Wondering if domestic travel insurance is worth it? Learn what domestic travel insurance in Australia covers, including cancellations, delays and lost luggage.
Travel Insurance
Complimentary travel insurance changes: what to know
Australian banks are reducing or removing complimentary credit card travel insurance. Find out what's changing and what to check before you travel.
Complimentary travel insurance has long been a popular perk of credit cards. But Australian travellers who have previously relied on their credit card for travel insurance should check their cover carefully before their next trip.
Several major Australian banks are reducing, changing or removing complimentary travel insurance benefits from selected credit cards in 2026 and 2027. Changes include removing international or domestic travel insurance altogether, shortening the maximum period of cover, and reducing the benefits available.
That means having a credit card that once included travel insurance doesn't necessarily mean you'll have the same protection for your next holiday. Here's what to know about the changes.
RACV Members get 15 per cent off RACV Travel Insurance.*
More: Travel insurance vs credit card insurance: what's the difference?
Why are banks changing their complimentary travel insurance?
On 1 October 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia will remove card payment surcharges and reduce the interchange fees banks can earn from card transactions.
This means that banks will earn less from card transactions. As a result, several banks are reducing, changing or removing the complimentary travel insurance that was once attached to some cards.
More: 8 reasons why you should consider travel insurance
Which banks are changing complimentary credit card travel insurance?
Changes vary significantly between banks and individual credit cards. Travellers shouldn't assume their existing credit card benefits remain unchanged or will continue.
NAB
From 15 May 2026, some NAB cards:
- no longer include complimentary travel insurance
- no longer include rental vehicle excess insurance in Australia
- have International Travel Insurance cover reduced from three consecutive months to 30 consecutive days
- have changes to Travel Delay Expenses.
Note that if your card is affected, your complimentary travel insurance may have changed even if you booked before the changes.
See the full list of NAB card changes here.
CommBank
From 29 September 2026, some CommBank cards will reduce or completely remove complimentary travel insurance.
If you want to make use of your CommBank card's old (pre-29 September 2026) travel insurance terms, you will need to have activated your travel insurance by 28 September 2026 and met the $500 prepaid travel spend requirement. Otherwise, the new insurance terms apply from 29 September 2026.
See the full list of CommBank card changes here.
ANZ
From 9 December 2026, certain ANZ cards will:
- reduce maximum travel periods
- reduce trip cancellation and personal liability cover limits
- remove certain complimentary travel insurance benefits; and/or
- completely remove complimentary travel insurance (e.g. ANZ Rewards Platinum).
Further changes apply from 24 March 2027, including further reduced cover, removal of benefits, and/or complete removal of complimentary travel insurance benefits.
Booking your trip before the changes will not necessarily guarantee you the old travel insurance terms. ANZ declares that your cover is determined by the date of the insurable event, rather than when you booked your trip.
See the full list of ANZ card changes here.
Westpac
From 1 October 2026, certain Westpac cards will:
- remove trip cancellation, travel delay, and luggage cover
- remove extended warranty, purchase protection and overseas transit accident insurance
- increase policy excesses for complimentary international medical travel insurance
- decrease maximum trip duration of cover for complimentary international medical travel insurance
- require policy activation before departing Australia for complimentary international medical travel insurance.
Basic complimentary international medical travel insurance, domestic travel insurance, and rental vehicle excess insurance in Australia will remain.
Existing bookings made before 1 October 2026 may remain covered for trips completed by 30 September 2027.
See the full list of Westpac card changes here.
Carefully compare travel insurance options before your trip to get the right level of cover for you.
Does your credit card still include travel insurance?
Even if your card continues to offer complimentary travel insurance, it's important to understand exactly what is covered.
Credit card travel insurance can have eligibility and activation requirements. Depending on the complimentary travel insurance policy, you may need to pay a minimum amount of your prepaid travel costs using the eligible card, have purchased your return ticket, or meet other conditions before cover applies.
The benefits themselves can also differ considerably between cards. Check the current policy information for limits, excesses, exclusions, maximum trip duration and cover for things such as overseas medical expenses, cancellation, luggage and rental vehicle excess.
If you are travelling with a partner, children or other family members, check whether they are covered too and what eligibility requirements apply to them.
More: Comprehensive vs medical-only travel insurance - what's the difference?
Why are credit card travel insurance changes important?
Travel plans can be made months in advance. If your bank changes its complimentary insurance between booking your holiday and travelling, relying on what your credit card previously offered could leave you without the cover you expected.
Pay particular attention to the effective date of any insurance changes and how the insurer determines which policy applies. Depending on the terms, the relevant date may relate to when you travel or when an insurable event occurs, rather than simply when you booked and paid for your trip.
This becomes especially important for expensive international holidays, cruises and longer trips where cancellation costs, medical expenses or lost luggage could create significant out-of-pocket costs.
Make sure you understand exactly what your travel insurance policy covers. Image: Getty
Should you rely on credit card travel insurance?
Complimentary travel insurance can still provide useful cover where it remains available, but it shouldn't be treated as automatically equivalent to a standalone travel insurance policy.
Before travelling, review your card's latest insurance policy information rather than relying on the benefits that applied when you originally signed up for the card.
Compare the cover with your destination, trip length, activities, existing medical conditions, cancellation costs and the people travelling with you. If the complimentary cover has been removed, reduced or doesn't meet your needs, consider whether a standalone travel insurance policy provides more suitable protection.
The most important step is simply to check your travel insurance before every trip. With credit card benefits changing across Australian banks, the cover you had on your last holiday may not be the cover you have on your next one.
If you prefer a standalone travel insurance policy, RACV Travel Insurance offers a range of policies designed for different types of travellers, whether you're heading overseas, taking a domestic holiday or planning multiple trips throughout the year.
*RACV Travel Insurance Member discount applies to the premium only (not applicable taxes).
Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Limited (ABN 44 004 060 833, AR No. 1243563) (RACV) is an authorised representative of the RACV Travel Insurance insurer Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548) (Tokio Marine). Tokio Marine Management (Australasia) Pty Ltd (ABN 69 001 488 455, AR No. 1313066) is an authorised representative of Tokio Marine, and administers RACV Travel Insurance as the managing agent on behalf of Tokio Marine.
Terms, conditions (including eligibility criteria), exclusions, limits and sub-limits apply. Any advice is general advice only, and does not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation or needs. Before you purchase, please consider the Combined Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) / Financial Services Guide (FSG) and Target Market Determinations (TMDs) available on RACV’s website, or on request from RACV.
