Travel insurance for North America

Average customer rating: 4.3/5
Written by Tiana Lee-Collins
Reviewed by Eliza Buglar
Expert reviewed by Adrian Taylor
Updated 2 June 2025

Expert tips for finding the right travel insurance for North America

Before taking off on your next adventure, check our travel tips for getting travel insurance for North America from Executive General Manager of General Insurance, Adrian Taylor.

Adrian Taylor
Executive General Manager – General Insurance

Insure as soon as you book

Consider purchasing a comprehensive travel insurance policy as soon as you make any bookings or pay any deposits so you can have cancellation cover in case you need to cancel your trip before it can even begin.

Match your policy to your itinerary

Travel insurance usually offers extra cover for certain activities for an additional premium. So, if you plan to ski the Canadian alps, hike the Grand Canyon or road trip through Costa Rica, you may need to purchase the right optional extras to ensure your activities are covered.

Compare and save

If you’re concerned about your budget, you can opt for a lower level of cover such as a basic travel insurance policy that covers only medical expenses and personal liability. However, by using Compare the Market’s online comparison tool, you can compare travel insurance quotes and maybe even find comprehensive cover that meets your budget.

Do I need travel insurance for North America?

Purchasing travel insurance that covers you on your trip to North America can provide peace of mind as accidents, illnesses, trip interruptions or cancellations, and other unexpected situations may be covered. Financial and other support is frequently included and is invaluable if you’re in an emergency situation in North America.

The entire North American continent is a lot to cover in a single trip. Luckily, travel insurance also offers annual multi-trip policies that cover you for multiple trips within a 12-month period, up to a maximum number of days for each journey overseas.

Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) to understand your cover and the Target Market Determination (TMD) to check whether a policy is right for you.

What’s included in comprehensive travel insurance for North America?

Medical expenses

Theft and loss of belongings

Natural disasters

Trip cancellations and travel delays

Rental vehicle excess

Motorcycle and scooter cover

Adventure activities

Snow sports

Common travel insurance exclusions

Travel insurance covers a lot, but it doesn’t cover everything. Read your PDS before you go (and indeed, before you purchase a policy) to see what you are and aren’t covered for as these can vary depending on your level of cover, travel insurance company and individual circumstances. Some exclusions include:

  • Incidents that happened before you purchased your policy. You can’t claim for something that happened while you weren’t covered.
  • Claims for pre-existing medical conditions. Although some travel insurance plans cover certain pre-existing medical conditions, you still need to disclose these to your insurer before taking out a policy so they can assess your application.
  • Unattended luggage. Luggage and belongings that were stolen or damaged while you weren’t keeping an eye on them in a public space are generally excluded.
  • Disregarding government travel advice. If you travel to an area in North America where a Smartraveller travel alert applies, your policy might not cover you. Check your PDS to see which warning levels are excluded by your policy, and keep an eye on Smartraveller leading up to your trip.
  • Being under the influence. If you were intoxicated by drugs or alcohol when you were injured or caused damage, you generally won’t be covered by your insurance.
  • Driving without the required license. Driving and motorcycling are common in North America, but you need to hold the appropriate licence to do these activities. Accidents or injuries that result from unlicensed driving aren’t likely to be covered.

Read the PDS for more information on the exclusions, limits, sub-limits and conditions of your policy.

More information on travel insurance for North America

If you’re heading somewhere specific in North America, why not check out one of our destinations pages that cover some of the countries this continent has to offer?

If you’re looking outside of North America, read through our destination hub for more information on specific countries.

Safety in North America

Is North America safe to visit?

What do I do in an emergency or incident?

Meet our travel insurance expert, Adrian Taylor

Adrian Taylor
Executive General Manager – General Insurance

As a General Insurance expert with over 13 years’ experience in financial services, Adrian Taylor believes in educating customers about the importance of travel insurance so that anyone can kick back and make the most of their time away from home. While no one wants a disrupted holiday, a suitable travel insurance policy can provide a financial safety net for yourself, your belongings and your trip in case things go wrong.

1 Smartraveller -Consular Services Charter. Last updated April 2024. Accessed June 2025.

2 Smartraveller – United States of America. Last updated May 2025. Accessed May 2025.

3 Smartraveller – Mexico. Last updated April 2025. Accessed May 2025.