 quotes requested through finder's quote engine, the most common age of travellers to Europe were 66 to 75 years olds. The average cost of travel insurance for a person aged 66-75 who is going to Europe for two weeks is $184.81.

Prices last obtained October, 2015. Prices are subject to change.

What does a policy at $184.81 get you?

We searched quotes for the most popular demographic (66-75 year olds) travelling to Europe for two weeks. We included cruise insurance and came up with comprehensive cover for under $150 per person or basic cover for under $70 per person. The comprehensive policy includes the following:

Policy features	Limits
Cancellation fees and lost deposits	Unlimited
Dental expenses	$1,000
Hospital cash allowance	$5,000
Overseas emergency medical assistance	Unlimited
Personal liability	$5,000,000
Travel delay expenses	$2,000
Overseas emergency medical and hospital expenses	Unlimited
Credit card fraud and replacement	$5,000
Luggage and personal effects	$10,000
Permanent disability	$25,000
Loss of income	$10,000
Accidental death	$25,000
Default excess on claims	$200
	Get quote

Quote obtained August 2018 and is subject to change.

Additional cover you may need in Europe

Europe is packed with adventurous activities from skiing in Switzerland to cycling around Italy. Most standard insurance policies won't automatically cover things like vehicle hire and snow equipment. You usually have to add optional extras or buy specific insurance cover. Some additional types of cover you might need include the following:

• Backpacking insurance. There are increased risks associated with backpacking in Europe as most travellers on a budget choose cheaper airlines and accommodation. Backpackers' insurance can cover lost luggage, theft of cash/items, medical emergencies and credit card replacement.
• Snow/ski insurance. Europe has some of the best ski slopes in the world. Many insurance providers offer snow, skiing or winter sports travel insurance, which provide cover for damage to hired equipment, bad weather delays/closures, medical expenses, avalanches/evacuations and more.
• Car/motorbike hire insurance. Driving is a convenient way to get around Europe. Car or motorbike hire insurance covers you for accidents, theft, excess amounts and rental deposits associated with your hire car. Be aware that the legal age for hiring a vehicle in many European countries is around 25 or over.

How do I make an insurance claim?

The process for making a claim differs with each provider. You can usually make a claim online or over the phone. You may need to follow specific procedures, such as calling an emergency phone number or obtaining documents to provide proof of the incident, which the claims member will advise you of. The following are some tips to make the claims process easier:

• Be detailed, accurate and specific when applying for insurance. Before purchasing your insurance, double check travel dates and countries visited. Clearly detail any pre-existing medical conditions to ensure you will be covered for them. If you're unsure whether a policy covers you for areas or activities, ask prior to purchasing your travel insurance. Better safe than sorry.
• Talk to your insurance provider. If you have any questions or want to make sure all of your information is up to date, give your provider a call before you leave.
• Document everything. For any incident, accident, flight delay or medical emergency, get written documentation from police, medical staff or airline staff. Providing proof will help make things go smoothly when submitting a claim.
• Take photos. Snap a pic of your luggage before you leave for a record of the items you're taking with you. If these are damaged or lost along the way, you can use the photos as proof.

Find out more about travel insurance claims

Who do I contact in an emergency?

If you find yourself in an emergency in Europe, the following are some helpful contacts:

• Your travel insurer. You insurance provider will have a 24/7 helpline for claims and medical emergencies.
• Australian embassies and consulates. You can find the contact details for Australian embassies and consulates in Europe below.

What to consider before booking travel insurance:

• Do I have to get insurance for long stays in Europe?

  For countries that are part of the Schengen Zone, a visa is required by its individual member countries for stays over 90 days. An accompanying travel insurance policy with at least EUR€30,000 in medical cover and medical repatriation back to Australia is a typical requirement of such visas.

  If you stay beyond the date stated on your initial travel insurance policy, you can usually extend your policy if you include the reasons you are extending your trip, where and when you will be travelling to and a disclosure of existing health condition and any changes.

  If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you must make sure you are covered for them. General medical cover usually won’t include hospitalisation for things like allergies, asthma or other conditions unless you specify them when purchasing your insurance.

• Q. Is every country I intend to visit covered?

  Make a list of all of the countries you are visiting and compare them with all of the countries your policy will cover. Make sure that the countries you are planning on travelling to are covered by your European travel insurance. Use the list in the earlier section to work out if the countries you are planning on visiting are part of Europe.

• Q. Is the cover amount for personal belongings and luggage enough?

  Many people may be taking expensive cameras or laptops when travelling. Make sure the amount you are covered for exceeds your most expensive items, or you will be at a loss if damage or theft occurs.

• Q. Am I partaking in any sporting or physical activities?

  Many activities like skiing, boating, scuba diving and even riding a motorbike are not covered by most standard insurance policies. Make sure you can include these in your policy, even if that means paying an additional premium.

• Q. Am I covered for cancellations and delays?

  Unfortunately, cancellations and delays can happen quite frequently, especially when travelling to multiple destinations on budget airlines. Make sure you are not out of pocket if you miss a future flight due to other flight or train delays.

• Q. Am I covered for countries like Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia and Cyprus?

  Yes, you are covered for these countries by travel insurance if there are no official government warnings against travel to these places. Make sure you specify travel to these locations to your travel insurance provider upon purchase.

Enquire about European travel insurance

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