Life insurance for hazardous hobbies
If you enjoy rock climbing, scuba diving, skydiving, motorsport, or any other activity that involves physical risk, your hobby will come up during a life insurance application. The good news is that most hazardous hobbies can be covered. The key is understanding how insurers assess your specific activity, because the details matter enormously - and different insurers have very different appetites for different hobbies.
The short answer
Most hazardous hobbies can be covered, but the impact varies hugely depending on the specific activity, how you do it, and which insurer you approach. Some hobbies may result in an exclusion on critical illness or income protection while still being covered at standard rates on life insurance. Some result in a premium loading. A few - like base jumping - are extremely difficult to cover at all. The details matter: depth for diving, altitude for mountaineering, competitive vs recreational for martial arts. A broker who knows which insurer is best for your specific hobby can save you significant money or get you cover where a direct application would be declined.
How insurers assess hazardous hobbies
Insurers assess hobbies based on several specific factors. The more detail you can provide, the more accurately your risk is assessed - and often, the better the outcome.
Frequency
How often you participate matters. A few skydives per year is very different from 100+. Insurers often have thresholds based on annual frequency.
Competitive vs recreational
Competitive participation (racing, fighting, competing) is viewed more seriously than recreational participation. A track day in your own car is different from a competitive rally.
Altitude and depth
For mountaineering, altitude thresholds (under 4,000m, 4,000-6,000m, 6,000m+) dramatically change the underwriting. For diving, depth (under 30m, 30-50m, 50m+) has a similar effect.
Location
Indoor vs outdoor, UK vs overseas, supervised vs unsupervised. Indoor rock climbing is viewed very differently from outdoor alpine climbing.
Qualifications and experience
Some insurers look favourably on formal qualifications (PADI certification for diving, BPA membership for skydiving) as evidence of training and safety awareness.
Product type matters
A hobby may be excluded from critical illness cover (which pays out for serious injury) while still being covered at standard rates on life insurance (which only pays out on death). The risk profile is different for each product.
Hazardous hobbies and typical insurance impact
This table provides a general overview. Outcomes vary significantly between insurers. A broker can identify the best insurer for your specific hobby and circumstances.
| Hobby | Key factor | Life insurance | CI / IP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Climbing (indoor) | Controlled environment | Standard | Standard |
| Rock Climbing (outdoor, low altitude) | Height, exposure | Standard to minor loading | Minor loading or exclusion |
| Scuba Diving (under 30m) | Depth | Standard to minor loading | Standard to minor loading |
| Scuba Diving (30-50m) | Depth | Minor to moderate loading | Moderate loading or exclusion |
| Scuba Diving (50m+) | Depth | Significant loading | Exclusion likely |
| Skydiving (under 50 jumps/year) | Frequency | Minor to moderate loading | Exclusion common |
| Skydiving (50+ jumps/year) | Frequency | Moderate to significant loading | Exclusion likely |
| Motorsport (track days) | Recreational vs competitive | Standard to minor loading | Minor loading or exclusion |
| Motorsport (competitive) | Racing, speed | Moderate to significant loading | Exclusion likely |
| Mountaineering (under 4,000m) | Altitude | Standard to minor loading | Standard to minor loading |
| Mountaineering (4,000-6,000m) | Altitude | Moderate loading | Moderate loading or exclusion |
| Mountaineering (6,000m+) | Extreme altitude | Significant loading or decline | Exclusion or decline |
| Martial Arts (recreational) | Non-competitive | Standard | Standard to minor loading |
| Martial Arts (competitive) | Contact, competition | Minor to moderate loading | Moderate loading or exclusion |
| Paragliding / Hang Gliding | Aviation, frequency | Minor to moderate loading | Exclusion common |
| Base Jumping | Extreme risk | Decline from most insurers | Decline from most insurers |
| Boxing (competitive) | Contact, head injury risk | Minor to moderate loading | Moderate loading or exclusion |
| Horse Racing (jockey) | Speed, falls | Moderate loading | Exclusion common |
| Caving / Potholing | Confined spaces, remoteness | Minor to moderate loading | Minor to moderate loading |
| Big Wave Surfing | Wave height, hold-downs | Moderate loading | Moderate loading or exclusion |
CI = Critical Illness Cover. IP = Income Protection. These are typical ranges across UK insurers. Individual results vary significantly.
Tell us exactly what you do
The details of your hobby matter more than the hobby itself. A quick call lets our specialist brokers find the insurer that best understands your activity.
Get QuoteRock climbing
Rock climbing is one of the most common hazardous hobbies, and the insurance outcome depends entirely on how you climb.
Indoor climbing and bouldering: Usually standard rates. The controlled environment with padded floors and safety equipment makes this a minimal risk in insurers' eyes.
Outdoor sport climbing (UK crags, bolted routes): Standard to minor loading from most insurers. Well-protected climbing on established routes at moderate altitude is viewed relatively favourably.
Outdoor trad climbing and multi-pitch: Minor to moderate loading. The additional exposure and self-placed protection increase the assessed risk.
Alpine climbing and high-altitude rock: Moderate to significant loading, depending on altitude. This overlaps with mountaineering underwriting and the altitude thresholds apply.
Scuba diving
Scuba diving underwriting is almost entirely driven by the maximum depth you dive to. The standard recreational diving limit of 30 metres is the first key threshold.
Under 30 metres: Standard to minor loading from most insurers. Recreational PADI- certified diving within the standard depth limits is well- understood and widely accepted. Holiday diving falls into this category.
30-50 metres: Minor to moderate loading. This exceeds standard recreational limits and moves into technical diving territory. Decompression risk increases significantly, and insurers reflect this.
50 metres and beyond: Significant loading or exclusion. Deep technical diving, cave diving, and mixed-gas diving at these depths carry substantial risk. Fewer insurers will offer terms, and those that do will load heavily.
The number of dives per year, your certification level, and whether you do any cave or wreck penetration diving also factor in.
Skydiving
Skydiving underwriting focuses on the number of jumps per year. A charity tandem jump once in a lifetime is very different from an experienced skydiver doing 200+ jumps per year.
Occasional (under 20 jumps/year): Minor loading on life insurance. Some insurers may exclude skydiving from critical illness cover while covering it on life insurance.
Regular (20-50 jumps/year): Minor to moderate loading. BPA membership and qualifications are viewed positively.
Frequent (50+ jumps/year): Moderate to significant loading. Competitive skydiving, wingsuit flying, and formation jumping at this frequency attract higher loadings.
Motorsport
Motorsport underwriting depends on whether your involvement is recreational or competitive, and the type of vehicle.
Track days (non-competitive): Standard to minor loading from many insurers. Driving your own car on a track day without a racing licence is viewed as a relatively low-risk recreational activity.
Competitive racing (cars): Moderate to significant loading depending on the class. Touring car and club-level racing is viewed differently from Formula- level open-wheel racing.
Motorcycle racing: Significant loading. Motorcycle racing carries a higher statistical injury and fatality rate than car racing. Road racing (Isle of Man TT style) is viewed more seriously than circuit racing.
Rally driving: Moderate to significant loading. The combination of speed, varied terrain, and changing conditions makes rallying one of the more heavily loaded motorsport categories.
Motorsport or skydiving? Our brokers will find the right insurer
Some insurers specialise in certain hobbies. Our specialist brokers know which ones and can get you the best available terms.
Get QuoteMountaineering
Mountaineering is assessed primarily on altitude, with clear thresholds that dramatically change the underwriting outcome.
Under 4,000 metres
Covers most UK and European hillwalking, scrambling, and lower Alpine peaks. Standard to minor loading from most insurers. Mont Blanc (4,808m) falls outside this bracket. Ben Nevis, the Lake District, and most Scottish winter mountaineering fall within it.
4,000-6,000 metres
Includes the higher Alpine peaks, Kilimanjaro (5,895m), Elbrus (5,642m), and many trekking peaks in the Himalayas. Moderate loading from most insurers. Altitude sickness risk and remoteness from medical facilities are the key concerns.
6,000 metres and above
High-altitude mountaineering including the major Himalayan and Karakoram peaks. Significant loading, exclusion, or decline from most insurers. Everest, K2, and similar 8,000m+ peaks are the most restricted category. Some specialist insurers will offer terms, but expect substantial loadings.
Martial arts
Martial arts underwriting depends on the discipline and whether you compete.
Recreational / fitness-based: Tai chi, yoga-based martial arts, non-contact karate training - standard rates from virtually all insurers.
Recreational with sparring: Judo, karate, taekwondo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu at club level with light sparring - standard to minor loading. Most insurers are comfortable with this.
Competitive contact martial arts: Competitive boxing, MMA, kickboxing, full-contact karate - minor to moderate loading on life insurance. Critical illness and income protection may face an exclusion for injuries sustained during competition.
Paragliding and hang gliding
Paragliding and hang gliding are treated as aviation-related hobbies by insurers. The frequency of flights per year, whether you fly in the UK or abroad, and your qualifications (BHPA membership and pilot rating) all factor in. Expect a minor to moderate loading on life insurance and a common exclusion on critical illness cover. Some insurers are notably more favourable for paragliding than others.
Base jumping
Base jumping is one of the most difficult hobbies to insure. The fatality rate per participation is orders of magnitude higher than most other adventure sports. Most UK insurers will decline to offer terms for base jumpers, and those that do will apply very significant loadings.
If you base jump, a specialist broker may be able to find cover through niche markets, but you should expect very limited options and high premiums. Wingsuit base jumping is even more restricted than standard base jumping.
Boxing
Boxing underwriting depends on whether you box competitively or recreationally. Fitness boxing and pad work with no sparring is standard rated. Amateur boxing with ABA-sanctioned bouts attracts a minor to moderate loading. Professional boxing is loaded more significantly and may face limited insurer options, particularly for critical illness cover given the head injury risk.
Horse racing
If you are a jockey (professional or amateur), expect a moderate loading on life insurance and a common exclusion on critical illness and income protection cover. Jump racing (National Hunt) is viewed more seriously than flat racing due to the higher fall risk. Recreational horse riding and point-to-point are viewed less severely. Everyday recreational horse riding is usually standard rated.
Caving and potholing
Caving is assessed based on the depth and type of caves. UK show caves and guided cave tours are standard rated. Recreational caving with a club, staying within well-known cave systems at moderate depth, typically attracts a minor loading. Deep potholing, cave diving, or exploration of unmapped systems attracts a moderate to significant loading due to the confined space, flooding, and rescue difficulty risks.
Big wave surfing
Standard recreational surfing in the UK is not considered hazardous and attracts standard rates from all insurers. Big wave surfing - where you are towed into or paddle into waves of 20 feet or more - is a different category entirely. The hold-down risk, the remote locations, and the physical forces involved put big wave surfing in the moderate loading category for life insurance, with critical illness exclusions common.
The honest answer
The most important thing to understand about hazardous hobbies and insurance is that insurer selection matters more than almost anything else. One insurer might decline a skydiver while another covers them at a minor loading. One might exclude mountaineering above 4,000m on critical illness while another offers cover with a loading. Specific insurers are genuinely better for specific hobbies, and a broker who knows these differences can get you cover that a direct application would not. If you apply directly and get declined, that decline goes on your record and can affect future applications. Get it right the first time by talking to someone who knows the market.
Put your policy in trust
Whatever your hobby, every life insurance policy should be written in trust. This is particularly important for people with hazardous hobbies, as the very reason you need life insurance is to protect your family if the worst happens. A trust ensures the payout goes directly to your beneficiaries, avoiding 40% inheritance tax and months of probate delays. It is free and takes 2 minutes.
Read our full guide to trusts and estate planning
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to declare my hobby on a life insurance application?
Yes. Every application asks about hazardous activities, sports, and hobbies. Failing to disclose a known hazardous hobby is non-disclosure and could void your policy. If you die in a climbing accident and your insurer was not told about your climbing, they may refuse to pay out.
What if I take up a new hobby after my policy starts?
Most life insurance policies do not require you to notify the insurer of new hobbies taken up after the policy start date. Your premiums are based on your activities at the time of application. However, some policies have specific exclusions for activities not disclosed at application. Check your policy wording carefully, and if in doubt, notify your insurer.
Can I get cover that specifically excludes my hobby?
Yes, many insurers offer cover with a hobby exclusion. This means the policy would not pay out if your death was directly caused by the excluded hobby, but would cover all other causes of death. This is cheaper than full cover including the hobby, and may be a pragmatic option if the full-cover loading is prohibitive.
I only do my hobby on holiday a few times a year. Does that matter?
Yes, even occasional participation must be disclosed. However, infrequent participation is typically viewed much more favourably than regular participation. A week of skiing per year is very different from 50 weeks of mountaineering.
Does travel insurance not cover me for my hobby?
Travel insurance provides emergency medical cover and repatriation, which is valuable but limited. It does not replace life insurance, which provides a substantial lump sum to your dependants. They serve different purposes and you likely need both.
If I stop doing my hobby, can I get my premiums reduced?
Existing guaranteed premiums cannot be changed. However, you can apply for a new policy without the hobby and, if the new terms are better, replace the old policy. Our partner brokers can manage this process and ensure you are never unprotected during the transition.
Get cover that includes your hobby
Tell us exactly what you do, how often, and at what level. Our specialist brokers will find the insurer that offers the best terms for your specific activity. One call, no obligation.
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