India travel insurance

Ready to get moving? See quotes and compare travel insurance policies for India from over 18 brands

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By

Gary Ross Hunter

Updated

Fact checked
Exercise a high degree of caution
Updated by Smartraveller on 17 Jul 2025
4.7 based on 828 reviews

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Key takeaways

  • Smartraveller rates India "exercise a high degree of caution", which doesn't affect your cover. Insurers can still refuse a claim that arises from travelling into a Do not travel area.
  • Comprehensive policies often cover COVID-19 medical costs and trip rearrangement.
  • Consider medical-only policies or a higher excess to potentially reduce your premium.

Why do I need travel insurance in India?

  • It can cover you for emergency medical treatment.
  • It can cover medical expenses caused by injuries and accidents, unless it's from an excluded activity.
  • It can pay for transport to hospital by helicopter or ambulance, as well as medical evacuations back to Australia.
  • If you're renting a car in India, make sure you have car rental excess cover.
  • Theft can occur in India. Travel insurance can cover you for lost or stolen valuables. This could include rings, necklaces, phones and watches.
  • Terrorism is a risk in India. A few insurers provide cover for medical and hospital expenses caused by an act of terrorism, including the cost of bringing you back home.

Looking for the best travel insurance for India? Check out our award winners in 2024

India travel insurance: Common exclusions

Every travel insurance policy has things you won't be covered for. Common exclusions include:

  • If you purchase cover after the incident has occurred. For example, if you take cover out after you've been injured and need medical attention.
  • Pre-existing medical conditions. If you have any major medical conditions, make sure you let your insurer know before taking out a policy. Otherwise you won't be covered for claims related to that condition.
  • You travel despite government travel advice. For example, if you travel to areas that have a warning from Smartraveller, such as the Attari-Wagah border crossing, Chhattisgarh and the border areas of its neighbouring states, travel insurance may not cover you.
  • Incidents that occur while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol. For example, if you go out drinking in Delhi, get injured and need medical attention, travel insurance won't cover you.
  • Driving vehicles without a licence. Like Australia, you won't be covered for medical costs or personal liability expenses if you drive without a licence in India.

What add-ons should I look for?

  • If you have plans to zoom around India on a scooter or motorbike, make sure to have the right license, and the right policy.
  • If you're getting adventurous, a lot of policies will offer adventure packs which can cover you for loads of activities like horse riding, hiking and zip lining.
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Did you know?
Natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones and landslides can occur in India.

Will I be covered for COVID-19?

Travel insurance can cover you for COVID-19 in India. A policy can cover you for the following:

  • Rearrangement costs if you catch the virus and need to change your plans. Lots of comprehensive travel insurance policies let you claim up to $5,000 towards these expenses.
  • Medical costs due to COVID-19. This can include hospital expenses and RATs if you catch COVID-19 while overseas (but you won't be covered for mandatory PCRs).
  • Expenses if you need to isolate. For example, if you catch COVID while you're overseas and need to push back your flight and stay in your accommodation longer.

How do I get cheap travel insurance for India?

  • Medical only or basic policies will generally be the cheaper policies on the market.
  • Use exclusive deals or promo codes to get a discount.
  • Opt for a higher excess. This will make your policy cheaper but more expensive if you have to claim.
  • Compare across a handful of travel insurers – they're not all the same.
  • Get the most value by buying your policy early. It means you're covered for longer while paying the same price.
Our best travel insurance policies
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Our expert says

"When I travel, I don't want to fork out a lot for travel insurance. I always get something above the bare minimum though which usually only covers medical-only expenses. Flight disruptions and delayed luggage are really common, so look for a cheap policy that covers me for these things."

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Journalist

What do I do in emergencies?

For emergencies: call 112 (police), 112 (ambulance) or 112 (fire).

In a medical emergency, call for help and then contact your insurer on their emergency assistance line.

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Our expert says: India travel insurance

"Monsoons can disrupt majorly disrupt travel throughout India - check out typical seasonal weather conditions before making bookings and make allowance for delays. If you're including India in a broader trip through Asia, make sure you include all countries when comparing quotes - it can make a big difference. Take out insurance as soon as you book your trip - that maximises the value of your cover."

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Editor-at-large

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FAQs about India

Sources

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Our expert says

"India is one of the most amazing places to visit, but it's also one of the most chaotic and riddled with mosquitoes. Make sure you have adequate insurance and vaccinations before you travel."

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Head of Consumer Research
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Journalist
Add to Preferred Sources

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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