RACQ travel insurance

Whether you’re travelling in Australia, Austria or anywhere else around the world, good travel insurance is an essential investment. From unexpected cancellations to lost luggage, crashed rental cars and even overseas medical emergencies, travel insurance provides an important financial safety net to help you stay safe on your journey.

The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ), best known for the range of products and services it offers to motorists, also offers a full suite of travel insurance policies for international and domestic travellers. The insurance, which is underwritten by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., is available in a number of iterations designed to suit the varying budgets of different travellers.

Keep reading to find out more about the benefits RACQ travel insurance offers and determine whether it’s the right cover for you.

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What travel insurance policies does RACQ offer?

RACQ offers a variety of travel insurance plans to suit the cover needs and budgets of a wide range of travellers. If you’re going overseas, you can choose from the following international travel insurance policies:

International

• Premium. The highest level of cover available from RACQ, this policy pays maximum benefits for your overseas trip. This includes unlimited cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits, overseas medical and hospital expenses, and emergency expenses. A wide range of other benefits is also provided.
• Standard. This mid-range policy is designed to offer a balance between a wide range of benefits and more affordable premiums. It provides unlimited overseas medical cover as well as benefits for cancellation fees and lost deposits, travel agent fees, luggage, travel documents, rental car excess and more.
• Saver. This cost-effective option is designed for budget-conscious travellers. It provides unlimited overseas medical cover as well as benefits for cash in hospital, overseas funeral expenses, emergency expenses, luggage and legal liability.
• Annual Multi-Trip. If you’re a frequent traveller, this policy covers all the trips you take over a 12-month period. It includes all the same benefits as the Premium plan, and you can choose a maximum individual trip duration limit of 30, 45 or 60 days.

Domestic

If you’re travelling within Australia, RACQ also offers the following domestic travel insurance options:

• Domestic. RACQ’s most comprehensive option for domestic travellers, this policy provides unlimited cover for cancellation fees and lost deposits. It also covers lost, stolen or damaged luggage, travel agent fees, emergency expenses, travel delay, rental car excess, legal liability and much more.
• Domestic Cancellation. If you need to change or cancel your domestic travel arrangements due to unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, this policy provides up to $1,000 cover per person.
• Rental Vehicle Excess. This policy covers the rental vehicle excess payable when your domestic hire car is stolen, maliciously damaged or involved in an accident.

What’s covered under my policy?

The exact cover provided by your RACQ travel insurance policy varies depending on the type and level of cover you select. However, the benefits available include:

• 24-hour emergency assistance. Access to a team of emergency assistance experts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you can get the urgent help you need no matter where you are in the world.
• Overseas medical expenses. Your overseas ambulance, medical, hospital and emergency dental expenses are covered, as is the cost of emergency evacuation or medical repatriation if required.
• Cancellation fees and lost deposits. If illness, accident or any other unforeseen events beyond your control force you to cancel your trip, your policy can cover your cancellation charges and any non-refundable deposits you have paid.
• Travel agent fees. Should you need to cancel your trip due to unforeseen events beyond your control, your policy will also cover any non-recoverable fees you have paid to your travel agent.
• Emergency expenses. If your trip is disrupted due to a natural disaster, serious weather event or a range of other unforeseen circumstances, your policy can cover your additional accommodation, meal and travelling expenses.
• Cash in hospital. RACQ travel insurance also pays a $50 benefit for each 24-hour period you are hospitalised overseas, up to policy limits.
• Luggage. RACQ travel insurance provides cover for lost, stolen and damaged luggage and personal items, helping you pay for their replacement or repair.
• Luggage delay.
• Travel documents. You’ll receive a benefit if your credit cards or other important travel documents are lost or illegally used by someone else.
• Travel delay. This benefit ensures that you can cover your additional meal, accommodation and travelling expenses when your scheduled transport is delayed by six hours or more due to reasons beyond your control.
• Rental car excess. If you have an accident in your rental vehicle or the car is stolen or maliciously damaged, RACQ travel insurance can cover the excess on your rental car agreement.
• Legal liability. You can enjoy peace of mind with up to $10 million of legal liability cover.

Can I add any optional extras?

You can add any of the following options to your policy:

• Vary your excess. You have the flexibility to choose the amount of the excess payable when you make a claim. By choosing a higher excess, you’ll lower your travel insurance premium.
• Ski and Winter Sports Cover. If you’re planning a holiday to the snow, you can add this optional package to your policy for an additional premium. It provides unlimited cover for overseas medical and hospital expenses resulting from your participation in winter sports, while benefits are also payable for equipment hire, ski pack, piste closure, bad weather, avalanche and lost or stolen lift passes.

What won't be covered?

Unfortunately, RACQ travel insurance doesn’t cover every conceivable scenario and event, and there are certain circumstances under which your claim won’t be paid. For example, no cover is available if:

• Your claim arises because you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• You fail to act in a responsible way to protect yourself and your property
• You don’t do everything you can to reduce your loss as much as possible
• Your claim is for consequential loss of any kind, such as loss of enjoyment
• You visit a country for which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has issued a “Do Not Travel” advisory before you purchase your policy
• The problem arises due to errors or omissions in your booking arrangements
• You fail to obtain the correct visa
• You break the law
• You drive a car without a current Australian licence or a licence valid in the country you are visiting
• The situation for which you need to make a claim is caused by an act of war
• It’s caused by a pre-existing condition not covered by your policy
• You travel against medical advice
• You go skiing or snowboarding and have not purchased optional Ski and WInter Sports Cover

Read the product disclosure statement (PDS) closely to familiarise yourself with the full list of general exclusions.

How do I make a claim with RACQ?

If you need to make a claim on your RACQ travel insurance policy, there are two ways to do so:

• Claim online using the 24/7 claim lodgement service
• Phone RACQ on 1300 096 166 to submit your claim

You’ll need to notify the insurer of your claim within 30 days of returning to Australia. You may also need to provide documentation to support your claim, such as receipts, invoices, photographs, travel itineraries and police reports.

Once you’ve submitted your claim, you’ll be contacted within 10 working days.

Who's eligible to apply?

RACQ travel insurance is available to Australian residents over the age of 18 who meet the following conditions:

• You must buy cover before you begin your trip
• If buying international cover, your trip must begin and end in Australia
• If buying domestic cover, your trip must be completely within Australia

If you’re a temporary Australian resident, you’re also eligible for cover as long as you:

• Hold a current Australian visa that will still be valid after your trip has ended
• Have a return ticket
• Have a return address in Australia that you intend to return to
• Purchase a policy before you start your trip
• If buying international cover, your trip must begin and end in Australia
• If buying domestic cover, your trip must be completely within Australia

Whether you’re travelling internationally or domestically, and looking for comprehensive or budget-friendly cover, RACQ travel insurance is well worth a closer look. Compare its policies with products from a range of other insurers before deciding whether it’s right for you.