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Single trip travel insurance

Compare single trip insurance quotes.

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What is single trip travel insurance? 

Single trip travel insurance protects you for a single trip away, whether that’s for a holiday, short break or even just 24 hours away.

It will usually protect you against cancellation from the day you take it out and, depending on the level chosen, it will also cover medical emergencies, lost luggage and more.

The policy will typically end when you return home.

Should I get single trip travel insurance?

Although it is not a legal requirement, travel insurance is highly recommended

According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), its members paid out £472 million for more than 500,000 separate travel insurance claims in 2024, with medical expenses accounting for more than a third (34%) of all claims.

It can be taken as either single trip insurance or as an annual policy.

If you know you're only taking one trip in a year, single trip travel insurance can work out cheaper, while if you're likely to travel more than once, an annual multi-trip policy, which will cover you for a year, often works out better value.

How does single trip travel insurance work?

  • one icon

    Compare policies

    Looking at what’s included (and what’s not) and the levels of cover, as well as the price.

  • two icon

    Buy a policy

    The sooner you buy travel insurance after booking your trip, the sooner you are protected against any cancellations or disruption.

  • Make a claim

    If you need to claim, contact your insurance provider as soon as possible. You’ll get the money once your claim is approved.

  • icon number four

    Your policy expires

    A single trip travel insurance policy ends on the day you return home from your trip.

How much is a single trip travel insurance policy?

The price of a single trip travel insurance policy depends on several factors, including the destination, your age, your group type and how long you’re away for. Insurers will weigh up these and other factors to assess how likely you are to make a claim on your travel insurance policy. If insurers think a claim is more likely, your policy will cost more.

Cheapest price of single-trip travel insurance:
£5
.63^

Based on the prices paid by MoneySuperMarket customers in 2026

Average price of single-trip travel insurance:
£14
.91^

Based on the prices paid by MoneySuperMarket customers in 2026

Single trip travel insurance cost by trip type

Party size

7 days

14 days

Single traveller

£9.95^

£22.33^

Couple

£19.48^

£40.06^

Family

£24.15^

£40.22^

Group

£29.26^

£57.83^


💡 Top tip: It is often cheaper to buy a shared policy with your partner or family, and in many cases you do not need to travel together to be covered.

Single trip travel insurance cost by traveller age

Traveller age

Average travel insurance price

Under 18s

£16.92^

18-49

£23.65^

50-54

£36.90^

60-64

£42.37^

70-74

£64.83^

80-84

£117.72^

Destination travel insurance price calculator

What does single trip insurance cover?

Your specific cover will depend on the policy you choose, so check your documents. Most single trip travel insurance will include the following:

  • What's covered

    • Medical expenses: If you need medical treatment abroad, your travel insurance should cover the cost of medical fees, including treatment and care.

    • Lost baggage: If your luggage is lost, damaged, or stolen, most travel insurance will provide you with compensation to cover the loss.

    • Cancellation and curtailment: If you have to cancel your holiday for reasons like medical emergencies or bereavement, and your policy is in place when that happens, you should be reimbursed.

    • Travel disruption: Your insurance covers you for certain disruptions to your holiday, which may include poor weather, closure of travel routes, mechanical breakdowns or industrial action.

    • Repatriation: If you need to return home for urgent medical treatment, the cost should be covered by travel insurance.

  • What's not covered

    • Pre-existing conditions: You may be able to get single trip insurance if you declare a pre-existing medical condition, but it depends on your specific cover. A specialist policy may be a better fit.

    • Alcohol or drug related incidents: Providers are unlikely to cover you for any accidents or incidents that occur while you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

    • High-risk activities: You will probably need specialist travel insurance for high-risk sports, including things like skiing, diving and climbing.

    • Missed flights: If it’s deemed to be your own fault that you miss your flight, or another reason not covered by your policy, it's unlikely you'll be compensated.

    • Travelling against FCDO advice: You’re unlikely to be covered if you go to places where there’s a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) warning against travel.

Can I add on extras to my single trip travel insurance?

Yes, you can add extra cover to tailor your insurance to meet your needs but check what’s included in your policy first so you don’t pay more unnecessarily.

  • icon laptop

    Gadget cover

    Get extra cover for your phones, laptops and tablets in case they get stolen, lost or damaged.

  • icon pound

    Excess waiver

    If you add an excess waiver you won’t have to pay anything if you claim on your travel insurance.

  • icon winter sports

    Winter sports cover

    With winter sports cover you get extra cover for equipment plus additional rescue and medical treatment.

  • icon boat

    Cruise cover

    Get special cover for issues on cruises, including unused excursions.

  • icon golf

    Golf cover

    With added golf cover, you get extra protection for your golf equipment and green fees.

  • icon plane

    Travel disruption

    You could pay to add travel disruption insurance, which is designed to cover unexpected events such as severe weather, strikes or natural disasters which disrupt your plans.

How can I get cheaper single trip travel insurance?

  • Compare travel insurance quotes:

    Compare quotes online with MoneySuperMarket to make sure you get what you need at the best price.

  • Check you're not already covered elsewhere:

    For example, some banks offer travel insurance as a perk.

  • If you're travelling with other people:

  • Avoid extra cover unless you're sure you need it:

    For example, check if your gadgets are already covered by your home contents insurance.

  • Choose the right level for you:

    So you’re not paying for thousands of pounds of baggage cover if you’re travelling light.

  • Increase your excess:

    While making sure that you could pay it if you needed to.

Our expert says…

If you're in a country with expensive healthcare and you get ill or injured, it can quickly become stressful. Emergency medical treatment claims cost on average £1,528, according to the Association of British Insurers, yet an average single trip policy costs just £22.24^ and this should cover you for medical emergencies, as well as protecting your belongings.

Single trip cover is ideal for those who only take one holiday per year, allowing you to fully enjoy your holiday, knowing you're protected from unexpected costs and stress.

Ryan Nizzar Travel, Business & Landlord Insurance Expert

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a single trip policy?

  • Advantages

    • Cost: Single trip insurance policies are often cheaper if you're only travelling once or taking a short trip. With MoneySuperMarket, the average annual multi-trip insurance costs £48.39^ while the average single trip policy costs £22.24^.

    • Tailored coverage:These policies can be tailored specifically for your trip, covering the exact dates and destinations you’re visiting, which is great if you like to take different types of holidays.

    • Higher age limits:Single trip travel insurance is available for many people aged 70 and over. Annual multi-trip policies are often more expensive for older travellers, especially with pre-existing medical conditions.

  • Disadvantages

    • Expense: If you travel a few times a year, buying multiple single trip policies can be more expensive than an annual multi-trip policy which would cover your holidays all year.

    • Time: Buying a new policy for each single trip requires more time and effort.

    • Inflexibility: Single trip policies are for specific dates and destinations so if your plans change, you will need to extend the policy or buy a new one to ensure you’re adequately covered.

    • Less spontaneity: Fancy a weekend away? Without an annual policy, you should take out new insurance for each trip.

    • Higher costs for some: For older travellers or those planning extended trips, single trip policies can cost more than for those who are younger or taking a shorter trip.

Single trip travel insurance guides and expert tips

How do I get a single trip travel insurance quote?

  • 1

    Tell us about yourself

    Give a few details about you, your travel plans, and your preferred level of cover.

  • 2

    We’ll do the legwork

    We’ll put together a list of travel insurance quotes, so you can pick one that works for you

  • 3

    You’re on your way

    Once you’ve chosen, you can purchase your policy and you’ll be covered for your trip

Compare travel insurance quotes from 56^ leading UK insurers

Find tailored travel insurance at the right price by comparing deals from the UK’s leading insurance providers.

Sainsbury's Money Insuranceholiday-extrasadmiral-newpost-office-newrac-logo-110-69Tesco insurancevirgin-money-new

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Looking for travel insurance for a specific destination?

Use our destination pages to check travel insurance costs, cover and what to know before you go.

Am I covered by my GHIC card?

A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you access to state healthcare at the same cost as a resident of the country you're visiting in many European countries. The UK also has healthcare agreements with some countries, including Australia, giving access to certain services.

However, a GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. It doesn’t cover private medical treatment, emergency medical repatriation, trip cancellation, lost or stolen baggage, travel delays or many other unexpected costs.

Therefore, it's recommended that you still take out travel insurance, whether you're visiting Europe or travelling further afield.

Can I have both single trip and multi-trip travel insurance?

Yes, you can have more than one travel insurance policy. There may be a situation where, for example, you have an annual multi-trip policy, but you need a separate single trip policy to visit a particular destination for a business trip.

If you have two travel insurance policies and you need to make a claim, each insurer calculates how much they will pay out depending on your excess and policy type.

Can I get single trip cover with a pre-existing condition?

Yes, you may be able to get single trip insurance with a pre-existing condition such as cancer or diabetes. However, some providers will not cover pre-existing conditions as standard, so you may need specialist travel insurance.

The MoneyHelper website provides a list of specialist insurers to help you get adequate cover, or you can call the British Insurance Brokers Association on 0370 950 1790.

How far in advance can I book single trip travel insurance?

Each policy varies, but in general, you should be able to take out single trip insurance at the same time you make your booking, up until around 12-18 months in advance of travelling.

There are benefits to buying travel insurance earlier. For example, if you need to cancel or amend your booking, or your trip gets changed or cancelled, your insurance should protect you.

Who can I cover on a single trip policy?

You can add cover for yourself, a couple, a family, or group. There may be certain restrictions, such as potential age limitations for over-70s, so make sure you check the terms and conditions before purchasing a policy.

Can I buy travel insurance when I’m already on holiday?

It may be possible to buy travel insurance when you're already on holiday, however this isn't something MoneySuperMarket offers.

You may still be able to find a specialist provider willing to insure you, but there won’t be as many options as if you had bought cover in advance.

Plus, you can expect to pay more and will need to follow extra steps for the sake of fraud prevention. Find out more about last minute travel insurance.

Do I need travel insurance if I'm going away in the UK?

You don't need travel insurance for medical cover because your treatment will be free with the NHS. However, getting single trip insurance in the UK could compensate you for things like trip cancellations and lost, stolen, or damaged luggage.

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At MoneySuperMarket, we want to give you clear, accurate and trustworthy information so you can make confident financial decisions for your circumstances.

Every page on our website goes through a careful editorial process before it is published. It’s written or reviewed by one of our experienced experts, checked for accuracy, and updated regularly to reflect the latest information.

We do use AI tools to support our research and drafting, but a human editor is always in the loop to review, fact-check and approve everything before it’s published, so you can trust that what you’re reading is both reliable and up to date.

You can read more in our editorial guidelines.

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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.

You can find out more about how we make money here.

Why should I use a price comparison website?

One of the best ways to get the lowest prices and best deals 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.

We don’t give recommendations or financial advice, but we give you clear information so you can choose financial products that suit your circumstances.

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.

Is travel insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?

Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy travel insurance through MoneySuperMarket.

This includes:

  • Up to £5^, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk

  • Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions (you must download our app to get this)

  • Cashback of up to 10% when you spend at brands including eBay, Just Eat and Argos

To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:

  1. Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)

  2. Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase

More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.

Is travel insurance eligible for Price Promise?

Yes, travel insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.

If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:

  • refund the difference

  • give you a gift card worth up to £5

Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.

Reviewed on 11 Aug 2026 by

YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).

Data based on the median price of life insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 55-59 in August 2026.

Using the 51st percentile of cheapest premiums quotes, based on single non smoker policyholder aged under 30, with £100,000 of cover over a 10 year term with a decreasing term. Quoted between July 2025 and July 2026

Data based on life insurance policies for £200,000 of cover sold through MSM between 1st April and 30th June 2024

Data based on life insurance policies for £200,000 of cover sold through MSM between 1st April and 30th June 2024