A road trip or campervan holiday can involve several types of cover: travel insurance for you and your belongings, motor insurance for the vehicle and breakdown cover. They overlap less than you might expect.

What travel insurance covers on a road trip

• Medical expenses and repatriation for you and your travelling companions. See repatriation cover.
• Cancellation and curtailment for accepted reasons. See cancellation cover.
• Baggage and personal belongings, subject to limits and exclusions
• Personal liability, but usually not for incidents involving a motor vehicle

What it usually doesn’t cover

• Damage to a hired or owned vehicle. That’s for motor or rental insurance.
• Liability arising from driving. That’s covered by motor insurance.
• Breakdown and recovery, unless you add a specific benefit.
• Belongings left in a vehicle, which are often excluded unless locked in the boot and out of sight, with evidence of forced entry.

See common exclusions.

Car and campervan hire

If you hire a vehicle, the rental firm sells its own insurance with an excess you’ll be liable for. A car hire excess add-on to your travel policy can reimburse it, which is often cheaper than the rental company’s waiver, though you may have to pay first and claim back. See which add-ons are worth it.

If you’re taking your own vehicle abroad

1. Check your motor insurance covers driving in each country, and ask about documents you may need.
2. Arrange breakdown cover with European or worldwide recovery.
3. Check driving licence and any international driving permit requirements for each destination.
4. Check local rules on equipment, speed and safety.

Staying in the vehicle

If you’re sleeping in a campervan, check theft cover for valuables, and avoid leaving items on show. Check whether any activities such as off-road driving or hiking are covered. See adventure sports travel insurance.

Compare and combine

Choose travel insurance with medical limits that suit the countries you’ll visit. See how to choose the best travel insurance and check whether an annual policy suits repeated trips. See annual vs single trip.

Frequently asked questions

Does travel insurance cover a hire car?

Not the vehicle itself. A car hire excess add-on may reimburse the excess you pay the rental company.

Is breakdown cover included in travel insurance?

Usually not. It’s a separate product, though some policies offer it as an add-on.

Are belongings stolen from a vehicle covered?

Often only if locked out of sight and there’s evidence of forced entry. Check your policy.

Do I need separate cover for a campervan?

Yes. You’ll need motor insurance for the vehicle, plus travel insurance for yourself.

Related travel insurance guides

• Adventure Sports Travel Insurance: Hiking, Climbing and Zip-Lining
• Cruise Travel Insurance: What Standard Policies Miss
• Travel Insurance for Festivals and Concerts Abroad
• What Does Travel Insurance Cover? A Plain-English UK Guide
• How Much Does Travel Insurance Cost in the UK in 2026?

This article is general information, not financial or insurance advice. Always read the policy documents before you buy.