Cards with free travel insurance query

Parky265

I'm going to Greece on holiday soon and will be hiring a vehicle so will need a credit card. I've fallen foul of this in the past as I don't generally use credit but I've heard some do free travel insurance. As the card won't be used for purchases etc can anyone recommend where to go for such a credit card. Thanks

jonesMUFCforever

I don't think any mainstream card has travel insurance these days - although from memory it was travel ACCIDENT insurance that they offered a different beast altogether.


You may find it easier to find a bank account packaged with travel insurance.
You could also just buy it on its own.

ic

I agree I've only ever seen travel accident insurance, which pays out if you are injured badly in some way whilst travelling using transport that was paid for using the card. I've never seen anything that would substitute for travel insurance that covers medical costs, repatriation, loss of bags, theft, missed flights, reasons to cancel, etc.

My ex-egg card did provide travel accident cover, but thats being replaced right now - in the next few days I'll get new Barclaycard cards that no longer provide this cover. American Express do still have cards that provide travel accident (see the preferred rewards card - costs £120 per year though). The American Express Platinum card does provide full blown travel insurance, but the card costs £450 per year. By comparison, Nationwide provide worldwide travel insurance as one of the benefits of their FlexPlus account, also costing £120 per year.

Note that none of these insurances will cover your car hire excess - you need car hire excess insurance for that...

steve2005

Highly recommend the Amex platinum card.
Yes it does cost £450 a year but the benefits easily counter the cost - and the 2 free return flights can be worth well over £1,200!

steve2005

ic wrote: »

I agree I've only ever seen travel accident insurance, which pays out if you are injured badly in some way whilst travelling using transport that was paid for using the card. I've never seen anything that would substitute for travel insurance that covers medical costs, repatriation, loss of bags, theft, missed flights, reasons to cancel, etc.

My ex-egg card did provide travel accident cover, but thats being replaced right now - in the next few days I'll get new Barclaycard cards that no longer provide this cover. American Express do still have cards that provide travel accident (see the preferred rewards card - costs £120 per year though). The American Express Platinum card does provide full blown travel insurance, but the card costs £450 per year. By comparison, Nationwide provide worldwide travel insurance as one of the benefits of their FlexPlus account, also costing £120 per year.

Note that none of these insurances will cover your car hire excess - you need car hire excess insurance for that...

Not true.

"Loss damage waiver. Top-up liability. Excess reduction. Personal accident insurance. We’ve all been there, wondering whether or not to pay for these additional insurances. As a Platinum Cardmember, you can politely decline them all, as they’re already included in your travel insurance benefits (in fact, there isn’t even an excess to pay with our policy). Just to be clear, you can drive away in any car you like, with a maximum replacement value of US$/e75,000, from any car rental company in the world."

Page 8 of "Your Platinum Card worldwide annual travel insurance benefits"

lisyloo

Yes it does cost £450 a year but the benefits easily counter the cost

Just wanted to point out that the benefits are only worth it if you use them.
So just as an example if your holidays are by ferry to your holiday home in France then you might not use the flights.
I'm not dissing the product, just saying you have to weigh it up.

Obvious in hindsight, but often these things are maxed up in price when advertised.

bsms1147

Standalone travel insurance costs from £6.

msallen

bsms1147 wrote: »

Standalone travel insurance costs from £6.

Indeed, but when you come to claim you'll find you get the quality of cover you paid for.

steve2005

lisyloo wrote: »

Just wanted to point out that the benefits are only worth it if you use them.
So just as an example if your holidays are by ferry to your holiday home in France then you might not use the flights.
I'm not dissing the product, just saying you have to weigh it up.

Obvious in hindsight, but often these things are maxed up in price when advertised.

Oh absolutely. Make sure that you're going to use at least a few of the benefits. For me it was a no-brainer. The car hire insurance policy alone saved us £300 last year, and the zero excess saved us over £15,000 is US medical bills. The other benefits on top, which we use many times a year, is a nice bonus on top.
I only mentioned it as the person was talking about car hire in Greece.

If you're not going to take advantage of the benefits, and you don't fly anywhere, then it is definitely not worth paying the yearly fee

SeniorSam

Lloyds Platinum card has travel insurance included.

Sam

jonesMUFCforever

SeniorSam wrote: »

Lloyds Platinum card has travel insurance included.

Sam

Credit card? No it does not.


Platinum current account (like Silver Gold and Premier) does with a monthly fee.