Travel Insurance for Overlanders and Long Trips Abroad

Why you need travel insurance

If you do not have the right insurance, you pay for emergency treatment and travel home yourself. GOV.UK gives examples of £25,000 or more for a broken leg in Spain, £80,000 or more for a quad bike accident in Greece, and £150,000 or more for a stomach bug treated in a US hospital. Medical care in North America is particularly expensive.

Vehicle carriers and container ships do not carry passengers, so you fly separately and meet your vehicle at the other end. Your travel insurance covers that journey and your time abroad.

GOV.UK: foreign travel insurance →

Insurance for long-term travellers

For overlanders, backpackers and anyone away for months, standard holiday policies often fall short. Look for a policy that:

• Covers the activities you plan, at the right level
• Offers an annual policy
• Covers several regions
• Can be renewed outside your home country
• Can be bought when you are already travelling

What to check in the policy

GOV.UK advises checking that your policy covers:

• The full length of your trip, as many policies have a maximum trip length
• Treatment in state or private hospitals
• Emergency transport, such as an ambulance, and travel home on medical grounds
• Pre-existing medical conditions, which you must declare
• Every activity you plan, including adventure sports
• Every country you visit, even in transit
• Repatriation costs, and getting home if you cannot use your original ticket

If you travel to a country where the FCDO advises against all travel or all but essential travel, your insurance may be invalid. Check FCDO travel advice before you go.

GOV.UK: FCDO foreign travel advice →

Insurers for long-term travel

True Traveller and World Nomads specialise in long-term and backpacking travel insurance. They are among the few that can sell you a new policy, or renew one, after you have left your home country.

True Traveller

Travel insurance designed by travellers.

World Nomads

Buy, extend and claim online, even after you have left home. Available to people from over 140 countries, with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.

This is for information, not advice. Read the policy wording and check it suits you before you buy.

The two links below are affiliate links: IVSS may earn a commission if you buy a policy through them.

True Traveller →

World Nomads →

Who needs travel insurance

Touring / Overlanding

A long-trip policy that covers every region on your route and the activities you plan.

Moving abroad

Cover for the journey and the weeks before local health cover starts. Removals and your vehicle need their own insurance.

Collecting a classic or a vehicle bought abroad

Single-trip cover for flying out to inspect, collect or drive the vehicle to the port.

Business trips

Staff travelling to deliver, collect or demonstrate vehicles and equipment usually need business travel cover from their employer.

Insuring your vehicle

Travel insurance does not cover your vehicle. Choose marine insurance in your shipping quote for the sea crossing; it is not included in shipping prices unless stated. Then arrange motor insurance for the country you drive in.

Marine and motor insurance for your vehicle →

Insurance in the USA and Canada →

Get a business quote