Is it Legal for Travel Websites to Auto-Add Insurance to Your Cart?

No, travel websites cannot legally add insurance or any paid add-ons to your cart automatically.

Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the CCPA Guidelines for Prevention of Dark Patterns (2023), this practice is classified as "Basket Sneaking" and an unfair trade practice. Regulations strictly prohibit pre-ticked boxes, requiring consumers to actively "opt-in" rather than "opt-out" of insurance.

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDAI) further mandates that insurance must be a conscious choice. If a platform forces a purchase or conceals charges in the final bill, it violates transparency norms.

Consumers can report such deceptive digital tactics to the National Consumer Helpline for redressal.