Here’s something most people don’t find out until it’s too late: travel insurance isn’t automatic. It doesn’t just kick in because something bad happened to you. You have to prove it happened — and that usually means a police report.
If your bag gets stolen, your phone gets snatched, or you’re hurt in a crime while traveling, your first move needs to be contacting local police. Not tomorrow. Not when you get back to the hotel. As soon as you safely can. Many policies require that report to be filed within 24 hours of the incident — but timelines vary by insurer, with some allowing 48 hours or other windows. If you miss your policy’s deadline, the insurance company may have grounds to deny your claim entirely. Check your specific policy before you travel so you know your deadline.
Allianz Travel Insurance confirms that travel insurance can cover stolen items, emergency medical bills, and help replacing lost documents — but the claim process requires documentation. That police report is your documentation. Without it, your story is just a story.
Travelex Insurance specifically advises travelers to keep a copy of the police report somewhere safe until they’re ready to file their claim. And if you were injured during a theft, they say to call local emergency services first — your health comes before paperwork, always. But once you’re safe, that report needs to happen.
A few things worth knowing before you travel:
**Read your actual policy.** Every insurance company has different rules. Some require a report within 24 hours. Some give you 48. Some require it before you leave the country. You need to know your specific deadline before something goes wrong — not after.
**Language barriers don’t get you off the hook.** If you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language, you’re still expected to file. Most tourist-heavy cities have police stations used to dealing with foreign visitors. Your hotel front desk can often help you get there and communicate.
**Keep everything.** Photos of the scene, receipts for stolen items, any medical bills, the report number, the officer’s name if you can get it. The more evidence you have, the harder it is for an insurer to push back.
**The U.S. Department of State encourages** getting travel insurance before any international trip for exactly this reason — unexpected things happen, and being unprepared is expensive. But insurance only protects you if you follow the process.
One more thing: if something gets damaged or goes missing during airport security screening, that’s actually a separate situation handled by the TSA — not your travel insurance. The TSA has its own claims process for lost or damaged property during screening, so those would go through them directly.
Bottom line — if something bad happens on a trip, take a breath, make sure you’re safe, and then file that report. The insurance company isn’t going to come find you. You have to do the steps.