RACV travel insurance. What’s on offer and how does it work?

Roberto Efflandrin

70% of Australians claim they would not travel abroad without travel insurance? This may sound surprising, but when you consider that an emergency evacuation from Bali could cost AUD$40,000 for example, it makes a lot of sense. ¹

RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria) is an Australian travel insurance provider. Despite its name, RACV doesn’t just deal with automobiles - it also provides comprehensive international travel insurance.

In this article, you will learn all about RACV travel insurance, the different packages it provides, and how it all works — read on to find out more.

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What is travel insurance with RACV?

RACV travel insurance comprises a variety of services that protect travellers against unexpected costs and events that can occur during or prior to a trip. This includes emergency medical expenses, evacuations and repatriation, cancellations and delays, stolen or lost baggage, and other significant travel-related challenges.²

RACV travel insurance packages

RACV provides travel insurance types for many different types of travel. These include international travel insurance, domestic travel insurance, and rental car travel insurance. ³ Further package options are provided for those who choose international travel insurance, which consists of:

  • Comprehensive
  • Essentials
  • Basics
  • Annual Multi-trip ²

Who Administers travel insurance on behalf of RACV?

The underwriting administrator of RACV travel insurance is Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co Ltd. ⁴

What are the main benefits of travel insurance with RACV?

Aside from the general financial and well-being benefits associated with travel insurance, RACV provides several additional benefits to its customers. These include:

  • 24-hour support and assistance
  • Overseas medical cover
  • Coverage for lost deposits and cancellation fees
  • COVID-19 disruption cover ²

Types of coverage offered by RACV travel insurance

The types of coverage eligible on RACV travel insurance depend on the specific package you choose. The following table provides a breakdown of each package and their major coverage types and excesses. For a more comprehensive breakdown of RACV travel insurance coverage, you can refer to the RACV Product Disclosure Statement. ²

Type of Coverage Comprehensive Essentials Basics
Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits Unlimited AUD$25,000 N/A
Overseas Medical and Hospital Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited
Luggage AUD$15,000 AUD$7,500 AUD$2,000
Travel Documents AUD$5,000 AUD$1,500 N/A
Accidental Death/Disability AUD$25,000 AUD$15,000 N/A
Rental Car Excess AUD$8,000 AUD$4,000 N/A
Loss of Income AUD$10,400 AUD$5200 N/A
COVID-19 Overseas Medical and Hospital and Emergency Expenses Unlimited N/A N/A
COVID-19 Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits $3,500 combined limit N/A N/A

As seen on 13 September 2023

RACV travel insurance main fees

The main fees associated with getting travel insurance with RACV depend on various factors and personal details, including where you wish to travel, how long you are travelling for, your age, and any preexisting medical conditions.

To find out how your travel circumstances affect the price of RACV travel insurance, you would need to enter your details into RACV’s online quote calculator.

What’s not covered under this travel insurance?

The circumstances that RACV travel insurance does not cover depend on the package that you choose. However, for the comprehensive package, RACV holds the following restrictions:

  • Accidents or lost items as a result of influence from drugs or alcohol are not covered
  • RACV does not cover all medical conditions or all stages of pregnancy
  • Travel to countries with “Do Not Travel” status ⁵

Eligibility for RACV travel insurance

Any Australian resident over the age of 18 is eligible to purchase RACV travel insurance, provided that your trip begins and ends in Australia, and the insurance is purchased before your trip.

If you are a temporary resident of Australia over the age of 18, you are still able to purchase travel insurance with RACV, provided that:

  • You hold an active Australian visa (excluding tourist, study, or working holiday visa) valid beyond the end of your trip
  • You hold a return ticket
  • You have a place of residence in Australia to return to after your trip ⁵

How to get travel insurance with RACV

To get travel insurance with RACV, you would have to first identify the details of your trip and enter them into RACV’s online quote calculator. Once you have received a quote, you will be prompted to confirm and pay for your coverage online. You will be sent a summary of your coverage and policy copy via e-mail or post.

Making a claim with RACV travel insurance

There are two main ways that you can make a claim with RACV travel insurance. The fastest is making a claim online, but you can also make a claim over the telephone.

To make a RACV travel insurance claim, you will first need to register or log in to the RACV website. You can then make a claim at any time, and you will be prompted to answer questions detailing your claim. Once submitted, you can expect a claim assessment result within 10 working days and will be informed if any further information is required.

If you choose to make a claim through a telephone call, you will have to call 1300 207 387. Note that whilst this claim process is similar, there may be charges and time restrictions applicable to making a call. ⁶

A word on RACV travel insurance and COVID-19

RACV insurance does include coverage for COVID-19 disruptions including trip cancellations. However, this is only covered by the Comprehensive package. This is limited to AUD$6,000 in hospital fees, AUD$20,000 in funeral expenses, and a combined AUD$3,500 in cancellation fees, lost deposits, travel delays, and additional COVID-19 expenses. ⁵

Additional things to keep in mind

It’s important to remember that even with comprehensive RACV travel insurance, there will still be limits to claims, so you must read the product disclosure agreement carefully. Be careful to note information such as countries with “Do Not Travel” status, as well as excess rates and COVID-19 coverage limits.

Another thing to consider is that If you are already an RACV member, you will be entitled to a 15% discount on RACV travel insurance. ²

Furthermore, senior RACV travel insurance holders automatically have their children or grandchildren covered for free as long as they:

  • are under 25
  • are financially dependent on their parents
  • are not working full-time
  • do not require a medical assessment
  • are listed on the insurance certificate
  • travel with you the whole time ⁷

Contacting RACV

To contact RACV via telephone to make a claim, you can call the following numbers: ⁸

  • Claim phone line: 1300 207 387
  • Overseas calls: +61 3 8627 0122

Note that calling the overseas helpline may result in being redirected to the Australia claim phone line. For this reason, your call may be subject to international fees and therefore online claims may be a better option.

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Sources:
  1. CompareInsurance: Travel Insurance Facts Infographic
  2. RACV: International Travel Insurance
  3. RACV: Travel Insurance
  4. RACV: About Your RACV Travel Insurance Policy
  5. RACV: Product Declaration Statement
  6. RACV: Travel Insurance Claims
  7. RACV: Seniors Travel Insurance
  8. RACV: Contact Us

Sources checked on: 13 September 2023


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This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

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