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Travel insurance explained

Do I need travel insurance?

Travel insurance isn’t a legal requirement, but given how expensive holidays can be, it makes sense to be prepared. Unexpected events can devastate your trip away and lead to significant financial loss - whether that’s from a cancelled holiday, lost luggage or stolen cash - and costs can escalate into the thousands if you needed medical attention. Ask yourself if you could afford to spend that kind of money to rectify things yourself; if not, you need travel insurance. 

How does travel insurance work?

Travel insurance works by insuring you and your holiday against specified events. If one (or more) of those events were to happen, you’d have a financial safety net that could cover the cost. It works in  much the same way as any other insurance policy in that you pay the insurance company a premium in return for a pre-agreed level of cover, though unlike some other types you’re not obliged to have it year-round, and can instead pay a one-off sum for a single trip should you wish (we’ll explain more about single and multi-trip cover below).

Why should you never travel without insurance?

The sheer cost involved means it’s advisable to never travel without insurance. According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), insurers paid out a total of £472m in 2024 across more than 500,000 claims, with the average claim for medical treatment alone totalling £1,528. Yet this average amount can be misleading as individual claims can be far higher; indeed, one customer received over £1m to cover emergency medical treatment and repatriation from the USA, which highlights the potential costs involved of failing to travel with insurance.   

Do I need travel insurance for Europe? 

Ideally, yes. As with all forms of travel insurance, it isn’t a legal requirement, but it makes sense to be covered for a trip to the continent. Don’t rely on your Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) to be a substitute either – it’s unlikely to offer sufficient coverage for medical expenses, and it won’t provide any form of cover for other travel-related mishaps. Seeking a top travel insurance policy will always be preferable, and our chart above is the perfect place to begin your search. 

What should I look for in a travel insurance policy?

It’s important to get the right level of cover for your needs, but that can vary according to your circumstances. That said, there are a few key things you should be looking for in a travel insurance policy, including:

Medical cover

Medical cover should always be included, but it’s important to make sure you’ve got enough protection, particularly if you’re travelling further afield than Europe where you won’t be able to rely on your GHIC card. Medical costs can quickly escalate and without sufficient cover you’d need to foot the bill, which is why it’s recommended to have at least £2m in medical cover for trips to Europe and a minimum of £5m worldwide.

Repatriation

It’s important to check that repatriation is included, as this could also result in a significant outlay should the worst happen.

Cancellation and missed flight cover

Make sure to look for a policy that would properly cover your losses if the holiday was cancelled and/or you missed a flight. Check for what reasons you’d be reimbursed and make sure it’s comprehensive enough, so for example, will you be covered in the case of accident/illness/injury, a family bereavement, job loss/redundancy, a home emergency, jury service, or bad weather that interrupted a flight?

Lost baggage and belongings

Your policy should ideally include financial cover that’s at least equivalent to the value of your luggage and any belongings, but check the policy limits. This particularly applies if you’ve got valuable items, as there may be a cap on individual payouts or you may need to pay extra for suitable cover. Bear in mind that some insurers will want to see receipts to back up any claims.

Personal liability cover

It’s recommended that you have a minimum of £2m in personal liability cover in the event that you accidentally cause an injury to someone else or damage to their property. Check if legal fees are included as well, and if so, how much you’ll be covered for. You may need a higher amount if you’re travelling to a destination where legal fees are known to be expensive.

Excess

All policies will come with a certain level of compulsory excess, but you may be able to arrange a voluntary excess to lower your premiums. Some policies may even offer no excess – what’s known as an excess waiver – but this will likely cost more. Excess is generally per person, but some policies expect it to be paid per incident and section (for example, if you lost your luggage which had your travel money in it, you’d pay an excess for both the lost luggage portion of the claim and the lost money section). Find out more about insurance excess in our guide.

Dental cover

Not all policies include dental cover, but it could be worth looking for one that does to avoid a dental emergency leaving you in pain during your trip.

Reviews

As well as getting the right level of cover, you need to make sure you’re with a trusted brand. Looking up online reviews is key as you’ll get impartial recommendations from customers themselves, and check out the top rated travel insurance companies from our own analysis – our chart above highlights those that have achieved a Four- or Five-Star product rating, including well-known travel insurance brands like Post Office, Admiral and Staysure.

If you need further help finding a policy for your specific requirements, it may be worth speaking to a travel insurance broker.

Why are some travel insurance policies cheaper than others?

A huge range of factors determine the price of a policy, from your age to the destination you’re travelling to, not to mention things like the excess and cover limits. Then there’s the fact that all insurance providers have different pricing systems and eligibility requirements, so you may simply get policies cheaper with some providers than others. This is why it’s so important to compare the options thoroughly so you can be confident you’re getting the right cover at the right price.

What are the best holiday insurance companies?

According to an industry report from Mordor Intelligence, the top 5 travel insurance companies by market share are Aviva, AXA, Allianz, Direct Line and Admiral, many of whom are top rated in our own Moneyfacts Travel Insurance Star Ratings as well. Though this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be the best for you – there are plenty of smaller, more specialist providers that you could consider, particularly if you have more complex insurance requirements. Our chart above highlights some of the best travel insurance providers in the UK, so it’s a great place to start if you’re looking for a quote.

Is there a minimum requirement for travel insurance cover?

Even the best holiday insurance companies will have certain minimum requirements that you have to adhere to, particularly when it comes to things like distance travelled and length of stay. For example, you may need to have at least one night’s pre-booked accommodation for the policy to kick in, and/or it might need to be a certain distance from your home. This will vary according to provider though, so always check the small print.

What does travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance is designed to cover the cost of any losses you incur as a result of an accident, cancellation or delay while travelling. As with all forms of insurance, policies will differ in terms of the exact level of cover, but as a general rule, you can expect to be covered for the following:  

• Lost or stolen possessions. Items such as your luggage, travel money (including cash up to a certain limit) and important documents. Specific items, such as musical instruments, sports equipment, jewellery and other expensive items may require separate cover.

• Disruptions and cancellations. If your trip is cut short by an unexpected event, a flight is delayed, or a trip cancelled, then you should be able to claim for the costs through your insurance.

• Medical expenses. If you need medical attention when abroad, you’ll likely need to pay for it upfront, but the best travel insurance will reimburse you afterwards. Just make sure to declare any pre-existing medical conditions as well as any adventurous sports or high-risk activities, as your insurer may exclude costs that result from these.

• Legal fees. Your insurer may cover the cost of any legal fees incurred when you are involved in an incident that isn’t your fault.

• COVID-19 cover. Most travel insurance policies offer cancellation cover if you or a member of your travel party tests positive for COVID-19 in the two weeks before the trip, and if you contract the virus while on holiday you’ll usually be covered for the associated costs.

What isn’t covered?

Typically, you won’t be covered for the following:

• Changing your mind
• A missed flight that was your fault
• Airline strikes
• Acts of terrorism
• Undeclared medical conditions
• Dangerous activities
• Accident or injury while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• If you’re driving abroad and injure someone or damage their property, you won’t be covered for personal liability

However, you’ll often be able to tailor your policy to include some of these at an additional cost, such as extreme sports cover, golf equipment, winter sports, terrorism cover and connection delays. And if you’re hiring a car abroad, make sure to consider temporary car insurance too. Always compare holiday insurance providers thoroughly to find the best deal for you.

What does excess mean with travel insurance? 

The excess is the amount you’d be expected to pay towards a claim and will normally be deducted from the payout you receive. Typically speaking, the higher the excess, the lower the premium, but this could be a false economy as you could end up receiving a much lower payout.

For example, let’s say you booked a family holiday for four people costing £500 per person. If you needed to cancel and everyone was properly insured under the policy, you’d be looking to make a claim of £2,000. However, if the excess was set at £250 per person, you’d get just £1,000 back from the insurer. Compare this with a compulsory excess of £100 per person, and you’d get £1,600 back. Read more about insurance excess.

Travel insurance policy types

There are various types of travel insurance you may wish to consider depending on your needs and circumstances, some of which can be bought as standalone policies, while others are more of an add-on. Here are a few you may come across.

First thing’s first – how often do you travel? Travel insurance is available for a single trip or several, with annual multi-trip cover often a wise purchase for those who travel regularly. This type of policy covers you for an unlimited number of trips in 12 months, provided those trips are of a certain length (most policies stipulate that trips can be a maximum of 31 days, but this can vary by insurer). Bear in mind that if you’re going backpacking and/or you’re planning on a longer trip, you might need additional cover. 

Travel insurance for more specific needs is available as well, including:

Worldwide travel insurance 

Travel insurance is available for nearly every destination worldwide, as long as it’s not on the  the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)'s list of countries to avoid. So if you’re travelling beyond Europe it’s important to check that you’ve got a suitable worldwide policy, which will typically be one of two types – those that include the USA, Canada and the Caribbean, and those that don’t.

The difference is there because healthcare in the USA (and Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico) is typically a lot more expensive, which means your travel insurance policy will cost more as a result. If you’re not travelling to these destinations, it may be worth looking for a policy that excludes the USA in order to keep costs down.

Family travel insurance 

Family travel insurance is designed to cover your whole family under one policy, which can often be more cost-effective. It usually covers families who reside at the same address, including two adults and as many as eight children (aged up to 18), though you can also buy group insurance to include older children or extended families.

You should consider non-travelling family members as well, as if there was a sudden death in the family, you’d likely need to cancel or cut short your trip. Make sure to check that your policy includes sufficient cancellation and curtailment cover for this kind of eventuality.

Travel insurance for over-70s and 80s

Some travel insurers set a maximum age of 65 for their policies, so you may need to look for those specifically designed for older travellers. These specialist policies typically include additional cover such as:

• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Special medical equipment needed for travelling
• Holiday cancellation due to ill-health
• Lost medication
• Cover for a carer or travel companion

Just bear in mind that cover typically gets more expensive with age, so make sure to weigh this up when you compare travel insurance in the UK.

Cruise insurance

This type of insurance covers the specific activities and risks that come with cruising, such as travelling to multiple countries (provided your destinations are not excluded by your insurer), missed port departures, and transport to hospital should you fall ill at sea. Unlike standard travel insurance, this type of cover is normally mandatory before you’ll be allowed on the cruise.

Business trip insurance 

Business travel insurance can offer additional cover that’s specifically designed for people who regularly travel for business purposes. This can include things like:

• Cover for essential equipment (such as laptops and related tech)
• Replacement colleague cover (if you’re unable to travel and a colleague has to attend instead)
• Cover for merchandise/samples
• Business money and event tickets

Standard aspects of travel insurance, such as cancellation cover and medical expenses, will be included as well.

Pre-existing medical conditions

Pre-existing medical conditions are usually defined as being any physical or mental health condition that you’ve been diagnosed with, had treatment for, had symptoms of, or are awaiting test results for within a certain amount of time (typically the last two years). It’s essential to let your insurer know if you have any of these conditions, as it could invalidate your policy if you don’t. Unfortunately this could make securing suitable cover more difficult, as many of these conditions won’t be covered as standard. 

You should be prepared for things like:

• Higher premiums. Provided you tell your insurer of any medical conditions ahead of time, they may still provide cover, although your premiums will likely be higher. This is because they see you as more likely to make a claim during your trip. Make sure to factor this into your calculations when comparing quotes.

• Medical screening. You’ll be expected to provide detailed information about your medical history and may be required to complete a medical exam as well, depending on your circumstances.

• Specialist insurers. For more serious conditions you might need to look for specialist insurers that can offer cover for specific medical needs. 

• Pre-existing exclusions. Bear in mind that an insurance policy which covers one condition may not necessarily cover another. This is why it’s so important to be completely honest when filling out any medical questionnaire, so you can be confident you’ve got the cover you need.

What medical conditions do you need to declare on travel insurance?

Any pre-existing medical conditions will need to be declared to your insurance provider, including:

• Cancer
• Heart conditions
• Liver, kidney or blood disorders
• Respiratory conditions
• Diabetes
• Neurological disorders
• Musculoskeletal conditions
• Infectious diseases
• Mental health conditions
• Recent surgeries
• Terminal illness

Do you have to declare taking statins on travel insurance?

Yes. All medication will need to be declared, including statins.  

What happens if I don't declare or forget about pre-existing medical conditions? 

Failing to declare pre-existing medical conditions, even if it’s just because you forgot about them, could invalidate your policy, and means any claims put forward as a result of those conditions won’t be paid out.

Can I get travel insurance if I’m pregnant?

Yes. Pregnancy isn’t classed as a pre-existing condition and so you should have no trouble securing suitable travel insurance, but you’ll still need to mention it to your insurer as there are a few things to bear in mind.

You’ll need to check the terms and conditions of the policy so you know how long you’re insured for – many will only cover you up to 38 weeks gestation, or even 32 weeks for twin pregnancies – and what it covers. For example, you’ll likely be covered for any pregnancy-related complications and premature birth, but not routine check-ups or a healthy term birth. You may also want to bring documentation as proof of any medical conditions, and you’ll likely need a fit to fly note from your GP if you’re over 28 weeks.

Does travel insurance cover COVID-19? 

The best travel insurance for 2026 should still include cover for issues related to COVID-19, including cancellation as a result of a positive test, and medical costs if you contract COVID-19 and need treatment when abroad. You may also be compensated should you need to cut short your trip, or if you needed to extend it as you were too unwell to travel.

Note that this cover normally extends to close relatives as well, so if a loved one fell seriously ill and you had to cancel, you’d still be covered. You’ll normally need to provide some form of doctor’s evidence, and always check the terms and conditions of your individual policy to guarantee the level of cover.

When should you buy your travel insurance?

Experts recommend buying travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your holiday. This ensures you get the benefit if you needed to cancel unexpectedly – cancellation is often the result of illness, rather than personal choice – so try to avoid leaving it until the last minute. If you fall ill before taking out the policy, for example, you wouldn’t get cover and would likely lose out on the cost of your trip.

When does travel insurance start and end?

Travel insurance typically starts from the day you purchase your policy, though you can specify a set date if you wish. If you’ve bought a single trip policy then cover will end when you return home, and if it’s an annual policy, it’ll end 12 months from the start date.  

Can you buy travel insurance at the airport?

Yes, though it depends on how far along you are through the boarding process. Many insurers are able to provide instant cover when you arrange it online, but beware of cut-off points – most will only provide cover up until you go through customs, after which you’ll need a post-departure policy, which is only available through specialist insurers.

Can I get travel insurance if I'm already abroad?

Yes, but it’ll be harder to come by, and probably more expensive. A few specialist providers offer post-departure travel insurance that will cover the same things as a standard policy (apart from cancellation cover), though there may be a waiting period of 24-72 hours before the cover kicks in. This means that if you encounter a problem during that time, you won’t be able to claim.

Can travel insurance be extended?

Potentially, though it depends on the insurer, policy type and circumstances. You may be able to include trip extension as an add-on when you take out your policy (perhaps if you already know the standard travel limits won’t be sufficient), or you may be able to extend the policy at a later date by contacting your insurer directly. However, you’ll need to do this before the policy expires, otherwise you’ll have to start again with a brand new policy. Bear in mind that there will still be maximum duration limits you’ll need to adhere to, which means it won’t always be possible to extend your coverage.  

How much is travel insurance?

The cost of travel insurance can vary according to a whole range of factors, including:

• Your age. Typically speaking, the older you are, the more expensive insurance will be.

• Your holiday destination. Travelling to Europe, for example, will be cheaper than many long-haul destinations.

• The length of your trip. Longer trips generally mean higher insurance costs, as you’re more likely to make a claim.

• Any pre-existing medical conditions.

• The activities you’ll be doing. High-risk activities likely won’t be covered as standard and will need additional protection.

• The policy excess. You’ll likely have a standard policy excess, but you may be able to reduce costs by opting for a higher voluntary excess as well. Find out more about insurance excess in our guide.

• Any add-ons you’re including, such as gadget insurance or golf cover.

To get a better idea of how much travel insurance will cost for you personally, head to our chart to source a quote.

Does the cost of travel insurance vary depending on the destination?

Yes. Travel insurance for the UK or Europe will typically be cheaper than for destinations further afield, where medical expenses are higher.

Is travel insurance cheaper the closer to departure date?

Travel insurance can be cheaper the closer you get to the departure date, largely because the risk of cancellation becomes lower. However, this also puts you at greater risk of losing out should you need to cancel further in advance. You’ll likely only save a few pounds by purchasing travel insurance right before departure, but you could lose out on thousands if you had to cancel your trip before then.

What is the most common type of travel insurance? 

Data shows that single-trip policies continued to be the most popular travel insurance products in 2024, accounting for 58.1% of all policies bought during the year. Much of this could be down to the fact that people are simply travelling less, both due to the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost of living crisis. So, instead of splashing out on multi-trip cover, they’re opting for single-trip policies as and when they need them, hopefully saving money in the process.

Do credit cards have free travel insurance?

Some credit cards may offer travel insurance as part of their reward scheme, but it’s important to check the level of cover you’ll actually be getting. Only very few reward credit cards offer fully comprehensive travel insurance, and instead you’ll likely be limited to travel accident insurance, which will only cover you in the event of injury or death after an accident abroad, and even then only up to certain limits.

Other features of travel insurance – such as lost luggage cover, full medical cover, personal liability and delay or cancellation – will rarely be included. However, it’s important to note that if you’re paying for a holiday by credit card, you could be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, which means you may already be entitled to a refund if the trip is cancelled whether or not the card has a separate insurance policy.

How do I know if my credit card has travel insurance? 

You may already have a certain level of cover included in things like packaged current accounts or travel credit cards. You can check this by reading the account summary, or by contacting your provider for confirmation. However, bear in mind that protection through credit cards (or similar) is likely minimal, and you won’t be able to tailor it to your needs.

Instead, our chart of featured providers highlights some of the top travel insurance products in the UK, so you can be confident you’ve got the cover you need.