Travel insurance when on a road trip

If you’re thinking of taking the scenic route on your next trip abroad, World Nomads offers travel insurance coverage so you can enjoy the road less travelled.

It only takes a fraction of a second for your dream trip to turn into a nightmare: your car could veer off the road, your phone or documents could be stolen from the locked glove compartment…or even worse.

Some of the benefits included within our Standard and Explorer plans include:

• Unexpected medical emergencies on the road
• Rental car insurance for vehicle damage
• Emergency assistance at any time of the day or night
• Road trip interruptions or delays
• Baggage and valuables coverage
• Cover for some Coronavirus-related events.

What’s covered when going on a road trip 

Having travel insurance may help with coverage when hitting the road if something goes wrong. World Nomads may offer cover (up to the policy limits) for:

• Trip cancellation coverage: Kiwis are familiar with natural disasters, especially earthquakes and floods. If something happens to your home before you leave (after you’ve bought insurance) or while you’re on holiday, insurance may cover some expenses associated with cancelling your trip, making a compassionate emergency visit home, or resuming your trip after a break.
• Coverage for extended stays: if you’re having too much fun and want to extend your road trip, you can extend your policy coverage if you do so by 11:59pm on the day your insurance cover expires.
• Activities, sports and experiences: let’s face it, New Zealanders are an adventurous, sport-loving bunch. Overseas travel offers exciting opportunities, such as scuba diving, bungee jumping, or white-water rafting. But if something goes wrong you need to know that while World Nomads offers cover for more than 150 sports and activities, our policies don’t cover bull running, but do cover white water rafting. Check before you buy that your flavour of adventure is covered and find out what policy upgrade options may be available.
• Baggage and personal belongings coverage: both our Standard and Explorer Plans offer cover for theft or accidental damage to your baggage and personal items. The level of cover available varies between the two policies, so check before you buy.

Traveller tip: if you’ve already arrived at your overseas holiday destination and you realise that you forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving New Zealand, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night to purchase a policy.

What are the benefits of travel insurance?

Road tripping through a new country lets you explore at your own pace and gives you the freedom to stop along the way. Travel insurance for your road trip means that when things go wrong you have help at hand, for example:

• Sudden trip cancellations: if, after you buy your insurance, the New Zealand Government issues a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning to your destination country your policy can cover cancellation expenses. If severe weather or a natural disaster delays or cancels your trip, cancellation expenses may be covered. If your trip is cancelled because you’ve been kidnapped, or due to a hijacking, cancellation expenses may be covered if you have the Explorer Plan.
• Rental car insurance for vehicle damage: to get rental car insurance you’ll need the Explorer Plan and, also, the insurance offered by the car rental company. If you have an accident, the Explorer Plan will cover the rental vehicle insurance excess or the cost of repairing the vehicle (whichever is less). Or if the vehicle is damaged or stolen while in your custody the Explorer Plan may cover you.
• 24/7 emergency assistance: our team of trained staff is available to help with medical problems, including finding the nearest medical facility and, if required, arranging your evacuation home. The team is available 24/7.
• Road trip interruptions and delay: road trips can be interrupted for a range of reasons – the car breaks down, an accident involving you and/or your travel mates or missing connecting transport due to sudden illness or an accident. Our Explorer Plan may cover repair costs to the car (or the cost of the excess on the rental company’s policy).
• Stolen belongings and baggage: if your bags are stolen or accidentally damaged (including any souvenirs) our insurance can pay up to a certain limit. You have the option of upgrading for high-value items. Report any theft as soon as possible to the police and get a copy of the police report – and always keep receipts!

What’s not covered

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so it’s important to understand what’s not included:

• Expenses where you don’t provide receipts or reports.
• Medical costs associated with an accident where drugs, alcohol or reckless behaviour are factors.
• Pre-existing conditions as explained in your Policy Document.
• If you’re road tripping in a rental and you don’t have a valid New Zealand driver’s license, our insurance won’t cover you.
• Expenses from driving specialised, customised or fancy/antique cars won’t be covered.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your Policy Document in full so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

The information provided is of a general nature and is provided for information purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice in any form, and should not be relied on as a substitute for obtaining professional advice that is specific to your circumstances. You should seek advice from a financial advice provider if you would like further information about whether a particular product is appropriate for you and your circumstances.

Travel insurance when on a road trip

What’s better than hitting the open road and exploring a far-away country via the highways and the off-the-beaten track by-ways? Maybe you’re travelling the US from coast to coast on Route 66 or Europe’s calling you from the famed, limit-less German Autobahn.

While planning your road trip, you might want to consider packing travel insurance just in case your holiday comes across a roadblock.

Travel insurance is designed for many types of transport, but road trippers heading overseas should know that only our Explorer Plan covers rental car hire.

Our Standard and Explorer plans are designed to provide cover for sudden and unforeseen events on your next overseas road trip, such as being left empty-handed when the airline loses your bags, or if severe weather interrupts your plans, and for many other reasons.

Some of the benefits included within our Standard and Explorer plans include:

• Unexpected medical emergencies on the road
• Rental car excess insurance for vehicle damage
• Emergency assistance at any time of the day or night
• Road trip interruptions or delays
• Baggage and valuables coverage
• Cover for some Coronavirus-related events.

What’s covered when going on a road trip  

Having travel insurance may help with coverage when hitting the road if something goes wrong. World Nomads may offer cover (up to the policy limits) for:

• Trip cancellation coverage: Aussies are familiar with natural disasters, especially flood and bushfires. If something happens to your home before you leave (after you’ve bought insurance) or while you’re on holiday, insurance may cover some expenses associated with cancelling your trip, making a compassionate emergency visit home, or resuming your trip after a break.
• Coverage for extended stays: If you’re having too much fun and want to extend your road trip, you can extend your policy coverage if you do so by 11:59pm on the day your insurance cover expires.
• Activities, sports and experiences: Australians are an adventurous, sporty bunch. Overseas travel offers exciting opportunities, such as white-water rafting the Rio Grande in New Mexico, rock climbing in Joshua Tree National Park in the USA, and mountain biking in Rainbow Mountain in New Zealand. But if something goes wrong, you need to know that while World Nomads offers cover for more than 150 sports and activities, our policies don’t cover bull running, but do cover white-water rafting. Check before you buy that your flavour of adventure is covered and find out what policy upgrade options may be available.
• Baggage and personal belongings coverage: both our Standard and Explorer Plans offer cover for theft or accidental damage to your baggage and personal items. The level of cover available varies between the two policies, so check before you buy.

Traveller tip: if you’ve already arrived at your overseas holiday destination and you realise that you forgot to buy travel insurance before leaving Australia, don’t panic. You can visit the World Nomads website at any time of the day or night to purchase a policy.

What are the benefits of travel insurance?

Road tripping through a new country lets you explore at your own pace and gives you the freedom to stop along the way. Travel insurance for your road trip means that when things go wrong you have help at hand, for example:

• Sudden trip cancellations: if, after you buy your insurance, the Australian Government issues a ‘Do Not Travel’ warning to your destination country your policy can cover cancellation expenses. If severe weather or a natural disaster delays or cancels your trip, cancellation expenses may be covered. If your trip is cancelled because you’ve been kidnapped, or due to a hijacking, cancellation expenses may be covered if you have the Explorer Plan.
• Rental car insurance for vehicle damage: to get rental car insurance you’ll need the Explorer Plan and, also, the insurance offered by the car rental company. If you have an accident, the Explorer Plan will cover the rental vehicle insurance excess or the cost of repairing the vehicle (whichever is less). Or if the vehicle is damaged or stolen while in your custody the Explorer Plan may cover you.
• 24/7 Emergency assistance: our team of trained staff is available to help with medical problems, including finding the nearest medical facility and, if required, arranging your evacuation home. The team is available 24/7.
• Road trip interruptions and delay: road trips can be interrupted for a range of reasons – the car breaks down, an accident involving you and/or your travel mates or missing connecting transport due to sudden illness or an accident. Our Explorer Plan may cover repair costs to the car (or the cost of the excess on the rental company’s policy).
• Stolen belongings and baggage: If your bags are stolen or accidentally damaged (including any souvenirs) our insurance can pay up to a certain limit. You have the option of upgrading for high-value items. Immediately report any theft to the police and get a copy of the police report – and always keep receipts!

What’s not covered

Travel insurance isn’t designed to cover everything, so it’s important to understand what’s not included:

• Expenses where you don’t provide receipts or reports.
• Medical costs associated with an accident where drugs, alcohol or reckless behaviour are factors.
• Pre-existing conditions as explained in your PDS.
• If you’re road tripping in a rental and you don’t have a valid Australian driver’s license, our insurance won’t cover you.
• Expenses from driving specialised, customised or fancy/antique cars won’t be covered.

This is only a summary of coverage and does not include the full terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the policy. You should read your PDS in full, so you understand what is and isn’t covered. That way there won’t be any surprises if you need to use it. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

If your idea of a European adventure is wandering through lush pine forests and ancient ruins during the day and partying in Zagreb nightclubs until dawn, then you’re sure to fall in love with Croatia. However, before you set off for the hiking trails of Paklenica National Park or the galleries and museums of Sibenik, you might want to consider purchasing travel insurance first.

• What’s covered?
• Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Croatia?
• What to look out for when travelling around Croatia
• What’s not covered?

What’s covered?

World Nomads offer two travel insurance plans, the Standard and Explorer Plan. These plans both offer cover for accidents, medical emergencies, theft, and lost or stolen luggage. However, the Explorer plan offers a wider scope of cover, with higher limits and sub-limits.

The following is only a summary of the cover on offer. When selecting your plan, always read through the Policy Wording first, to become familiar with the full list of benefits, exclusions, and general conditions.

• Overseas emergency medical – if you get sick or injured and require urgent hospitalisation (either as an in-patient or an out-patient), you must let our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team know straight away. They will inform you of treatment options in your area and they will consult with your treating doctor regarding your ongoing care requirements.
• Overseas emergency dental– this cover only relates to dental emergencies that occur during your trip. Cosmetic procedures or check-ups will not be covered.
• Extended stays – having too much fin in Croatia and don’t want to return to Ireland just yet? You may extend your travel insurance policy for a maximum of twelve months past the commencement date indicated on your Certificate of Insurance.
• Medical evacuation and repatriation – if your badly injured and need to be repatriated back home, and your treating doctor and our 24/7 Emergency Assistance Team both agree that your repatriation back to Ireland is medically necessary, then your policy may cover the costs involved in this.
• Lost or stolen luggage and personal belongings – if you lose your suitcase or any personal items during your holiday, then you may claim for these. Please make sure you submit any supporting evidence such as receipts and police reports. Claims without supporting documents may be harder to be approved.
• Cover for some Coronavirus-related events – check out our Coronavirus cover articleto find out about the limits, sub-limits, terms, and exclusions relating to this type of cover.

Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Croatia?

Irish travellers might want to buy travel insurance before leaving for Croatia due to the following reasons:

Natural catastrophes – Croatia is prone to occasional earthquakes which cause severe damage to buildings, including hostels and hotels.

Travel insurance tip: if your hotel or hostel is damaged by an earthquake, or other type of natural disaster, you may be covered for accommodation with a different provider and any transport expense you incur (Explorer Plan).

Crime – although not regarded as a country with a high crime rate, travellers do need to be mindful when carrying bags or wearing expensive jewellery.

Adventure activities - World Nomads offers cover for over 150 adventure activities. Please read your Policy Wording beforehand to know exactly what activities are covered, as well as the actual terms, conditions, benefit limits and exclusions. While many of these activities are covered by both the Standard and Explorer Plans, the limits and sub-limits will be different for each policy.

If you’re planning to trek across the Velebit Mountains, you might not be covered if you've bought the wrong plan for your hike. You would need to know the altitude limit for hiking listed within your policy. Our plans have different levels of cover for hiking at altitudes of 3,000 metres (Level 1), 4,500 metres (Level 2) and 6,000 metres (Level 3). Certain exclusions apply to every policy. An example of an exclusion would be search-and-rescue missions.

These are just some of the 150 adventure activities that are covered:

• Sandboarding
• Backpacking
• Snorkelling
• Hiking & trekking
• Surfing
• Scuba diving
• Mountain climbing

What to look out for when travelling around Croatia

No matter what type of holiday you’re seeking, Croatia has something to satisfy even the most intense cases of wanderlust. Although generally safe and tourist friendly, travellers to Croatia do need to be cautious when exploring its mountain ranges and coastal regions.

When hiking across any one of Croatia’s vast networks of mountain ranges, it’s always best to stick to the main walking tracks. There are believed to be unexploded landmines scattered throughout some forest regions, planted during the Croatian War of Independence that ran from 1991 to 1995.

Hikers should also try to avoid walking on the outermost edges of trails when crossing over mountains as the earth can often be soft and unstable in places. Hikers can easily lose their footing and take a fall if walking too close to the edge of a path.

Make sure that you’ve selected the right travel insurance plan for your specific needs. Buy a quote, make a claim, or extend your policy online anytime, from anywhere in the world.

What’s not covered?

Some things we don’t cover include:

• Pre-existing conditions as explained in your Policy Wording.
• Travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Do Not Travel’ or ‘Avoid Non-essential Travel’ warning.
• Participation in a sport or activity not listed as covered in the Policy Wording or agreed by World Nomads or where you haven’t paid the required additional premium.
• Additional costs incurred because of not immediately telling the travel agent, tour operator or provider of transport or accommodation that you need to cancel the trip.
• Loss or damage to luggage due to age, wear and tear, loss of value.

This is not a full list of what’s covered and what’s not; please check your Policy Wording for a full list of terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions that may apply to your specific plan. If you are unsure of your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.

Thinking of spending this summer in Croatia? If you’re sweating your way through Paklenica National Park or immersing yourself in the throng of Varazdin’s annual Spancirfest festival, you should consider buying travel insurance when planning your Croatian escape.

• What’s covered
• Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Croatia?
• What to look out for when travelling around Croatia
• What’s not covered?

What’s covered

World Nomads offers two travel insurance plans, the Standard and Explorer plan. Both plans can help British travellers in the event of any injury, sickness or theft, with natural catastrophes also covered under the Explorer plan.

The Explorer Plan offers a wider range of cover than the Standard Plan, as well as some higher limits and sub-limits. Before selecting any plan, read through the Policy Wording carefully to make sure that your favourite activities are covered.

Here is a brief sample of what we cover. Please check your Policy Wording for our complete list:

• Overseas emergency medical – if you ‘re injured or become sick while in Croatia, then your policy may provide cover for your hospitalisation and medical expenses. You must notify our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team as soon as possible, in the event you know you will be admitted as an inpatient for at least one night. They will let you know if attending a hospital is medically necessary, help you locate the nearest medical facilities (this can be beneficial in out of the way places), and liaise with your treating doctor to make sure that your treatment plan is appropriate.
• Overseas emergency medical transport – if you’re injured, your policy may cover the expenses involved in an emergency service such as a helicopter or ambulance to take you to the closest hospital or medical centre. This will need to be approved by our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team first.
• Evacuation and repatriation – if you’re injured and need to be repatriated back home and a treating doctor and our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Team both agree that your repatriation back to the UK is medically necessary, then the cost of this may be covered.
• Lost, stolen, or damaged items – if the carrierloses or damages your baggage or any personal items during your holiday, or if you’re valuables are stolen, then the items may be covered. You’ll need to provide supporting documents including receipts, witness details and police reports. It’s important to know the exact policy limits for individual items beforehand, as this can help to avoid any surprises if you make a claim.

Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Croatia?

Here are a few reasons why travel insurance may be worth it when travelling around Croatia.

Natural Catastrophes – Croatia has experienced its fair share of earthquakes. Depending on the magnitude, earthquakes can destroy buildings and occasionally cause fatalities.

Crime – Croatia is widely considered to be a safe country for travellers, without a high incidence of crime. However, tourists flaunting flashy jewellery or designer handbags may make themselves the targets of muggers.

Adventure activities: Our Standard Plan and Explorer plans cover more than 150 adventure activities. Many of these activities will be covered by both policies, however the benefit limits will be different for each policy. That’s why you need to read your Policy Wording carefully to make sure your chosen activities will be covered.

For example, if you’re planning a hiking trip over the Biokovo mountain range, you might not be covered if you've bought the wrong plan for your hike. You would need to know the altitude limit for hiking listed within your policy. Our plans have different levels of cover for hiking at altitudes of 3,000 metres (Level 1), 4,500 metres (Level 2) and 6,000 metres (Level 3). Certain exclusions apply to every policy. An example of an exclusion would be search-and-rescue missions.

Here are just a few of the 150+ adventure activities that we cover:

• Sandboarding
• Hiking & trekking
• Snorkelling
• Surfing
• Scuba diving
• Mountain climbing

What to look out for when travelling around Croatia

When hiking in any of Croatia’s mountains or along its seaside cliffs, always be careful where you step. Hikers can easily lose their footing when treading over tree roots and loose rocks. Whatever you do, don’t walk too close to the edge of a cliff or walking trail, even if it seems safe to do so, as the earth can suddenly crumble underneath you.

It’s always best to hike in groups, preferably with a guide rather than wandering solo through the wilderness, and always stick to the designated hiking trails.

Undetonated landmines from the Croatian War of Independence in the 1990s are littered throughout some mountains and woodland areas, so it’s best to stick to the commonly used hiking trails.

Make sure that you’ve selected the right travel insurance plan for your specific needs. Buy a quote, make a claim, or extend your policy online, anytime, from anywhere.

What’s not covered?

Some things we don’t cover include:

• Pre-existing conditions as explained in your Policy Wording;
• Travelling to, planning to travel to, or choosing to remain in a country or region that is subject to a ‘Avoid all Travell’ warning from the FCDO;
• Participation in a sport or activity not listed as covered in the Policy Wording or agreed by World Nomads or where you haven’t paid the required additional premium;
• Additional costs incurred because of not immediately telling the travel agent, tour operator or provider of transport or accommodation that you need to cancel the trip;
• Loss or damage to luggage due to age, wear and tear, loss of value, unless listed as a high value item.

This is not a full list of what’s covered and what’s not; please check your Policy Wording for a full list of terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions that may apply to your specific plan. If you are unsure of your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.

Often drawn to Deutschland during the summer months, Irish travellers enjoy hiking, biking and even a touch of the fast Autobahn. The Irish are also drawn to Germany’s many castles, its culture, and the scenic countryside. But before you head off and get stuck into it, you may want to consider getting yourself a travel insurance policy in case the unexpected happens during your trip.

• What's covered
• Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Germany?
• What to look out for when travelling around Germany?
• What's not covered

What’s covered?

No matter where in Germany you’re headed, it’s important for a resident of Ireland to be insured in case the unexpected occurs.

World Nomads offers two insurance policies – Standard and Explorer. Each provides different levels of coverage depending on your needs. Coverage provisions for the following:

• Extended stays.
• Emergency medical cover.
• Cover for baggage and personal belongings like tech gear or sports gear
• More than 150+ activities, sports, and experiences.
• Trip cancellation (Explorer only).
• Cover for some Coronavirus-related events.

You can purchase your policy of choice before departing Ireland, or when you arrive, but you’ll only be covered from the date marked on the policy certificate.

Why should I consider travel insurance when visiting Germany?

Throughout the global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic nothing is more certain than uncertainty and although we know the Irish usually have luck on their side, that’s often not enough if there’s a protest that derails your plans or you sprain your ankle on a hike through the Sauerland village area in North Rhine-Westphalia, an area renowned for its outdoor activities.

Coronavirus is the latest consideration for travellers no matter how close they are to their home country. Despite vaccinations, it is possible to pick it up or be required to cut your trip off early to tend to a family member, so we factor that into our Explorer policy. For all the details including benefit limits and exclusions under our Coronavirus cover, check out our Coronavirus cover article.

Another reason to consider travel insurance in Germany is if you’re planning a road trip, as the roads can be dangerous, especially the Autobahn. Also, activities such as hiking, biking or skiing obviously come with the risk of injury, which can prove costly and ruin your trip if you’re uninsured.

For those digital nomads who don’t leave home without their tech devices, we can often get distracted by what there is to see and sometimes luggage and tech gear goes missing or is stolen, so World Nomads has cover for that.

Our Emergency Assistance Team is available 24/7 and can assist with letting you know if attending a hospital is medically necessary, help you locate the nearest medical facilities (this can be beneficial in out of the way places), liaise with your treating doctor to make sure that your treatment plan is appropriate, and assist with language barriers you may face.

What to look out for when travelling around Germany?

Like any destination that is not your home, there are opportunistic thieves everywhere so it’s vital that you always keep your possessions close and keep your wits about you. Most educated travellers will know that train stations are fair game for pickpockets and rail scams. Political protests and riots can flare up at any time, and given its history, Deutschland is not immune from terrorist attacks, so it is important that travellers keep up to date with the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs website prior to and during your trip.

Here is a brief sample of what we cover and why it could come in handy when travelling around Germany. Please check your Policy Wording for our complete list:

• The Explorer Plan offers cover for those costs associated with unexpected natural disasters, and as long as there wasn’t a prior warning in place.
• For loss or theft of personal belongings, both cover levels offer compensation, depending on the circumstances.
• The Explorer Plan covers rental car excess in the event you have an accident on the Autobahn, but you must hold the correct licence; adhere to local laws; and have the necessary vehicle insurance (mopeds and bicycles are not permitted on this stretch of motorway).
• Cover for overseas emergency dental. This cover only relates to dental emergencies that occur during your trip. Cosmetic procedures or check-ups will not be covered.
• Adventure-seekers are advised to list the activities they’re planning to undertake in the policy detail. However, the benefit limits, general conditions and special exclusions will be different for each policy. That’s why you need to read your Policy Wording carefully to make sure your chosen activities will be covered.
• If you or a member of your travelling party are diagnosed with COVID-19 and you’re forced to cancel your trip, we will pay the non-refundable portion of your pre-paid travel arrangements. The COVID-19 diagnosis must be made after the policy’s purchase date (other COVID-19 provisions apply).

What’s not covered?

Some things we don’t cover include:

• Travel against medical advice or neglect to adhere to the World Health Organization or Irish Government issued warnings prior to departure.
• Any pre-existing medical conditions as explained in your Policy Wording.
• You act irresponsibly or recklessly and injure yourself in the process.
• Medical expenses incurred within your country of residence, Ireland.
• Expenses you incur after you return to your home to Ireland.

This is not a full list of what’s covered and what’s not; please check your Policy Wording for a full list of terms, conditions, limitations, and exclusions that may apply to your specific plan. If you are unsure of your level of travel cover, please contact us for help.