Sports travel insurance

Sports travel insurance can cover you for higher-risk or adventurous sporting activities such as skiing or scuba diving – or the cost of lost, stolen or damaged sports equipment.

Standard travel insurance typically only covers lower-risk sporting activities such as fishing.

With a sports travel insurance policy or add-on, you can make sure that you’re covered for whichever sports or activities you have planned for your holiday.

It could cover medical treatment if you’re injured and provide personal liability too, so that you’re protected if things don’t go to plan.

Here are some examples of activities that could be covered by sports travel insurance:

• Cycling

• Hiking and trekking at lower elevations

• Horse riding

• Kayaking, canoeing and rowing

• Snorkelling and scuba-diving

• Surfing

• Sailing

• Swimming

• Recreational sports, such as golf, football, tennis and badminton.

Many providers divide sporting activities into risk groups and may cover more adventurous sports at a higher cost.

If your chosen activity isn’t covered by your insurance provider, you may need to find a specialist extreme sports insurance provider. This may be required for sports such as:

• Water sports, eg: jet-skiing, parasailing and white-water rafting

• Winter sports, eg: skiing, snowboarding and snowmobiling

• Extreme sports, eg: rock climbing, bungee jumping and skydiving.

Be aware that every holiday sports insurance provider has its own classification of what it considers low and high-risk sports and adventure activities. It’s essential to read the policy terms carefully to see if and how your chosen sport is covered.

A typical sports travel insurance policy should cover:

• Medical expenses

• Emergency transportation, such as ambulance fees and repatriation if medically necessary

• Holiday cancellation and curtailment

• Lost, stolen or damaged baggage

• Personal liability – damage costs if you accidentally injure another person or damage their property

• Personal injury – a lump sum in the event of permanent disability or death.

According to the ABI, medical treatment and repatriation could cost more than £100,000 even within Europe. When you consider that, the cover that sports travel insurance provides might well seem worth it.

There are a few common exclusions to be aware of with any travel insurance policy:

• Pre-existing medical conditions – your policy could be invalidated if you fail to tell your provider about any medical conditions you then need treatment for while you’re away.

• Travellers over a certain age – some providers set a maximum age for people they will cover under their sports travel insurance policies, typically 70 or 75.

• Claims resulting from drugs and alcohol – if you get injured while you’re under the influence, you may not be covered for treatment.

• Claims resulting from you breaking the law.

• Travelling to a country or area against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

• Terrorism, natural disasters, and civil unrest – your travel insurance may only provide limited cover for travel disruption caused by terrorist acts or volcanic ash.

Sports cover exclusions

Even if a particular sport or activity is covered by a sports travel insurance policy, there may be related exclusions or cover restrictions. For example:

• There may be limits imposed on the cover for certain sports. For example, you may only be covered to kayak on rivers of a certain grade, scuba-dive up to a certain depth, or trek up to a certain elevation. Look out for any terms attached and make sure you get adequate cover.

• You must follow the recommended safety instructions and rules. That could mean, for example, wearing the correct safety equipment or going in a group or with a guide. This could be the case with activities like going on safari or swimming with dolphins.

• Most sports travel insurance policies only cover amateur sports. If you are travelling to compete in a race or competition, you’ll likely need a specialist policy.

To find the right sport cover for your holiday, you’ll first need to consider what sports and activities you may want to do.

Once you have an idea of what you’ll be doing during your trip:

• Start comparing travel insurance quotes.

• Compare and check each policy carefully to make sure the sports and activities you want to do are covered.

• If you can’t find your chosen sport or activity on the list, call the insurance provider directly to find out if you can add it as an extra. Some providers will charge you more for this, while others may add it to your standard policy at no extra cost.

• Depending on the sports you want to do, you may need to take out a separate extreme or adventure sports policy.

What else should I be aware of when comparing sports travel insurance?

Here are some things to consider when comparing travel insurance with sports cover:

• If you’re heading off on a one-off sports holiday, you can get tailored cover with single trip travel insurance. On the other hand, if you’re planning two or more activity-filled adventures a year, you could save money with an annual multi-trip policy.

• If you’re planning a trip that lasts longer than 60 consecutive days, you may need backpacker insurance. You can normally get additional cover for your chosen sports and activities.

• Be aware that some sports insurance providers may ask for specifics, such as anticipated altitude on a climbing holiday or immersion depths on a scuba diving holiday. Be sure to have all necessary information ready when choosing a policy.

Your sports travel insurance may include cover for the sporting equipment you want to take on holiday with you, but you’ll need to check your policy details to be sure. You may need to add on extra sports equipment travel insurance cover.

Some travel insurance policies with sports equipment cover may include the cost of hiring replacement equipment on your trip, if yours is lost or stolen.

It may also include cover for any sports equipment that you hire during the trip. For example, it could cover you if your rented bike is stolen and the hire company holds you responsible.

If you’re taking gear such as bicycles, tennis rackets, skis, a kayak, or a surfboard with you, check that your equipment is covered by the single-item limit. That’s the maximum your travel insurance will pay out for any one item that’s lost, damaged or stolen.

If you buy specialist golf travel insurance, it typically includes cover for your golfing equipment, but make sure you’re covered for the full value of your clubs.

To find you a suitable quote, we’ll need some details including:

• Your travel dates

• Where you’re travelling to

• Whether you want to add cover for winter sports

• Any pre-existing medical conditions.

Once we have the information we need, we’ll send you a list of suitable quotes to compare.