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Budget Direct Travel Insurance Review

Budget Direct Travel Insurance offers the choice of 5 policies to suit everyone from your budget-savvy traveller or luxury-seeker to your last-minute planner.

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Richard Laycock
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Important:

Travel insurance rules continue to change as a result of the pandemic. Some information may not be accurate at this time. It’s even more important to double-check all details that matter to you before taking out cover. Please note:
    • Some policies may not be available through Finder at this time
    • It’s unlikely that your policy will cover expenses from border closures

    Our Verdict

    • Budget Direct Travel Insurance includes cruise cover in its policies as standard, if you're sailing in international waters. Normally, you'd need to purchase an add-on for this type of cover.
    • This provider offers a standard manageable excess of $200 - the amount you'll need to pay if you make a claim. You can also reduce your excess to $100 or down to $0 by paying a premium on top of your policy.
    • We compared Budget Direct's domestic policy to ten other travel insurance providers and found that its cover limit of $10,000 for cancellation and curtailment costs was one of the lowest out there.

    Review by our senior insurance writer James Martin

    Offering a variety of policies, Budget Direct Travel Insurance has you covered for staycations or holidays abroad, for one-off trips or annual voyages, and offers a variety of add-ons suitable for winter sports enthusiasts. Keep reading to review each policy and to find the right one for you.

    Budget Direct travel insurance is not currently available via Finder. You can head to the Budget Direct website or compare alternative options available below.

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    Summary of Budget Direct's Comprehensive policy

    Overseas Medical and Hospital ExpensesUnlimited
    Cancellation and Amendment FeesUnlimited
    Luggage and Personal Effects$7,500
    Maximum Age Limit100

    Table updated June 2020

    Budget Direct travel insurance review of benefits

    Compare Budget Direct travel insurance policies side by side to see which policy would be most suitable for your trip.

    BenefitsComprehensiveEssentialsLast MinuteDomesticAnnual Multi-trip
    Additional expenses$40,000$12,500$5,000$5,000$40,000
    Alternative transport expenses$5,000$2,500
    		$2,500$5,000
    Cancellation and amendment feesUnlimited$12,500
    		$10,000Unlimited
    Cutting your trip shortUnlimited$12,500
    		$7,500Unlimited
    Delayed luggage allowance$600$400
    		$250$600
    Hijack$1,500
    		$1,500
    Hospital cash allowance$75 per completed 24 hours up to $2,500$75 per completed 24 hours up to $1,000
    		$75 per completed 24 hours up to $2,500
    Loss of income$10,400
    		$10,400
    Luggage and personal effects*$7,500$5,000$2,500$5,000$7,500
    Overseas medical and hospital expensesUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited
    		Unlimited
    Personal accident*$40,000$30,000
    		$15,000$40,000
    Personal liability$5,000,000$2,000,000$1,000,000$1,500,000$5,000,000
    Pet care$500
    		$500
    Rental vehicle insurance excess$6,000$4,000
    		$4,000$6,000
    Resumption of journey$3,000
    		$3,000
    Travel delay expenses$100 per completed 12 hours up to $2,000$50 per completed 12 hours up to $1,000
    		$50 per completed 12 hours up to $1,000$100 per completed 12 hours up to $2,000
    Travel documents, credit cards and$5,000$2,500
    		$5,000

    *Conditions such as variable claim limits apply. Table last updated 16th June 2020

    Are there any policy add-ons?

    One of the major perks of taking out international travel insurance with Budget Direct is that you won't need to buy extra cover if you're heading on a cruise. However, there are a few additional cover options that come for an added price:

    • Pre-existing medical conditions. Budget Direct cover up to 27 pre-existing medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes and acne, however you will need to pay a bit extra for cover. If your condition is not listed, Budget Direct may not pay any claims related to your condition.
    • Snow Sports Cover. If you're planning on hitting the slopes at any stage during your trip, you might want to look at the snow sports cover, which protects you from the costs of piste closure, damage to your ski gear, avalanche cover and more.
    • Additional Specified Items Cover. If you're travelling with an item that costs more than single item limit of your Budget Direct policy, you can select the additional specified items cover, which can protect items up to a maximum value of $4,000.
    • Excess reduction. Budget Direct has three excess options: $200, $100 and $0 excess. If you don't want to pay as much for your policy upfront, you can select the $200 option but pay more at claim time or vice versa select the $0 option and pay more for your policy but nothing come claim time.

    Is cover from Budget Direct expensive?

    How much you'll pay for cover will depend on a few variables such as your age, where you're going, for how long and what activities you're planning on doing while you're there. Since there are so many variables it's hard to say whether one provider is more or less expensive than the other.

    However, after completing a range of dummy quotes for different destinations, both the Essential and Last Minute policies from Budget Direct consistently cost less than the average policy in the results from the Finder Travel Insurance comparison tool.

    And while the Budget Direct Comprehensive Travel insurance might cost slightly more than the average policy, it consistently ranks as one of the most comprehensive policies according to the Finder Rating.

    For example, Budget Direct Last Minute Travel Insurance costs roughly 32% less than Budget Direct Comprehensive Travel insurance. This might seem like a huge saving but since travel insurance is relatively inexpensive, the savings won't change your life.

    You're also getting a lot less bang for your buck. The Last Minute option only covers 4 of the 18 items covered by the Comprehensive policy, meaning that while you're saving 32% in monetary terms, you're losing about 78% of the cover provided by the premium option.

    How can I save on Budget Direct travel insurance?

    Looking to save money travel insurance? Here are some ways to cut costs with Budget Direct:

    1. Opt for a lower level of cover. If cost is all you're concerned about you can choose the Last Minute Travel Insurance option, though as I previously stated it doesn't represent great value for money.
    2. Use a Budget Direct Travel Insurance promo code. If you're after a discount on your travel insurance from Budget Direct, there are always promo codes floating around on the Internet. Check out the latest codes on Finder.
    3. Check your excess. Opting for the highest excess means you'll pay less upfront for cover but need to pay the full excess should you lodge a claim.

    What happens if I need to make a claim?

    If you do need to file a claim, the process is relatively straightforward. What you'll need to provide is:

    • Policy number
    • Details about the accident: time, date etc.
    • Supporting evidence: police or medical reports, receipts, etc.
    • Personal details: name, age, etc.
    • Payment details: account name, number, etc.
    • Travel details: where, when, etc.

    Budget Direct claim and contact details

    EClaim via email: Complete your claim form and send it along with any other supporting information to budgetdirect@claims-travel.com.au

    Claim via post: Complete your claim form and send it along with any other supporting information to:
    GPO Box 14, Brisbane QLD 4001

    Claim online: Complete your claim form and upload it along with any other supporting information through Budget Direct online claims centre; https://claimmanager.com.au/budgetdirect/agreement

    Emergency assistance: +61 7 3465 1718 (from overseas); 1800 444 424 (within Australia)

    Budget Direct Travel Insurance FAQ

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    20 Responses

      Default Gravatar
      JacquiAugust 30, 2019

      We are trekking in Nepal to 4500m. Will we be covered for this please and does it cover emergency evacuation by helicopter in case of injury or illness?

      Reply
        Default Gravatar
        NikkiAugust 31, 2019

        Hi Jacqui,

        Thanks for getting in touch!

        You can request a quote for trekking travel insurance for Nepal. Normally, cancellations, medical expenses, and helicopter evacuation are covered if you become ill or if you’re injured while trekking to Everest base camp or on other guided treks in Nepal which can be provided by your insurer’s medical assistance team.

        While Budget Direct is not on the list of brands who can cover you for the Everest Base Camp or Nepal trekking, use the online form on top of the page, enter the information needed in the fields provided and click “Get my quote”. This will show a full list of providers for your trip.

        As a friendly reminder, carefully review the Product Disclosure Statement of the product before applying. You may also contact the insurance provider should you have any questions about their policy.

        Hope this helps!

        Best,
        Nikki

        Reply
      Default Gravatar
      Jo-anneApril 24, 2019

      Hi! I require 12 months travel insurance for Germany. The consul requires 30,00 euro for medical evacuation/ repatriation of body in case of death. Can you please advise if the unlimited medical covers this?

      Reply
        Avatarfinder Customer Care
        MaiApril 25, 2019Staff

        Hi Jo-anne,

        Thank you for reaching out to Finder.

        Budget Direct will cover for medical evacuation or repatriation based on your specific needs. You may need to check with your specific policy it the 30,000 EU so covered by your policy as the approval is still subject to an assessment and approval by Budget Direct.

        You can reach out to Budget Direct to verify so they can check on your policy coverage too.

        Hope this helps! 😊

        Kind Regards,
        Mai

        Reply
      Default Gravatar
      DebMarch 13, 2019

      Hi, on a 7 month trip to the UK, how can we make sure we’re covered for countries that we suddenly decide to visit? Or, can we add to our insurance whilst away, i.e. If we decide to go to Canada for 2 weeks, can we pay the extra prior to departure?

      Reply
        Avatarfinder Customer Care
        MaiMarch 14, 2019Staff

        Hi Deb,

        Thanks for contacting Finder and for leaving a question about Budget Direct Travel Insurance.

        Once you are on a trip in the UK and decided to go to another country that is not supported by the region that you purchased, you can log in to your Budget Direct account and purchase a policy to add a new country, say Canada for instance. You can also head to Budget Direct’s website and chat with one of their representatives who can add add a cover for you. It can be done anytime even if you are already on a trip.

        Hope this helps and ​please feel free to contact us back should you require further assistance.

        Kind Regards,
        Mai

        Reply
      Default Gravatar
      brettMarch 1, 2019

      I have a 125cc motorcycle in Philippines am I coverd if im riding it there

      Reply
        Default Gravatar
        NikkiMarch 2, 2019

        Hi Brett,

        Thanks for reaching out! As it says on our page, Budget Direct covers overseas emergency medical assistance – it offers unlimited cover for all plans excluding the domestic plan. For further information, you can check the part on the page that says “Budget Direct Travel Insurance benefits.”

        Hope this was helpful. Don’t hesitate to message us back if you have more questions.

        Best,
        Nikki

        Reply
      Default Gravatar
      EdwardNovember 19, 2018

      I am 83 years old. Is medical cover unlimited for Europe?

      Reply
        Avatarfinder Customer Care
        JohnNovember 20, 2018Staff

        Hi Edward,

        Thank you for leaving a question.

        Yes, Budget direct does cover until 100 years old. Depending on the policy you take out with them, medical cover may be unlimited for a European tour. Hope this helps!

        Cheers,
        Reggie

        Reply
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