No trip cancellation. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid flights, hotels and tours are not reimbursable if you cancel, and a non-refundable week in Tokyo for two commonly runs to several thousand dollars.
ASB Visa Rewards: does this ASB rewards credit card include travel insurance?
ASB·$40/year·Visa
0,0/5Independent review · verified October 2026
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Our Verdict · Travel Insurance
Our take on travel insurance for the ASB Visa Rewards
Expert review · Pauline LauroreAuthor of HelloSafe's card insurance reviews
Rewards on your spending. No travel insurance behind them. So, you're in a clinic in Rarotonga with a gashed foot and the nurse wants payment before the stitches go in: the ASB Visa Rewards settles the bill and may even earn rewards on it, but no insurer ever pays you back. Most people searching for ASB credit card travel insurance assume the $40 annual fee buys at least some cover. Does it? No: ASB attaches complimentary travel insurance to its Platinum card only, so this card comes with no policy wording (the insurer's full policy document for a card's complimentary travel cover), and ACC (the Accident Compensation Corporation) doesn't pay for treatment overseas either. A standalone New Zealand travel policy covers overseas medical bills, cancellation and luggage whichever card paid for the trip, so if you travel overseas with this card, buy one when you book; if the card only ever sees groceries and fuel at home, the missing cover costs you nothing.
What works on travel
- No offshore service margin on foreign currency purchases since ASB dropped it from its personal Visa credit cards in September 2026
- Up to 55 days interest free on purchases when you clear the full balance by the due date
- No activation rule to misread: there is no cover to switch on, so you know to arrange your own before you book
Where travel breaks down
- No overseas emergency medical: ACC and the public health system pay nothing abroad, so a hospital bill is yours
- No trip cancellation: prepaid flights and tours are lost if illness or a family emergency stops the trip
- No evacuation or repatriation: an air ambulance home from Rarotonga is billed to you
- The $40 annual fee, charged as $20 every six months, pays for rewards only, not for any insurance
- No luggage, delay or travel document cover, overseas or on trips within New Zealand
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 ASB Visa Rewards Travel Insurance actually cover?
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No overseas medical cover. This benefit is not included with this card. All medical costs overseas are the cardholder's responsibility, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, and a few nights in a Honolulu hospital commonly run to six figures.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No evacuation or repatriation. This benefit is not included with this card. Evacuation and repatriation costs are entirely the cardholder's responsibility, and an air ambulance from Bali to New Zealand commonly costs six figures.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No emergency dental cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Emergency dental treatment overseas is out of pocket, because ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No hospital cash allowance. This benefit is not included with this card. No daily allowance is paid during a hospital stay overseas, so the incidental costs of an admission are yours to cover.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No additional expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption, such as a cyclone closing Nadi airport, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No travel delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals, accommodation and transport during a long delay, such as an unplanned night in Honolulu, are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No alternative transport cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of alternative transport to reach a prepaid cruise, tour or event on time is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No return home cover. This benefit is not included with this card. The cost of flying home after a family emergency, and of resuming the trip afterwards, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No luggage delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Clothes and toiletries bought while your bag is delayed, say on arrival in Rarotonga, are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacement costs for lost or stolen bags and belongings are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No travel documents cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Replacing a lost passport or stolen cash overseas, including the extra travel to reach a consulate, is out of pocket.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No personal liability cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Legal liability for injuring someone or damaging property overseas is uninsured, and claims of this kind commonly reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No accidental death cover. This benefit is not included with this card. No lump sum is paid to you or your estate if an accident on the trip causes death or permanent disablement.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No income protection. This benefit is not included with this card. Injured in Bali and off work for 8 weeks on your return, you get no income replacement from this card, and ACC weekly compensation only applies to injuries ACC covers.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic cancellation cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Prepaid domestic flights and accommodation, such as a Queenstown ski week, are not reimbursable if you cancel.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic delay cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Meals and accommodation during a delayed or cancelled domestic flight are the cardholder's responsibility.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic expenses cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Extra accommodation and transport after a disruption on a trip within New Zealand are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic luggage cover. This benefit is not included with this card. Lost or stolen luggage on a trip within New Zealand is not reimbursable through this card.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
No domestic bag delay. This benefit is not included with this card. Essentials bought while your bag is delayed on a domestic flight are out of pocket.
What's not covered
- ASB attaches no complimentary insurance to the Visa Rewards, so this benefit does not exist on the card.
We source benefits from official card guides, but PDFs are sometimes hard to obtain or update. Spotted something off?
Coverage Radar
Where the ASB Visa Rewards 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
Visa RewardsThis card0.0/5?
$40/yrWith travel insuranceIdeal
Complete coverage · 5.0 / 5Premium card avg.
$297 avg. annual feeClick a layer to highlight its scores on the radar.
Side-by-side comparison
How the ASB Visa Rewards stacks up against the alternatives
Same 5 coverage dimensions, ranked head-to-head against the cards most Visa Rewards shoppers also consider.
| Card | This card Visa Rewards ASB · $40/yr 0.0/5? | Visa Platinum Rewards ASB · $125/yr 3.2/5? | Airpoints Visa Platinum ANZ · $150/yr 3.1/5? | Platinum Card American Express · $850/yr 3.6/5? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Trip cancellation Per person, per trip cap | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited All prepaid deposits, no dollar cap | Unlimited All prepaid travel, no dollar cap | $30,000 per person All prepaid travel, $30,000 cap |
Emergency medical Hospital bills abroad | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Unlimited, ages 75 and under | Unlimited Unlimited under age 75 | $5,000,000 Capped $5,000,000, overseas only |
Emergency evacuation Air ambulance + repatriation | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Included in unlimited medical | Unlimited Included in unlimited medical | $5,000,000 Approved by Chubb Assistance |
Trip delay trigger Hours before benefits kick in | Not covered Cover this gap → | 6h / $400 Trigger: more than 6 hours | 6h / $250 Trigger: 6 hours | 4h / $650 Trigger: 4 hours |
Trip interruption Covered amount | Not covered Cover this gap → | Unlimited Unlimited, broad list of events | Unlimited Unlimited, broad list of events | $5,000 per person Trip change during the trip |
StrongLimited / misleadingNot covered
Data verified against each card's Guide to Benefits, May 2026.
Cardholder reviews
What cardholders say about the ASB Visa Rewards
Real comments on the card's fees and travel cover 2 reviews
RO
RockCartel (ChoiceCheapies)
Travel insurance sits with the Platinum card
Fee $20.00 / 6 month : ASB Visa Rewards $62.50 / 6 month : ASB Visa Platinum Rewards Platinum comes with travel insurance (if you meet criteria)
SL
Slogan (ChoiceCheapies)
The fee lands as soon as the card is active
Note that there is a fee of $20 for Visa Rewards … that will apply just after your card is activated. About three months later you will get your points, and then six months after activation there is another $20… fee.
Emergency · Card assistance line
How to contact ASB Visa Rewards assistance?
ASB lost or stolen cards and card enquiries (New Zealand)
0800 803 804
Free call within New Zealand · 8am to 8pm weekdays, 8.30am to 5pm weekends and public holidays; lock the card any time in the ASB Mobile app
Calling ASB from overseas about a lost or stolen card
+64 9 306 3000
Benefit administrator: None. The ASB Visa Rewards has no complimentary insurance, so there is no insurer, claims administrator or emergency assistance line.
Claims & pre-authorizations
What to do if a trip goes wrong with the ASB Visa Rewards
1
Step 1: Know that the card has no insurance claim to lodge
The ASB Visa Rewards includes no complimentary travel, rental or purchase cover, so there is no insurer, no 24/7 emergency line and no claim form. A hospital bill, a cancelled flight or a damaged hire car stays with you unless you hold your own policy.
2
Step 2: For a lost card or an account dispute, go to ASB
Call 0800 803 804 in New Zealand, or +64 9 306 3000 from overseas, to report a lost or stolen card, or lock it at once in the ASB Mobile app. If ASB's own complaints process does not resolve an account dispute, the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, a free independent service, can review it.
3
Step 3: For actual cover, buy a standalone travel policy before you leave
Take out a standalone travel insurance policy when you book, so cancellation cover starts straight away, and rely on your home contents policy for what you buy. Any claim then goes to that insurer, so keep its policy number and emergency line with you on the trip.
FAQ
What people ask about the ASB Visa Rewards
- You can't, because the ASB Visa Rewards comes with no complimentary travel insurance to activate. On New Zealand cards that do include cover, it switches on when you charge some or all of your prepaid travel costs to the card before you leave, and ASB applies that model to its Platinum card only. Paying for flights, a hotel or a tour with the Visa Rewards earns rewards on the spend, but it gives you no overseas medical, cancellation or luggage cover, and there is no policy wording, cover-check tool or paid extension linked to the card. If you were hoping for ASB Visa travel insurance on this card, buy a standalone travel policy before departure and keep the card simply as a way to pay.
- No one, since the ASB Visa Rewards has no complimentary insurance policy behind it. The main cardholder, an additional cardholder on the account, a partner and dependent children all travel without card cover, and nothing they buy with the card is insured either. With no policy, there are no covered-person definitions, age limits or family limits to check. If your family is heading overseas, a standalone travel policy is the way to insure everyone on the trip, and most let you list a partner and children on one policy. For purchases, your home contents insurance is the cover that actually responds to theft or accidental damage, so look at its limits on laptops, phones and jewellery.
- No. The ASB Visa Rewards carries no rental vehicle excess cover (the benefit that pays back what a hire company charges you after damage or theft), whether you hire overseas or rent a car or campervan in New Zealand. If the vehicle is damaged or stolen, the full excess written into your rental agreement is yours to pay, and hire companies commonly set it in the thousands of dollars. Paying for the hire on the card does not change that. Before you drive away, either take the hire company's excess reduction or buy a standalone rental excess policy, and check which vehicles it covers, since campervans and motorhomes are often treated differently from cars.
- There is no insurance claim to make, because the ASB Visa Rewards has no complimentary travel, rental or purchase cover, and so no insurer, claims administrator or emergency assistance line. If the card itself is lost or stolen, call ASB on 0800 803 804 in New Zealand or +64 9 306 3000 from overseas, or lock it straight away in the ASB Mobile app. A complaint about the card account goes to ASB first, and if it stays unresolved you can take it to the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, a free independent service. A medical bill, a cancelled trip or a lost bag is claimed on your own standalone travel policy instead, so carry its policy number and 24/7 emergency line while you are away.
- The ASB Visa Rewards includes no complimentary insurance at all, so it does not cover overseas medical bills, evacuation, cancellation, travel delays, lost luggage, personal liability or accidental death. Trips within New Zealand are not covered either, and there is no rental vehicle excess cover, no snow-sports cover, no purchase protection, no extended warranty and no mobile phone cover. ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas, so a few nights in a Honolulu hospital would be entirely your cost. Pre-existing medical conditions, trip-length caps and age limits don't come into it, because there is no policy to apply them: a standalone travel policy is where those rules decide what you get.
- No. With no travel insurance attached, the ASB Visa Rewards gives you nothing for a ski or snowboard accident overseas, on a marked run or off it. Picture a torn knee ligament in Niseko: the rescue from the slope, the scan, the surgery and the flight home are all billed to you, because ACC doesn't pay for treatment overseas, and a fracture treated in Japan quickly reaches five figures. Your own board, hired skis and an unused lift pass have no cover either. For a snow trip abroad, buy a standalone travel policy with its snow-sports option, and read how it treats skiing outside the marked runs before you book.
- Yes, for every overseas trip. The ASB Visa Rewards provides no travel insurance, so it does nothing for overseas medical bills, cancellations, evacuation or lost luggage, and ACC and the public health system don't pay for treatment overseas. The card's $40 annual fee, charged as $20 every six months, pays for the rewards programme, not for cover. A standalone New Zealand travel policy fills each of those gaps with no condition on how you paid for the trip. Buy it when you book rather than the week you fly, so cancellation cover applies if something goes wrong before departure, and keep the card for paying, where it adds no offshore service margin on foreign currency purchases.
- No. The ASB Visa Rewards has no mobile phone insurance, so a cracked screen, water damage or a stolen handset is not covered, even when the phone was bought on the card. There is no purchase protection window for a new phone either, and no extended warranty once the manufacturer's warranty runs out. A flagship screen repair commonly costs several hundred dollars, and that bill is yours. The Consumer Guarantees Act still helps if the phone turns out to be faulty, but not if you drop it. Check whether your home contents policy covers portable items away from home, or ask your insurer about listing the phone as a specified item.
- No, not since mid-September 2026, when ASB removed its offshore service margin (the extra percentage it used to add to foreign currency transactions) from all its personal Visa credit cards, the Visa Rewards included. Spending abroad is still converted into New Zealand dollars at the exchange rate Visa applies, so the rate on your statement can differ slightly from one you see quoted elsewhere. Cash advances are treated differently and carry their own interest rate, so check ASB's current rates and fees before using an ATM overseas. A cheaper card abroad is still not an insured one: the Visa Rewards carries no travel cover, whatever currency you pay in.
Not just ASB
Other cards worth considering
Visa Rewards is a strong choice — but depending on what you prioritize, one of these may suit you better.
Visa Flex
ASB
Visa Light
ASB
Visa Debit
ASB
Visa Platinum Rewards
ASB
Not sure how card insurance works? Read our guide to credit card travel insurance