Reduction in Credit Cards with Free Travel Insurance

watwatwat on 12/07/2025 - 00:38

I've been looking for a no annual fee credit card that provides travel insurance that could cover overseas car rental, but it's surprising to see how rare it is getting.

I saw ING had a credit card with free travel insurance, of which they are now implementing an annual fee. Bankwest platinum card used to offer free travel insurance and they have now removed it.

NAB cards now are removing insurances, too:

Changes to complimentary insurances
From 15 May 2026, these cards below will no longer have complimentary International and Domestic Travel Insurances, and Rental Vehicle Excess Insurance in Australia.

NAB Rewards Platinum Credit Card
NAB Flybuys Rewards Credit Card
NAB Low Rate Platinum Credit Card
NAB Velocity Rewards Premium Credit Card
NAB Premium Credit Card
NAB Low Fee Platinum Credit Card

One of the remaining ones is bendigo ready card, but it can be challenging to get approved.

There is the following card with reduced annual fee in first year that says "Rental Vehicle Excess in Australia cover, up to 3 months’ complimentary cover for international travel insurance". But I am not sure whether this actually includes cover for overseas rental car, and going through terms and conditions is unclear:

https://www.westpac.com.au/personal-banking/credit-cards/rew…

Does anyone have any suggestions if I want overseas rental car included in insurance?

Financial Credit Card Insurance Travel Insurance

Comments

  • Nutrino on 12/07/2025 - 05:38
    +3

    Commend you for the effort.

  • WoodYouLikeSomeCash on 12/07/2025 - 06:17
    +2

    You usually get more overall value from a card with an annual fee anyway so it doesn't really matter.

  • JimmyF on 12/07/2025 - 08:35
    +1

    Does anyone have any suggestions if I want overseas rental car included in insurance?

    Just take out a travel insurance policy. They are normally not much and cover your for more things than credit card one does.

    • team teri on 24/09/2025 - 10:08

      Hand in your OzBargain badge!

      Quite seriously: what policy do you recommend for say 3 weeks in Europe? Prices I found are from about $150 to astronomical, with the sub $200 policies pretty much on par with what is covered by a credit card insurance.

      Also: "cover for more things" is a very personal choice whether that is needed. I personally take insurance for risks that would mean a severe financial setback or impossible to pay myself, not for something that would be an inconvenience. If I have an accident and need a few hundred thousand dollars worth of surgery to keep my alive: yes, insurance please. If I lose my suitcase: so what.

      • JimmyF on 24/09/2025 - 19:11

        is a very personal choice whether that is needed

        So you bang on about how I'm wrong, but its all based on a a very personal choice whether that is needed? Hmmm got it.

        If I have an accident and need a few hundred thousand dollars worth of surgery to keep my alive: yes, insurance please. If I lose my suitcase: so what.

        So you take out travel insurance then? Cool story…….

        • team teri on 24/09/2025 - 19:26

          No, I'm perfectly happy to use the travel insurance that comes with credit cards. Covers everything I need.

          You wrote: "Just take out a travel insurance policy. They are normally not much and cover your for more things than credit card one does."

          You tell others what to do without taking into account their needs. By all means, do for yourself what you believe is right for you, but authoritatively giving bad advice needs to be called out.

          • JimmyF on 24/09/2025 - 22:24

            @team teri:

            You tell others what to do without taking into account their needs. By all means, do for yourself what you believe is right for you, but authoritatively giving bad advice needs to be called out.

            LOL The OP asked for advice and that was my advice to THEM… unlike me who did not ask for your advice on the topic or what I offered, but it was given anyhow.

            • team teri on 24/09/2025 - 23:52

              @JimmyF: OP asked about credit cards with insurance that covers rental cars.

              Other replies have been helpful and shown there still are some, even with zero annual fee, i.e. Bendigo. Your reply was a personal opinion that isn't exactly accurate. Cheap travel insurance isn't more comprehensive than that included with a good credit card, and very comprehensive travel insurance isn't cheap.

              • JimmyF on 25/09/2025 - 17:02

                @team teri:

                OP asked about credit cards with insurance that covers rental cars

                Then why are you replying to me and not the OP?

                Your reply was a personal opinion that isn't exactly accurate

                Opinions are like that. Just because you don't agree with it, doesn't mean its wrong. Keep scrolling.

                Cheap travel insurance isn't more comprehensive than that included with a good credit card

                So a good credit card that normally has a annual fee. LOL so pay a annual fee to save paying for travel insurance. Totally makes sense. NOT.

                • team teri on 25/09/2025 - 19:39

                  @JimmyF: The Bendigo Ready has no fee. So feel free to continue wasting your money on insurance you could get for free.

                  Now, I'm ahead of you in one thing: accepting the inevitable. Some people don't want to learn a thing and will die as as little as they knew when they were born. Not worth my time any more.

                  Anyone looking for a good answer to O.P.'s question, see below. Bendigo Ready.

                  • JimmyF on 25/09/2025 - 21:10

                    @team teri:

                    Now, I'm ahead of you in one thing

                    Sure you win, which is why you really replied to my comment in a 2 month old thread anyhow.

                    Anyone looking for a good answer to O.P.'s question, see below. Bendigo Ready.

                    So why didn't you post it below instead of reply to me? Tell the OP, not me.

  • sumyungguy on 12/07/2025 - 09:57
    -2

    Even if you can find one, I haven't seen an excess cover amount that’s in any way connected with reality; junk (free) insurance but I gladly roll the dice with the rest of the policy

  • Cherry12 on 13/07/2025 - 02:33
    +1

    Westpac I believe have a credit card with travel insurance.

  • lgacb08 on 14/07/2025 - 18:16

    Commbank if you're spending enough each month to avoid monthly fee

  • Horacio on 09/08/2025 - 23:54

    Bendigo - Up to 3 consecutive months international travel insurance https://www.bendigobank.com.au/personal/credit-cards/ready/

    • Horacio on 09/08/2025 - 23:58

      Ah sorry you already mentioned them. We didn't have any trouble with approval

  • Mugsy on 24/09/2025 - 14:04
    +1

    OP, if the Bendigo Ready credit card is a no go for you, then you'll need to look at your paid options that cover car rentals. The alternative is buying a once off policy which can easily eclipse car annual fees if you know your products.

    Now, car rentals isn't a concern for my parents but they travel abroad every second month so complimentary travel insurance is a hell of a lot cheaper than paying for a policy 5-6 times a year.

    Currently they're paying $10/mth for a NAB VISA Platinum debit card which comes with complimentary travel insurance. But the coverage period is dropping from 3 months to 30 days in May next year. Back up plan is that I add Dad on as an additional cardholder on my Bendigo Ready so he can get complimentary travel insurance that way.

    I recently got a ING Orange One credit card… was offered $200 cash when the annual fee is $48 so I'm profiting $152. $48 ain't bad for travel insurance especially if it meets one's needs and you can't get the Bendigo Ready. Just my 2c on the matter (having looked at this stuff for a long time now).

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