How do I activate the BankSA Vertigo complimentary travel insurance?

There is nothing to activate, because the BankSA Vertigo has no complimentary travel insurance. Unlike some premium cards that switch cover on once you charge a set amount of prepaid travel to the account, the Vertigo carries no international or domestic travel policy at all. It is a low-rate card designed to save on interest and balance transfers, not to insure trips. If you want travel cover, you need to buy a standalone travel insurance policy before you leave. Do not rely on this card for any medical, cancellation, or luggage protection overseas, because none exists.

Who is covered under my BankSA Vertigo complimentary insurance?

No one is covered, because the card has no complimentary insurance. There is no cardholder cover, no partner or spouse cover, and no cover for dependent children, whether you travel overseas or within Australia. This is different from cards that extend travel cover to family members travelling with the cardholder. With the BankSA Vertigo, every traveller in your party needs their own separate travel insurance policy. If cover for your family on a trip matters to you, arrange a standalone policy that lists each person before you book.

How does the BankSA Vertigo rental vehicle excess cover work?

It does not work, because the BankSA Vertigo has no rental vehicle excess cover of any kind. Some cards reimburse the excess (the amount a hire company charges you after damage or theft) up to a set cap, for overseas or Australian hires. The Vertigo offers neither. If you hire a car and it is damaged or stolen, the full excess, commonly $2,000 to $5,500, is yours to pay. To protect yourself, take the hire company's excess-reduction cover at the counter, or buy a standalone rental excess policy that covers both local and overseas hires.

How do I make a claim on my BankSA Vertigo insurance?

You cannot make an insurance claim on the BankSA Vertigo, because the card has no complimentary insurance policy to claim against. There is no travel, rental, or purchase cover, and no claims administrator behind the card. If you bought a separate travel or rental excess policy, lodge that claim with the insurer named in its Product Disclosure Statement (PDS, the policy booklet), keeping receipts and any police or property report. For a lost or stolen card, call BankSA on 13 13 76 in Australia or +61 2 9155 7850 from overseas, but this only replaces the card, it does not cover a loss.

What does the BankSA Vertigo not cover?

The short answer is everything, because the BankSA Vertigo includes no complimentary insurance. There is no overseas emergency medical cover, no trip cancellation, no luggage or travel delay cover, and no interstate flight inconvenience cover. It also has no rental vehicle excess cover, no purchase protection, no extended warranty, and no mobile phone insurance. On top of that, a 3% foreign transaction fee applies to overseas spending. The card's value is its low 13.99% p.a. purchase rate and balance transfer offer, so treat it as a tool for managing interest, and arrange separate insurance for any travel or big purchases.

Does the BankSA Vertigo include any travel insurance at all?

No, the BankSA Vertigo includes no travel insurance at all, neither international nor domestic. The premium Vertigo Platinum card, which BankSA no longer sells, did carry Allianz-underwritten cover, but the standard Vertigo has never included it. This card is built around a low purchase rate and a long interest-free balance transfer, not travel perks. If you saw the Vertigo name linked to travel insurance, it almost certainly refers to the discontinued Platinum version. For any trip, budget for a standalone travel insurance policy, which for a short overseas holiday often starts around $60 to $120.

Does the BankSA Vertigo cover skiing or snowboarding?

No, the BankSA Vertigo does not cover skiing, snowboarding, or any other activity, because it has no travel insurance in the first place. Cards that do offer travel cover usually include on-piste skiing but exclude off-piste runs and snowmobiling. With the Vertigo there is no policy to read, so a medical bill or evacuation after a snow injury overseas is entirely your cost, and mountain rescue and air ambulance charges run into tens of thousands of dollars. If you are heading to the snow, take out a dedicated travel policy with winter sports cover before you go.

Does the BankSA Vertigo include mobile phone insurance?

No, the BankSA Vertigo does not include mobile phone insurance. Some cards cover screen repair or handset replacement when you pay your monthly phone bill with the card, but the Vertigo offers no such benefit. If your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, the repair or replacement is at your own expense, and replacing a flagship smartphone can cost $1,200 to $2,300. If phone cover matters to you, look at a dedicated device insurance policy or a card that lists mobile phone cover in its Product Disclosure Statement (PDS, the policy booklet).

Do I need separate travel insurance if I have the BankSA Vertigo?

Yes. Because the BankSA Vertigo has no complimentary travel insurance, you need a separate travel insurance policy for any trip, overseas or interstate. Medicare does not cover you outside Australia, and a serious hospital admission abroad can run $50,000 to $200,000, none of which this card will pay. A standalone policy for a two-week overseas trip often starts around $60 to $120 and covers medical costs, cancellation, luggage, and rental excess in one place. Buy it when you book the trip, not at the airport, so cancellation cover applies from the day you pay deposits.

BankSA Vertigo travel insurance: does this low-rate card cover you at all?

BankSA·$84/year·Visa

Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviewsUpdated 1 October 20268 min read

0,0/5Independent review · verified October 2026

Travel Insurance

0,0

Car Rental

0,0

Protection

0,0

Our Verdict · Travel Insurance

Our take on travel insurance for the BankSA Vertigo

Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews

No travel insurance. None at all. That is the honest starting point for the BankSA Vertigo travel insurance question. This is a low-rate Visa built to cut interest and shift balance transfers, not to cover trips, so there is no complimentary international cover, no interstate flight cover, nothing. Most people assume any bank credit card throws in some travel cover these days. This one doesn't, and holding it overseas leaves you fully exposed: Medicare stops at the airport, and a serious hospital admission abroad can run $50,000 to $200,000. A standalone travel insurance policy for a two-week overseas trip starts around $60 to $120, far less than one uninsured night in a foreign hospital. If you travel even once a year, treat this card as a spending tool and buy separate cover before you fly.

What works on travel

Low 13.99% p.a. variable purchase rate, well below the market standard for credit cards
20-month interest-free balance transfer offer, the card's real purpose
$0 annual fee in the first year for existing BankSA customers

Where travel breaks down

No overseas emergency medical cover: a serious hospital admission abroad can run $50,000 to $200,000, all on you
No trip cancellation cover: prepaid flights and hotels are not reimbursable if you cancel
No interstate domestic flight inconvenience cover
A 3% foreign transaction fee applies to every overseas purchase

Our methodology

Every score is derived from official bank documents: terms and conditions, benefit guides, and claim procedures. No commercial relationship influences our ratings.

Travel Insurance · 20 guarantees

What does BankSA Vertigo Travel Insurance actually cover?

No trip cancellation. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid flights, hotels, and tours are not reimbursable if you cancel. A standalone travel insurance policy is required for this coverage.

No overseas emergency medical cover. This benefit is not included with this card. All medical costs overseas are the cardholder's responsibility. Medicare does not cover you outside Australia, and a serious hospital admission overseas can run $50,000 to $200,000.

No emergency evacuation cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Emergency evacuation costs are entirely the cardholder's responsibility. An air ambulance from Southeast Asia to Australia runs $60,000 to $100,000.

No overseas emergency dental cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Emergency dental treatment overseas is out of pocket.

No hospital cash allowance. This benefit is not included with this card. Any incidental costs during an overseas hospital stay are out of pocket.

No additional expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Costs from a trip cut short, return flights and unused hotels, are out of pocket.

No travel delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals, accommodation, and transport during a delay are the cardholder's responsibility.

No missed connection cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Alternative transport to catch up with your itinerary is paid out of pocket.

No early return cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost to fly home and resume a trip after a family emergency is out of pocket.

No luggage delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Purchases of essential items during a bag delay are out of pocket.

No luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacement costs for lost or stolen bags are the cardholder's responsibility.

No travel documents cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Reissuing a lost passport or replacing stolen cash is at your own expense.

No personal liability cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Legal liability for injury to others or property damage overseas is uninsured, and claims commonly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.

No accidental death benefit. This benefit is not included with this card. There is no lump-sum payout to your family for an accidental death while travelling.

No loss of income benefit. This benefit is not included with this card. Lost wages after an injury overseas prevents you working are not replaced.

No domestic cancellation cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid interstate flights and accommodation are not reimbursable if you cancel.

No domestic flight delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals and accommodation during an interstate flight delay are the cardholder's responsibility.

No domestic additional expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra travel and accommodation costs on an interstate trip are out of pocket.

No domestic luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Lost or damaged luggage on a domestic trip is replaced at your own expense.

No domestic luggage delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Essential purchases during a domestic luggage delay are out of pocket.

We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?

Report an error Send updated PDF

Coverage Radar

Where the BankSA Vertigo wins, where it loses

Coverage snapshot for this tab — click any layer to highlight its scores.

Trip cancellation: not covered by this card

Medical fees abroad: not covered by this card

Medical repatriation: not covered by this card

Compare

VertigoThis card0.0/5?

$84/yr

With travel insuranceIdeal

Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5

Premium card avg.

$235 avg. annual fee

Click a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.

Side-by-side comparison

How the BankSA Vertigo stacks up against the alternatives

Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Vertigo shoppers also consider.

Card	This card Vertigo BankSA · $84/yr 0.0/5?	Amplify Rewards Signature BankSA · $295/yr 4.3/5?	Vertigo Platinum St.George · $99/yr 4.3/5?	Amplify Signature Bank of Melbourne · $295/yr 4.3/5?
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap	Not covered Cover this gap →	Unlimited Unlimited prepaid travel	Unlimited Unlimited (all prepaid)	Unlimited Unlimited
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad	Not covered Cover this gap →	Unlimited Unlimited	Unlimited Unlimited	Unlimited Unlimited
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation	Not covered Cover this gap →	Unlimited Unlimited evacuation	Unlimited Unlimited evacuation	Unlimited Unlimited evacuation
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in	Not covered Cover this gap →	6h / $1,100 Trigger: 6 hours	6h / $1,100 Trigger: 6 hours	6h / $1,100 Trigger: 6 hours
Trip interruption Covered amount	Not covered Cover this gap →	Unlimited Extra travel & accommodation	Unlimited Extra travel & accommodation	Unlimited Extra travel & accommodation

StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered

Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.

Cardholder reviews

What cardholders say about the BankSA Vertigo

Real BankSA customer experiences on service and support 189 reviews

Wendy (ProductReview)

2023

Efficient and professional

Moved banks after complete dissatisfaction with another bank. BankSA has been efficient and professional in registering powers of attorney, setting up accounts and term deposits, providing information and advice. Highly recommend.

Kirsten M (ProductReview)

July 2026

Endless hassle trying to leave

Long time customer who never had an issue until I tried to leave. I've had endless hassles with both the account closure and online banking account closure processes. If you phone them, you get circled around through Westpac, St George and BankSA phone lines.

Ash1968 (ProductReview)

February 2026

The app is temperamental

The BankSA app is hopelessly temperamental. For all the claims about ease of use it isn't, and don't make the mistake of ringing to get help.

BankSA card support (no insurance line)

13 13 76

General banking enquiries

Overseas card emergency (lost or stolen)

+61 2 9155 7850

24/7

Benefit administrator: None: the BankSA Vertigo carries no complimentary insurance

Claims & pre-authorizations

Is there anything to claim on the BankSA Vertigo?

Step 1: Check what the card actually includes

The BankSA Vertigo has no complimentary travel insurance, rental excess cover, or purchase protection, so there is no card policy to claim against. The numbers above are for general card support and lost or stolen cards, not insurance claims.

Step 2: For a travel or purchase loss, use your own policy

If you hold a standalone travel insurance or rental excess policy, lodge the claim with that insurer using the contact details in their Product Disclosure Statement (PDS, the policy booklet). Keep receipts, a police or property report where relevant, and proof of what you paid.

Step 3: For a lost or stolen card, call BankSA

Report a lost or stolen Vertigo card to BankSA on 13 13 76 within Australia, or +61 2 9155 7850 from overseas, 24 hours a day. This locks the card and arranges a replacement; it does not cover any travel or purchase loss.

There is nothing to activate, because the BankSA Vertigo has no complimentary travel insurance. Unlike some premium cards that switch cover on once you charge a set amount of prepaid travel to the account, the Vertigo carries no international or domestic travel policy at all. It is a low-rate card designed to save on interest and balance transfers, not to insure trips. If you want travel cover, you need to buy a standalone travel insurance policy before you leave. Do not rely on this card for any medical, cancellation, or luggage protection overseas, because none exists.
No one is covered, because the card has no complimentary insurance. There is no cardholder cover, no partner or spouse cover, and no cover for dependent children, whether you travel overseas or within Australia. This is different from cards that extend travel cover to family members travelling with the cardholder. With the BankSA Vertigo, every traveller in your party needs their own separate travel insurance policy. If cover for your family on a trip matters to you, arrange a standalone policy that lists each person before you book.
It does not work, because the BankSA Vertigo has no rental vehicle excess cover of any kind. Some cards reimburse the excess (the amount a hire company charges you after damage or theft) up to a set cap, for overseas or Australian hires. The Vertigo offers neither. If you hire a car and it is damaged or stolen, the full excess, commonly $2,000 to $5,500, is yours to pay. To protect yourself, take the hire company's excess-reduction cover at the counter, or buy a standalone rental excess policy that covers both local and overseas hires.
You cannot make an insurance claim on the BankSA Vertigo, because the card has no complimentary insurance policy to claim against. There is no travel, rental, or purchase cover, and no claims administrator behind the card. If you bought a separate travel or rental excess policy, lodge that claim with the insurer named in its Product Disclosure Statement (PDS, the policy booklet), keeping receipts and any police or property report. For a lost or stolen card, call BankSA on 13 13 76 in Australia or +61 2 9155 7850 from overseas, but this only replaces the card, it does not cover a loss.
The short answer is everything, because the BankSA Vertigo includes no complimentary insurance. There is no overseas emergency medical cover, no trip cancellation, no luggage or travel delay cover, and no interstate flight inconvenience cover. It also has no rental vehicle excess cover, no purchase protection, no extended warranty, and no mobile phone insurance. On top of that, a 3% foreign transaction fee applies to overseas spending. The card's value is its low 13.99% p.a. purchase rate and balance transfer offer, so treat it as a tool for managing interest, and arrange separate insurance for any travel or big purchases.
No, the BankSA Vertigo includes no travel insurance at all, neither international nor domestic. The premium Vertigo Platinum card, which BankSA no longer sells, did carry Allianz-underwritten cover, but the standard Vertigo has never included it. This card is built around a low purchase rate and a long interest-free balance transfer, not travel perks. If you saw the Vertigo name linked to travel insurance, it almost certainly refers to the discontinued Platinum version. For any trip, budget for a standalone travel insurance policy, which for a short overseas holiday often starts around $60 to $120.
No, the BankSA Vertigo does not cover skiing, snowboarding, or any other activity, because it has no travel insurance in the first place. Cards that do offer travel cover usually include on-piste skiing but exclude off-piste runs and snowmobiling. With the Vertigo there is no policy to read, so a medical bill or evacuation after a snow injury overseas is entirely your cost, and mountain rescue and air ambulance charges run into tens of thousands of dollars. If you are heading to the snow, take out a dedicated travel policy with winter sports cover before you go.
No, the BankSA Vertigo does not include mobile phone insurance. Some cards cover screen repair or handset replacement when you pay your monthly phone bill with the card, but the Vertigo offers no such benefit. If your phone is lost, stolen, or damaged, the repair or replacement is at your own expense, and replacing a flagship smartphone can cost $1,200 to $2,300. If phone cover matters to you, look at a dedicated device insurance policy or a card that lists mobile phone cover in its Product Disclosure Statement (PDS, the policy booklet).
Yes. Because the BankSA Vertigo has no complimentary travel insurance, you need a separate travel insurance policy for any trip, overseas or interstate. Medicare does not cover you outside Australia, and a serious hospital admission abroad can run $50,000 to $200,000, none of which this card will pay. A standalone policy for a two-week overseas trip often starts around $60 to $120 and covers medical costs, cancellation, luggage, and rental excess in one place. Buy it when you book the trip, not at the airport, so cancellation cover applies from the day you pay deposits.