What does business travel insurance cover?
Business travel insurance offers basic standard travel insurance coverage, plus extra cover you might need on a business trip.
What's included can vary so check the small print to see what’s covered by your business travel insurance policy before buying to ensure you’ve got the cover you need.
Your business travel insurance policy will typically cover:
- Business equipment like laptops, tablets, phones, and other personal belongings
- Sports equipment, like golf clubs and tennis rackets
- Extra expenses from missed connections
- Company money that's lost or stolen
- Alternative travel arrangements if your flights are cancelled or delayed
- If your airline goes bust and you need to cover travel expenses
As with standard travel insurance, you’ll also get:
- Cancellation cover in case any travel or accommodation is cancelled
- Medical treatment and transport back to the UK if you’re injured or become ill
- Baggage cover to insure your personal possessions against theft, loss or accidental damage
What doesn't business travel insurance cover?
Exclusions on a business travel insurance policy are the same as with a standard travel insurance policy. So if you've got travel insurance for business, it won't cover:
- Travelling against Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advice
- Incidents involving alcohol and drugs
- Any pre-existing conditions you didn’t declare when you bought your policy
- Not reporting certain events, like theft or having an accident, within 24 hours
- Injuries or claims from taking part in risky activities - if you plan to do winter sports, you’ll need to add extra cover to your policy.
- Theft or loss of items you didn't take care of (such as not storing valuables in a safe if your policy states you should)
Do I need single-trip or multi-trip business travel insurance?
The type of business travel insurance you need depends on how often you travel and where you’re going.
How often you travel will determine if you need:
- Single-trip business travel insurance
- Multi-trip business travel insurance
Single-trip business travel insurance is suitable if you’re only going on one trip within the next 12 months. This insures you for the duration of your business trip.
Multi-trip business travel insurance, or annual travel insurance, might be cheaper if you're going on more than one trip in the next year.
What our travel insurance expert says
Make sure you have the right cover in place before you travel - standard policies won’t cover you for business equipment or loss of company money. The last thing you need is to pay out for any lost equipment while on a work trip!
Jac Morris
Travel insurance product executive
Need more help?
Does standard travel insurance cover business trips?
It depends on the type of business trip you're taking but usually, a standard travel insurance policy won’t have the right level of cover for business trips. Your business equipment, such as laptops and phones, for example, may not be covered by a standard travel policy.
Can I add extras on to my business travel insurance policy?
Yes. If you’re planning on taking part in activities like winter sports on your trip, you can add cover for them into your policy when you’re getting a quote.
Is business travel insurance a legal requirement?
No travel insurance is a legal requirement. But if you travel without insurance and something of yours is stolen or you have an accident, you may have to pay the entire bill.
Getting a business travel insurance policy with the right level of cover means you can focus on your business trip, knowing that your equipment, medical costs, or cancellations are likely to be covered.
Am I covered by ABTA or ATOL?
You may or may not be protected by ABTA or ATOL, depending on how/where you’ve booked your trip. ABTA protection means you’d get a refund if your travel company were to go bust.
Most flights booked as part of a package holiday will be ATOL protected, This means holidaymakers are refunded their flight costs if their tour operator collapses. Business trips won't necessarily have ABTA or ATOL protection.
How do I make a claim on my business travel insurance?
With travel insurance for business making a claim works in the same way as with standard travel insurance. Check your insurer's details for the exact process, but usually, you'll need to:
- Report anything missing or stolen to the police and get a crime number or report
- If you've had medical treatment, speak to your insurer first - it'll be able to tell you what's included and how payment works
- Contact your insurer to make a claim, which can usually be done online or on the phone
- Keep hold of any evidence you might need including receipts, photos, details of the incident, and contact names and addresses of anyone involved
Am I covered by my bank or credit card company?
It's always worth checking to see if you're already covered before you buy a new policy. Many banks and credit cards offer insurance as an extra perk when you open a new account. If you do have cover, check exactly what's included to make sure it's enough for your trip.
Can I use my GHIC/EHIC cards on business travel?
If you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which is replacing it, you can use it for business travel.
The cards entitle you to medical care at the cost a local person would pay. This is often free or much cheaper than you would pay without one.
While it's no substitute for travel insurance, it can be a way to lower costs while in some European Union countries.
Does business travel insurance cover a working holiday?
Business trip travel insurance is designed to cover you for going away for work, but there are restrictions.
If you've moved abroad or you're working away for a long period, a standard business insurance policy may not cover a working holiday.
That's why it's crucial to check the terms and conditions of your policy before you go to make sure it provides enough cover for your holiday.
What are the different types of travel insurance?
European travel insurance
it will cover you for any holidays that you've got planned in Europe this year.
Family travel insurance
means you can get one policy that covers everyone, rather than buying individual policies.
Long stay travel insurance
is the perfect policy for those who plan to travel for an extended period.
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