Aviva travel insurance review

Aviva is one of the UK's largest insurers. In the travel insurance market, its policies cover roughly 69,000 customers.

We've rated its Signature policy, which you can buy for either single trips or annual cover.

Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an insurer before committing to any financial products.

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What does Aviva travel insurance cover?

'A hugely impressive policy on paper'

Dean Sobers, Which? travel insurance expert, says:

Of 163 policies we reviewed, Aviva's Signature policy was fifth, with a score of 78%. 

Unfortunately, its claims acceptance rates for single trip policies meant we couldn't award it with our Best Buy endorsement.

On paper, there was lots to commend it. It scored three out of five stars in 89 of the 120 areas we checked, meaning it was one of the most consistently good policies we reviewed.

Strengths included £500 cover for cash and documents, and cancellation cover in the event of terrorist attacks and anti-tourism protests.

You'll need to bear in mind that it carries a £100 excess for various kinds of claim and - unlike some policies - the medical excess won't be waived if you have a Global Health Insurance Card.

Also, cover for your personal belongings doesn't come as standard but is an optional add-on - and it only includes £400 cover per item for gadgets.  

Locked room cover

If you leave items unsecured in a hotel room and they go missing, one in four policies we reviewed won't cover the costs of replacing them, even if the hotel room itself was locked.

Aviva's policy is one of those that will cover you in this scenario, though valuables and money won't be covered unless they were in a locked safe.

Is Aviva travel insurance good if you have a medical condition?

Aviva will consider covering medical conditions if you declare them when obtaining a quote.

It works with a medical screening company called Verisk to ask customers about their medical conditions.    

Aviva isn't a specialist provider for customers with pre-existing medical conditions, but this doesn't necessarily mean it won't be able to cover your medical condition at a reasonable price.

However, if you are struggling to obtain cover, check our guide on travel insurance if you have a medical condition.

How good is Aviva at handling claims?

Aviva uses a company called Charles Taylor Assistance to handle claims.

• According to the most recently published data, Aviva accepted 75% to 80% of claims made on annual European policies in 2024. This is lower than the market average of 86.3%.
• It paid 80% to 85% of claims on worldwide policies, which is in-line with the market average of 84.50%.
• And it accepted 70% to 75% of single-trip claims, which is worse than the average of 80%. 

Aviva's travel insurance: how can I claim?

For medical emergencies, call +44 (0) 1603 208 044.  

For other types of claim, call +44 (0) 1603 603 716 from abroad, or 0345 030 6983 from the UK. You can also start a claim online. 

Before calling for cancellation claims, you should contact your travel agent and/or airline to see if you can get a refund or move your trip.

You'll need to provide your policy number when you call.

• Find out more: how to claim on your travel insurance.

How does Aviva compare with other providers?

With a score of 78%, Aviva fell just behind Barclays and Nationwide's packaged bank accounts, which both got 79% and were Best Buys.

It was just ahead of Saga's Standard Annual Multi-trip policy, which earned 77% and was a Best Buy. 

Should you buy Aviva travel insurance?

We were really impressed by Aviva's cover on paper, but its poor claims record gives us some doubts.

How we rate travel insurance

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