8 mistakes that could invalidate your travel insurance

You buy travel insurance to cover yourself in case the unexpected happens when you’re on holiday, such as you have an accident and require hospital treatment, or your phone gets stolen. It’s there to give peace of mind.

Yet there are some common mistakes that travellers make that can invalidate their insurance policy - leaving them unable to claim when they really need to. 

Kelly Whittington, speciality claims director at the insurer Aviva (opens in new tab), says: “Travel insurance is designed to help customers in the case of an unforeseen emergency. This could either mean something that occurs on holiday or an incident that happens beforehand which disrupts travel plans.

“However, there are some incidents which aren’t generally covered by travel insurance so it’s important that people are aware of when they can - and can’t - make a claim.”

Holidaymakers must make sure they comply with the terms and conditions of a policy - or they could be in for a nasty shock when they try and claim. We outline eight mistakes to avoid, including some holiday habits that most of us are probably guilty of.

Mistakes that invalidate your travel insurance

1. Leaving your possessions unattended

If your bag or an item like your phone is stolen while left unattended, then it’s possible your insurer won’t pay out for it. That means if you leave your device on your sunbed and then get in the pool, for example, then you risk invalidating your claim if something happens to it.

This is because for a claim to be valid, most insurers need to see that “reasonable precautions” have been in place to stop property being damaged or stolen. If something is left unattended, then this is often viewed as the claimant not having taken reasonable precautions.

Richard Gray, head of digital marketing at insurance2go (opens in new tab), says: “It can sometimes feel like the bottom of the priority list to make sure your belongings are covered while going on holiday, but if the worst does happen to your gadgets, then it can quickly leave you with a financial headache, on top of the usual post-holiday blues. Taking that time to do your research before jetting off will give you peace of mind so you can enjoy your holiday without a second thought.”

2. Not locking your valuables away in your hotel room

Many travellers believe their hotel rooms are one of the safest places they can find while abroad. However, leaving valuables such as travel documents, money and electronic items in plain sight may invalidate your claim if they were to be stolen from the room.

Gray comments: “As is the case with leaving your items unattended, if you can’t prove that reasonable measures were in place to keep your property safe, then you may struggle with your claim. For extra peace of mind, always keep your valuables inside a locked safe if available.”

3. Drinking too much

Drinking too much (or taking recreational drugs) can invalidate your insurance. Both alcohol and drugs can affect your decision-making skills. If you lose something or have an accident while consuming either alcohol or drugs, your policy may not cover you. 

You may wonder how many drinks is considered too many: all insurers have their own guidelines ranging from the vague “drinking too much” to the more specific “approximately four pints”. Insurance firms will look at how your drinking has affected your decision-making. Since we all have different tolerance to alcohol, it means that for some just one drink could invalidate a claim.

Malcolm Tarling from the trade body the Association of British Insurers (opens in new tab) says: “Travel policies are likely to exclude claims that result from excess alcohol consumption. Where this could be the cause of a claim, insurers will look at the circumstances on a case-by-case basis, not least as where emergency medical treatment costs are concerned, no insurer will decline a claim lightly. Check the terms and conditions of your travel policy.”

4. Getting injured while taking part in an activity not covered by your insurance

Many people on holiday enjoy taking part in sports and one-off adventures, but they all come with risk. While standard travel insurance policies can provide cover for most sporting activities - think swimming, snorkelling and tennis - those that are more on the adventurous side, as well as extreme and winter sports, may be excluded or have specific terms and conditions around them. 

You will often be able to buy an add-on for things like winter sports - but other activities like bungee jumping, elephant riding and jet skiing just won’t be covered. Remember, policies vary so be sure to check yours to see which activities are included and which are excluded.

5. Taking sports equipment without dedicated cover

For those who are off on a sporting holiday, it’s best to look at specialist policies that can cover your equipment. Golf clubs are the main example here, as many standard policies won’t cover these, although many will offer it as an add-on.

The same often applies for other sports needing specialised equipment, like skiing. These sports carry a high risk of injury or equipment damage, so it's best to do your research and choose a dedicated policy to make sure you’re covered.

6. Exceeding your claim limit

If your insurance policy only covers you up to £1,000 for example, but you know the items you’re taking with you will exceed this amount, then your claim may not cover the value of your valuables above this level.

Aviva told us their policies would normally pay ‘up to’ a limit as specified on the policy. For example, Aviva baggage insurance covers up to £1,500 per person (with a £100 excess). So it would pay up to this amount.

A policy should be tailored to your specific needs and any potential financial loss - you want to enjoy your holiday and not worry about any additional expenses. Make sure your claim limit covers what you need it to. Think clothes, jewellery, sunglasses, phone and any other tech like a laptop or camera. Don’t forget to include your suitcases and bags, as they can be expensive as well.

7. Passport application or renewal delays

The onus is on you to ensure all travel documents such as passports and visas are valid before you travel. Insurance policies are highly unlikely to allow you to claim if a passport doesn’t arrive in time.

It’s something to look out for right now: Current delays at the Passport Office mean some travellers are missing their trips. Getting a passport used to take just a few weeks, but the latest advice from the Passport Office (opens in new tab) is to allow up to 10 weeks for applications and renewals.

8. Travelling against government advice

Most travel insurance policies will not cover claims if you travel against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (opens in new tab).

You can check which countries the FCDO currently says UK travellers shouldn’t visit on the government website (opens in new tab). Advice can change quickly, especially during a pandemic, civil unrest, or sudden war in the case of Ukraine, so check before you book a trip and then again just before you travel.