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Travel Insurance

Coronavirus: Travel advice can be found here

The coronavirus is affecting everyone's lives and we want to make sure we are doing all we can to support our customers and our people. We’ve decided to temporarily withdraw first direct Travel Insurance to new customers so we can focus our attention on existing customers whose travel plans have been disrupted. We’ll continue to keep a close eye on developments and we hope we’ll be able to offer new policies again soon.

What this means for you:

If you’re looking to buy first direct Travel Insurance

You won’t be able to get a new quote or buy a first direct Travel Insurance policy.

If you have annual travel insurance with first direct

You’ll still be able to renew your policy if you think it will meet your travel needs for the year ahead.

On 17 March, coronavirus became a ‘known event’ and travel restrictions were put in place. This means any trips booked after this date will not be covered if you need to cancel or come home early and advice against travelling is still in place at the time you’re due to travel. This also applies to trips booked before the 17 March to countries where the FCO was advising against travel.

Before booking a trip, please read your policy documents carefully and visit our coronavirus travel page for the latest guidance.

Pre-existing medical conditions

Where we are able to offer cover for existing medical conditions, the total premium will include the cost for this cover. However, we may be unable to offer cover for certain medical conditions. If we cannot offer cover, or if you are not happy with the total premium, you may be able to obtain cover from a specialist medical insurer. The Money and Pensions Service has a list of these insurers – you can check its travel directory Opens an overlay [Will show a security message first] or call 0800 1387 777. Please note, you may not be able to find cover for undiagnosed symptoms and you may need to wait until you have a diagnosis before getting cover elsewhere.

The Travel insurance claims line is currently experiencing high call volumes. To allow us to prioritise customers, we are asking you to only call if you were due to travel within the next 7 days or are currently overseas. Before making a claim, please ensure you have contacted your travel and accommodation provider to discuss a refund as travel insurance only provides cover for your non-refundable costs.

Show the section What's covered

What will your policy cover?

Here's a quick idea of what is, and isn't, covered. But for more details please read our Travel Insurance Product Information Document (PDF) and Policy Booklet (PDF).

Emergency medical and associated expenses up to £10,000,000

Hopefully you won't need it, but we'll cover the expenses for emergency medical treatment following accidental injury or illness during your trip - including repatriation and other necessary travel and accommodation.

We don't cover:

Claims as a result of pre-existing medical conditions, unless they've been disclosed and accepted by us.

Claims where you've travelled against medical advice or with the intention of seeking medical treatment abroad.

Participation in any activity listed in the Policy Booklet (PDF) .

Hopefully you won't need it, but we'll cover the expenses for emergency medical treatment following accidental injury or illness during your trip - including repatriation and other necessary travel and accommodation.

We don't cover:

Claims as a result of pre-existing medical conditions, unless they've been disclosed and accepted by us.

Claims where you've travelled against medical advice or with the intention of seeking medical treatment abroad.

Participation in any activity listed in the Policy Booklet (PDF) .
Cancellation charges up to £5,000

We'll refund non-recoverable travel and accommodation costs if you have to cancel your trip due to any of the reasons stated in your Policy Booklet (PDF).

We don't cover:

Claims as a result of pre-existing medical conditions unless they've been disclosed and accepted by us.

The cost of travel or accommodation arranged using Air Miles or similar promotions.

We'll refund non-recoverable travel and accommodation costs if you have to cancel your trip due to any of the reasons stated in your Policy Booklet (PDF).

We don't cover:

Claims as a result of pre-existing medical conditions unless they've been disclosed and accepted by us.

The cost of travel or accommodation arranged using Air Miles or similar promotions.
Abandonment up to £5,000

We'll refund the cost of unused and non-recoverable accommodation if you have to abandon your trip due to any of the reasons stated in your Policy Booklet (PDF), as well as reasonable additional travel and accommodation costs to allow you to return home early.

We don't cover:

Claims as a result of pre-existing medical conditions unless they've been disclosed and accepted by us.

The cost of travel or accommodation arranged using Air Miles or similar promotions.

We'll refund the cost of unused and non-recoverable accommodation if you have to abandon your trip due to any of the reasons stated in your Policy Booklet (PDF), as well as reasonable additional travel and accommodation costs to allow you to return home early.

We don't cover:

Claims as a result of pre-existing medical conditions unless they've been disclosed and accepted by us.

The cost of travel or accommodation arranged using Air Miles or similar promotions.
Enforced stay abroad up to £1,500

We'll pay compensation if you're unable to return home on your scheduled return date due to closure of airspace, airport or port for more than 24 hours.

We don't cover:

Travel or accommodation costs that are recoverable from the provider.

Extra travel expenses if you bought your return ticket to the UK after receiving the notification of the airspace, or an airport or port being closed.

We'll pay compensation if you're unable to return home on your scheduled return date due to closure of airspace, airport or port for more than 24 hours.

We don't cover:

Travel or accommodation costs that are recoverable from the provider.

Extra travel expenses if you bought your return ticket to the UK after receiving the notification of the airspace, or an airport or port being closed.
Missed international departure up to £1,000

We'll cover additional travel and accommodation costs if you miss your international departure from, or to, the UK due to any of the reasons stated in your Policy Booklet (PDF).

We don't cover:

Claims where the reason for the delay was public knowledge when you bought your insurance or booked your trip.

Before applying, to avoid duplicated cover, please check whether you (or any traveller who'd be covered by this policy) have any other products that currently provide travel insurance. You might also want to save some of the attached documents for future reference.

We'll cover additional travel and accommodation costs if you miss your international departure from, or to, the UK due to any of the reasons stated in your Policy Booklet (PDF).

We don't cover:

Claims where the reason for the delay was public knowledge when you bought your insurance or booked your trip.

Before applying, to avoid duplicated cover, please check whether you (or any traveller who'd be covered by this policy) have any other products that currently provide travel insurance. You might also want to save some of the attached documents for future reference.

Show the section Optional extras

Make your cover yours

Baggage cover

You can cover the loss, theft or damage of your personal belongings during your trip - but there's a limit to the amount covered for single items and valuables. Cover is based on the value at time of loss.

You won't be covered if you leave your bags unattended and if anything is lost or stolen, you'll need to get a written police report within 24 hours of them going missing.

You can cover the loss, theft or damage of your personal belongings during your trip - but there's a limit to the amount covered for single items and valuables. Cover is based on the value at time of loss.

You won't be covered if you leave your bags unattended and if anything is lost or stolen, you'll need to get a written police report within 24 hours of them going missing.
Winter sports cover

This includes winter sports equipment, delay due to avalanche, piste closure, and inability to take part in winter sports activities.

You're covered for loss, theft or damage to winter sports equipment, and compensation if an avalanche delays your arrival or departure from your resort, or if you can't ski or snowboard due to piste closures or accidental injury or illness during your trip.

You're automatically covered for certain winter sports activities, which are listed in your policy booklet (restricted to the number of days stated on your policy schedule).

We don't cover damage to sports equipment which are damaged deliberately or when you're using them.

If anything's lost or stolen you'll need to get a written police report within 24 hours of them going missing.

This includes winter sports equipment, delay due to avalanche, piste closure, and inability to take part in winter sports activities.

You're covered for loss, theft or damage to winter sports equipment, and compensation if an avalanche delays your arrival or departure from your resort, or if you can't ski or snowboard due to piste closures or accidental injury or illness during your trip.

You're automatically covered for certain winter sports activities, which are listed in your policy booklet (restricted to the number of days stated on your policy schedule).

We don't cover damage to sports equipment which are damaged deliberately or when you're using them.

If anything's lost or stolen you'll need to get a written police report within 24 hours of them going missing.
Golfing cover

This gives you extra cover for loss, theft or damage to golfing equipment and refunds non-recoverable green fees if you can't play golf due to accidental injury or illness during your trip.

This doesn't cover damage to equipment damaged deliberately or while you're playing.

If anything's lost or stolen you'll need to get a written police report within 24 hours of them going missing.

This gives you extra cover for loss, theft or damage to golfing equipment and refunds non-recoverable green fees if you can't play golf due to accidental injury or illness during your trip.

This doesn't cover damage to equipment damaged deliberately or while you're playing.

If anything's lost or stolen you'll need to get a written police report within 24 hours of them going missing.
Scuba diving cover up to 30 metres

This gives you extra cover if you're thinking about scuba diving while you're away - but it isn't designed to cover you if scuba diving is the main purpose of your trip. It covers you for accidental injury and illness and is restricted to the number of days stated on your policy schedule. This doesn't cover you if you're taking part in professional, commercial or technical diving, or where safety guidelines aren't followed. You must make any claim within 24 hours of completing a dive.

This gives you extra cover if you're thinking about scuba diving while you're away - but it isn't designed to cover you if scuba diving is the main purpose of your trip. It covers you for accidental injury and illness and is restricted to the number of days stated on your policy schedule. This doesn't cover you if you're taking part in professional, commercial or technical diving, or where safety guidelines aren't followed. You must make any claim within 24 hours of completing a dive.

Show the section FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How does coronavirus impact my travel insurance?

Are UK trips included in the policy?

Which destinations can I choose?

How long am I covered for per trip?

Can I extend the duration of the cover?

Yes. After you've bought your policy, but before you start your trip, you can change the trip duration - choose between 31, 45, 60 or 90 days per trip on an annual multi-trip policy or up to 120 on a single trip policy. There will, of course, be an additional premium to pay if you increase the number of days you want cover for.

Are business trips included?

No, but you can add cover for business trips which only involve administrative or clerical duties - but no manual work or duties which involve dealing with the general public. Once business cover is added, a maximum of four people will be covered per business trip, and cover under the annual multi-trip policy is limited to five trips per year.

What should I do if I, or anyone else covered under my policy, falls ill abroad?

Emergency medical assistance is waiting by the phone 24 hours a day if you need it. There's also a Travel Assistant service, which offers advice on all kinds of travel problems, from cancelling lost or stolen credit cards to transferring emergency funds while abroad. It also includes a facility to send emergency messages to friends and relatives.

There may be extra charges if you use the Travel Assistant service.

Medical emergencies:

+44 (0)1603 605 128

Fax +44 (0)1603 605 130

To help us continually improve our service and in the interests of security, we'll probably monitor and/or record your call with us.

How do I make a claim?

If you need to make a claim for cutting your trip short or for emergency medical treatment while on holiday, you can call our medical emergency line on +44 (0)1603 605 128, which is open 24 hours a day.

Our Claims helpline +44 (0)1603 605 125 is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

To help us continually improve our service and in the interests of security, we may monitor and/or record your call with us.

What happens if my/our money is stolen while we're away?

If you need emergency money while you're away (and you can't get replacement travellers cheques), our Travel Assistant service can help arrange to transfer emergency money from the UK.

There may be extra charges if you use this service.

Will I have to pay any excess if I make a claim?

Can I cancel my insurance and/or is there a cooling-off period after my insurance has been booked?

There's a 14 day cooling-off period, which means you can cancel the policy within 14 days if you find it doesn't meet your needs and you've not travelled on it or made a claim - if you do this, you'll get a refund. You can cancel your policy at any time outside of the 14 day cooling-off period, but any premiums you've paid won't be refunded.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has not advised against travel to the area/country I am travelling. Can I claim for cancelling/abandoning the trip?

Yes. If a major incident such as a terrorist attack happens within a 50 mile radius of the area in which you will be/are staying and you do not wish to travel, regardless of the FCO advice, then you are covered to cancel or abandon the trip.

Am I or is anyone else under my policy covered for hazardous sports or activities?

Please check the list of sports and leisure activities on pages 48-49 of our Policy Booklet (PDF) to see if your activity is excluded. If you take part in an activity listed, you won't be covered. The policy doesn't provide cover if you're taking part in activities either as a professional or where you receive financial reward or gain, or where you are practising for speed or time trial, sprints or racing of any kind.

Winter sports:

If you've selected the winter sports option, you're covered for up to a total of 31 days under our annual multi-trip policy and up to 120 days under our single trip policy. The following activities will be excluded:

Bobsleigh/cresta/luge/skeleton
Freestyle skiing/snowboarding
Off-piste skiing(unless accompanied by a qualified guide at all times in areas the resort management consider to be safe)
Heli-skiing
Glacier skiing
Ski flying/jumping/stunting/surfing
Ski racing/training
Ski mountaineering.

Am I or is anyone else under my policy covered if my holiday airline or hotel goes out of business?

Useful Documents

Making a claim

While on holiday

For cutting your trip short or emergency medical treatment

+44 (0)1603 605 128 Open 24 hours a day.

To enquire about an existing claim or to advise a new claim:

+44 (0)1603 605 125 Claims helpline open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.