Trel insurance is a type of insurance that is intended to cover you for emergencies, accidents or other events that occur unexpectedly while you are away from home. Say you touch down at your destination only to learn that your luggage did not arrive with you, or you take a tumble and break something on the first day of your dream holiday. At stressful times like these, trel insurance may be able to help you with certain associated expenses.
Broadly speaking, there are two main types of trel insurance:
domestic trel insurance covers you for trips taken within Australia international trel insurance will cover you for overseas trips, and typically covers slightly different things than domestic cover. What does trel insurance cover?Depending on the kind of policy you he, the best trel insurance can cover you in a range of different situations, and providers will offer a range of trel insurance inclusions. Generally speaking, though, trel insurance is likely to cover you for the costs associated with things such as:
Lost or stolen luggage: Personal effects can be lost, stolen or damaged during a trip, and if your luggage goes missing, your laptop is stolen or an important item is damaged, trel insurance may be able to help with replacement or repair costs. Medical costs: If you injure yourself while on an overseas trip, you may need to see a doctor, and overseas hospital bills can be expensive, not to mention the cost of transport home, if required. Trel insurance may cover some of these costs for you. Natural disasters: Natural disasters happen, and if a prepaid booking falls through because of a natural disaster and you are unable to get your deposit back, trel insurance may be able to help with the cost. Depending on the policy, it may also help to cover costs if you need to be evacuated from your holiday destination. Liability for accidents: If you are at fault in an accident overseas, you may find yourself getting sued. Some trel insurance policies can provide cover for liability in these situations, up to a certain amount. Family emergencies: It’s stressful when a close family member becomes sick, and even more so if you are overseas and cannot rush to their side. Some trel insurance policies may provide cover to help you get home in these situations. What are the different types of trel insurance?Depending on your needs and situation, you might opt for either a basic or a comprehensive trel insurance policy.
Basic: As the Australian Government’s Smartreller website states, basic policies tend to cover medical emergencies only, and can therefore be suitable for younger people who are trelling light and do not necessarily wish to insure their possessions. Comprehensive: Comprehensive trel insurance policies, on the other hand, tend to offer coverage for a broader range of situations, including cover for such things as cancellation costs and lost or stolen property along with cover for medical emergencies. These types of policies generally cost more than the basic policies.It is important to remember that no trel policy will cover you for every single thing that could possibly go wrong while you’re away. Some may provide coverage for the situations mentioned above, but potentially only in limited circumstances.
It’s important to carefully read the policy terms and conditions in the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for any policy you’re considering when doing a trel insurance comparison, and ask any questions you may he when purchasing the insurance, so you know what is and is not covered.
How to find the best trel insurance?There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to trel insurance, and the ‘best’ option will come down to what suits your needs and budget. For instance, if you plan on a more adventurous holiday where you’ll be skiing or snowboarding or even rock climbing, then the best policy for you will be one that offers cover for your chosen activity at a competitive price. On the other hand, if you are particularly concerned about lost or stolen luggage, then the best cover for you may be one that offers a high limit for this. When comparing trel insurance, it’s important to think carefully about your specific needs, to ensure you can find a policy that covers them at a price that suits your budget.
How much does trel insurance cost?There is no set cost for trel insurance, and it will vary depending on a number of key factors. It could be a good idea to get a few quotes to compare price and cover. The most common things that influence the cost of trel insurance include:
Where you’re trelling The length of your trip Your age and the ages of those accompanying you Any pre-existing medical conditions you he The type of policy you choose Any extras that you choose to add on to the coverIt may be the case that trel insurance for seniors is more expensive, as insurance providers may feel that there are more potential health risks associated with trel. You may also find, however, that seniors trel insurance can also include some benefits tailored more for older trellers.
The comparison tool at the top of this page allows users to input a few details (no personal details such as email are required) to find a shortlist of providers.
How to find cheap trel insurance?If you’re looking for cheap trel insurance, consider the following:
Use Canstar’s comparison tool: By clicking the ‘compare’ or ‘compare trel insurance’ button and entering in some details about your trip, you can compare a range of different policies on both price and features. Look for deals: Some providers may offer exclusive deals and discounts to Canstar customers who use our comparison tool. There may also be deals that are more broadly ailable on providers’ websites. Avoid paying for things you don’t need: Cover for adventurous activities such as skiing, snowboarding or white water rafting can make an insurance policy more expensive, so if you don’t plan on partaking in these pursuits, then it doesn’t make sense to he extras like these included on your policy. Consider only what you require (i.e. cover for medical expenses, trel delay and cancellation, lost or stolen luggage etc.) when comparing policies. Increase your excess: As with most types of insurance, you’ll usually be required to pay an excess when making a claim. You can often reduce your trel insurance premium by increasing your excess amount—if your chosen provider allows for this. It’s important to note that you’ll need to be able to contribute this higher excess amount when making a claim. Check your credit card: Some credit cards come with complimentary trel insurance, which may mean you won’t need to take out a standalone trel insurance policy. This type of trel insurance, however, can come with a host of terms and conditions, such as all of your trel-related purchases hing to be made using the card. The policy itself may also be rigid in what it covers, as credit card trel insurance will generally not cover pre-existing medical conditions. This feature is also usually only offered by more premium credit cards with higher annual fees and purchase rates, which means it’s important to consider these factors and whether they erode any sings you could make in trel insurance costs, before taking out a card such as this. Is trel insurance worth it?Whether or not trel insurance is worth the cost is a personal decision, but one that should be seriously considered when deciding to trel. The Australian Government’s Smartreller website stresses the importance of trel insurance for Aussies heading abroad, saying that it’s “as important as a passport”, and warning that you and your family could “suffer financially if things go wrong” on your trip. “No matter who you are, where you’re going and what you’re doing, get insurance,” Smartreller states.
When you’re getting ready to jet off for a trip, there are a lot of expenses you’ll already face, such as flight and hotel bookings, and even cold weather gear. Then you’ll need to allocate money to actually he fun while you’re on your trip.
When you factor in all these costs, trel insurance may seem like an additional expense that’s not worth it, however, it is important to remember that if you don’t he at least some level of cover, your trip could end up costing you more than you bargained for.
While it will be an additional expense, the best trel insurance can se you a lot of money and heartache if the unexpected occurs on your trip.
Does trel insurance cover medical expenses?Yes, trel insurance can cover medical expenses, although it will depend on the level of cover you choose. In a general sense, when it comes to medical expenses, trel insurance can cover you for such things as:
Overseas medical treatment: This can include such things as the costs of doctors’ appointments and necessary medications. Emergencies: If you require emergency treatment, trel insurance can cover the costs of emergency surgeries and transport in an ambulance. Hospitalisation: If the nature of your injury or illness is such that you require hospitalisation, trel insurance can pay for expenses related to your stay. Repatriation: If the nature of your injury or illness is such that you require transportation back to Australia, the costs of this can be covered by trel insurance.Medical expenses may be a major reason to take out trel insurance. You may he seen stories on the news about Aussies injured overseas and faced with thousands if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills, and significant transport costs if repatriation home is required.
The Australian Government has reciprocal healthcare agreements (RHCA) with certain countries, meaning that in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia and the UK, you may be partially covered for medical treatment. However, it is worth keeping in mind that the scope of this cover can be limited, and if you are trelling in a country without an RHCA and you experience a medical emergency, you may find yourself facing a considerable bill.
It is important to keep in mind that trel insurance policies generally also he exclusions around medical expenses covered.
Surgeries and treatments deemed non-essential may not be covered, and likewise, private hospital rooms may not be covered, unless deemed necessary by doctors.
What are some common trel insurance exclusions?Trel insurance policies will not cover you for everything that happens to you while you’re on a trip, and in some cases, you’ll need to take out specific kinds of cover above and beyond standard trel insurance in order to be covered.
Some common trel insurance exclusions are:
Costs or cancellations that arise from a pandemic or an epidemic (such as COVID-19) Skiing or other snow activities (typically, you’ll need snow cover for that) Dangerous activities (‘hazardous pursuits’) such as such as scuba diving or bungee jumping (some insurers may cover this automatically, but it’s possible you may need to pay extra or buy a separate adventure trel policy) High-value belongings (unless you tell your insurer about them) Risky or irresponsible behiour on your part, including behiour while under the influence of alcohol Pre-existing medical conditions that you didn’t tell your insurer about when applying for insurance Intentional illegal behiour, or breaking local laws and regulations more generally Lost items where you left your belongings unattended Driving a motorbike overseas (you may be able to obtain cover in some cases if you he a motorbike licence and are driving a low-power vehicle – check with your insurer) Acts of war What’s new in trel insurance in December 2025? Cost of living pressures mean more Australians are considering domestic holiday destinations this summer. According to the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF), around 34% plan to holiday within their own state, and 25% to trel interstate, but just 15% of Australians say they’re heading overseas. Other ways Australians are finding ways to cut their holiday costs in the face of the cost of living include taking a shorter holiday (25%), waiting for deals or discounts (13%), staying with family or friends (9%) or reducing spending on transport (8%). Canstar’s 2025 Trel Insurance Awards he been released, with many different insurers recognised for offering outstanding value insurance for domestic trel, international trel, cruise trel and seniors trel.