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Can I book travel insurance last minute?
In most cases, you can still buy last-minute travel insurance right up until the day you leave. So, even if it’s departure day and you’re not insured, it’s not too late to get cover.
However, insurers have different rules for how late you can book. This is because, for some insurers, your trip begins as soon as you leave your home and ends once you’ve returned.
If your policy covers traffic or delays that cause you to miss your flight, your insurer will treat your journey to the airport as part of your holiday and will insure you as soon as you have set off.
Can I get travel insurance when I'm already abroad?
In some situations, you might not remember to purchase travel insurance until you’re already on your holiday.
This is a trickier situation, but you might be able to find specialist post-departure travel insurance that will allow you to get cover while you’re abroad, regardless of whether you’re travelling in Europe or worldwide.
Most insurers don’t allow you to get travel insurance while abroad because of the risk of fraud. For instance, someone might lose their luggage and then buy travel insurance so they can make a claim.
If you do find a specialist insurer offering post-departure travel insurance, you’ll have to pay more than if you’d booked before leaving. The process of getting insured is also likely to be more complicated, as these insurers will want to use extra checks to prevent fraud.
When is it too late to buy travel insurance?
If you haven’t left for your trip yet, you still have time. It’s generally possible to get travel insurance even at that point.
However, you may struggle to find an insurer if you’re already abroad. It’s by no means impossible – as outlined above, you may still be able to find a specialist provider willing to insure you. But you can expect to pay a premium and follow extra steps for the sake of fraud prevention.
Our expert says…
Last-minute travel insurance is available up to the day before your trip. It covers essentials like travel delays and emergency medical needs. However, options may be limited, and it may exclude certain benefits like 'Cancel For Any Reason' or pre-existing conditions coverage. Always read the policy details carefully before purchasing. Buying as soon as possible after booking your trip is recommended for wider coverage and benefits.
Jake Edmonds Travel & Commercial Insurance Expert
What does same-day travel insurance cost?
There are a few different factors that will affect the cost of your travel insurance:
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Your age
The cost of travel insurance goes up as you get older because your risk of being injured or falling ill increases. Insurers have age bands for travel insurance and travellers over 65 are considered the highest risk to insure
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Length of trip
Longer trips cost more to cover than shorter trips. Similarly, multi-trip policies will cost more than single trip but they can save you money if you plan to take multiple trips during the year
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Your holiday destination
Your travel destination can affect the cost of your travel insurance in a number of ways. For example, the cost of medical treatment is different around the world, which affects how much medical cover you need.
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Your health
If you have any pre-existing conditions, you may need to pay more for your travel insurance to have them covered. Standard policies will cover most conditions for higher premiums, but there is are also specialist policies that offer extra cover
What does last minute travel insurance cover?
Travel insurance policy inclusions and exclusions vary. The following information provides a general overview of common travel insurance inclusions and exclusions. Always read your policy documents thoroughly to understand what is and isn't covered before your trip.
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Covered
Emergency medical cover: If you are injured or fall ill while travelling and require emergency medical treatment, your travel insurance will cover the cost
Repatriation: If you experience a serious medical emergency and need to be brought back home, your travel insurance will cover the cost of arranging your repatriation
Baggage cover: You can claim back some of the cost of your belongings if they are damaged, stolen, or lost while you're travelling
Cancellation cover: If you have to cancel your holiday because of an emergency, your travel insurance will cover you for cancelled accommodation and activities
Travel disruption: If your trip is delayed or cut short, you can claim for parts of your trip that are affected, like flights or accommodation. This cover is sometimes optional rather than standard
Personal liability: If you are involved in an incident where you may be responsible for injury or damage to someone else's property, your travel insurance will help you cover related legal fees
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Not covered
Excluded health conditions: Travel insurance providers will cover most pre-existing conditions, but sometimes they will exclude severe conditions. This means that your medical expenses for excluded conditions won't be covered
High-risk activities: Standard policies won't cover you for any dangerous or high-risk activities. If you want cover for these, you will need to take out a specialist policy
Alcohol and drugs: Insurance won't usually cover incidents that occur while you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including medical emergencies
Airline strikes: It is usually the responsibility of the airline to compensate passengers if strikes prevent them from travelling, although sometimes travel insurance can help cover the cost of accommodation
Missed flights: You will not be covered if you miss your flight or other means of transport because you were late or changed your travel plans
When will my travel insurance start?
When you buy travel insurance, you can decide if you want it to start immediately or on a later date. If you want it to start on the day you buy it, you’re usually insured the moment you pay for the policy. It doesn’t take long to get your insurance sorted!
So, if you wake up on departure day and realise you’ve forgotten to get cover, there’s still some time to get protected.
Why compare travel insurance with MoneySuperMarket?
Whether you need worldwide cover, a single trip, or a multi-trip policy, at MoneySuperMarket, we’re here to make sure your holiday planning is a breeze. Here’s what you’ll get:
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Quick and easy to use
Simply pop in a few details about where you’re off to next, pick the best deal for you and get insured for your next trip.
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Save money
Compare quotes from the UK's leading travel insurance providers and filter through a range of policies that match your needs as well as your budget.
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Unlike some of our competitors, MoneySuperMarket is not owned by an insurance company. So we can offer the best value, with savings delivered straight to you.
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How to get the best deal on last minute travel insurance
It's important to choose a travel insurance policy that covers your needs. Cheapest isn't always best but there are steps you can take to find the right cover at the right price:
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Look at optional extras
Optional extras can enhance your travel insurance protection, but they may not always be necessary. Think carefully about what kinds of extra cover are worth the cost and keep an eye out for policies that may offer these protections as standard
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Choose the right excess
A higher excess can save you money on your insurance but also means that you cover more of your emergency costs. Choose an excess that's right for you and strikes the right balance between cost and cover
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Shop around
Comparing quotes online makes it easy to find the best deals. With MoneySuperMarket the process is quick and easy. By answering just a few questions will fetch quotes from UK providers for you to browse
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Choose the right policy type
You don't normally start getting value from an annual holiday until you've travelled more than three times during the year, so you may find separate single policies cheaper if you only have a few trips planned
How much does last minute travel insurance cost?
The price of your travel insurance can depend on what type cover you are looking for.
Policy type | Average price* |
|---|---|
Single Trip | £23.35 |
Annual Multi Trip | £61.47 |
Backpacker | £233.25 |
Long-Stay | £233.25 |
Last Minute | £27.47 |
Ready to compare? Here's what to do next
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Tell us about yourself
Give a few details about you, your travel plans, preferred level of cover, and what you need cover for
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We’ll do the legwork
We’ll put together a list of travel insurance quotes, so you can pick one that works for you
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You’re on your way
Once you’ve chosen, you can purchase your policy and you’ll be covered for your trip
Travel insurance guides and expert tips
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.
Can I modify my existing travel insurance policy last minute?
Yes, many insurance providers allow policy modifications, such as extending coverage dates, even if you purchased the insurance last minute. It's important to contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to discuss the options available to you.
Are there any restrictions on the coverage provided by last-minute travel insurance?
Last-minute travel insurance policies generally offer similar coverage as policies purchased in advance. However, it's essential to carefully review the policy terms and conditions to understand any potential limitations or exclusions that may apply. Certain pre-existing medical conditions or high-risk activities may have restricted coverage.
Can I purchase additional coverage after buying last-minute travel insurance?
Yes, depending on the insurance provider, you may have the option to add extra coverage for specific activities or valuable items to your existing policy. It's advisable to contact your insurance provider directly to inquire about such additional coverage options and associated costs.
Is emergency medical evacuation covered by last-minute travel insurance?
In most cases, emergency medical evacuation is covered by last-minute travel insurance policies. However, the coverage amount and specific conditions may vary between insurance providers. Review your policy documents or contact your insurance provider for detailed information on emergency medical evacuation coverage.
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We get paid by the companies we work with, but the payment we get doesn’t have any bearing on the information we provide. We get paid in different ways, depending on the type of product or service you buy through us. Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible, but we only show results from our partner providers.
Our comparison service is, and will always be, free to use.
Why should I use a price comparison website?
One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals on your household bills is to compare quotes from different companies. We do the work for you, comparing quotes side-by-side and giving you all the information you need so you can choose the right deal for your needs and your wallet.
Does MoneySuperMarket work with all the providers on the market?
No, not every company can be included in our service. This is because some companies don’t want their products included on comparison sites, and some decide that they would rather not pay a fee. There are also a few smaller providers who can struggle to cope with the volume of customers that can find their products if they appear on MoneySuperMarket.
Our goal is to search deals from as wide a range of companies as possible so that you can choose the deal that suits you.
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Reviewed on 26 Dec 2025 by
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for single trip cover in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for annual multi trip cover in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for backpacker cover in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for long-stay cover in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket with last minute cover in November 2025.
The number of providers for travel insurance in August 2025
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