When is the best time to get travel insurance?
Key takeaways
You should buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip – this ensures you are covered for cancellations or illness before your departure.
Travel insurance does not become cheaper the closer you are to your departure date.
Post-departure travel insurance is usually expensive and may be limited.
Skipping insurance can be costly – without cover, you may have to pay for medical treatment, cancellations, or emergencies abroad yourself.
When should I buy travel insurance?
You should buy travel insurance as soon as you book your trip, not just before you travel. This ensures you’re covered if something unexpected – such as illness or cancellations – forces you to change or cancel your plans before departure.
Is it cheaper to buy travel insurance closer to my departure date?
No – travel insurance is usually not cheaper if you wait until closer to your departure date. In fact, last-minute policies are often more expensive and may exclude benefits like full cancellation cover.
When is it too late to buy travel insurance?
It’s usually too late to buy travel insurance once your trip has already started or if an event has already happened that you want to claim for. Most insurers require you to purchase cover before you depart and before any known issue (such as illness or travel disruption) arises.
You can buy last-minute travel insurance up to the day of your departure.
In some cases it is also possible to buy post-departure insurance (after your trip has started). However, your options may be more limited and the policy will probably be more expensive. There might also be a waiting period before cover starts.
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Do I really need travel insurance?
🚩 Many tour operators such as cruise liners will insist you take out holiday insurance.
Travel insurance is not a legal requirement – but it is strongly recommended, even for short trips. It can cover unexpected costs such as medical treatment abroad, trip cancellations, lost luggage and travel disruption, which can otherwise be very expensive.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), medical expenses were the most common reason for a travel insurance claim in 2024, making up 34% of all claims (up from 29% in 2023). ABI figures show that in 2024, the total value of medical claims reached £262 million, with an average payout of £1,528.
In contrast, you can find holiday insurance on MoneySuperMarket from as little 76p
What does travel insurance cover before my trip?
It can cover cancellations due to a variety of unforeseen circumstances such as illness, accidents, death in the family, redundancy, bankruptcy of a travel provider, and even pregnancy-related issues.
What does travel insurance cover during my trip?
Standard travel insurance will usually cover:
Medical expenses: pays out for emergency medical treatment and repatriation costs, but usually excludes any costs related to pre-existing medical conditions you did not declare on your policy.
Baggage and belongings: pays out if items such as your suitcase or handbag are lost, stolen or damaged. May also cover your passport and lost or stolen cash up to a certain amount.
Disruption cover: pays out for disruptions to your plans including cancelled flights and involuntary curtailments.
Legal cover: assists with legal fees related to incidents that may occur during your trip.
🚩 Every policy is different. Check your policy documents to see what is and is not covered by your specific holiday insurance.
What is not covered by travel insurance?
Typically not covered:
Changing your mind about travelling.
Reckless behaviour leading to accidents or losses.
Undeclared pre-existing conditions.
Travelling to a destination against government FCDO advice.
High-risk activities without additional cover.
High-value items exceeding the claim limit.
💡 Top tip: You can upgrade your insurance to include add-ons like winter sports, gadget cover and travel disruption cover.
How long does travel insurance cover last?
How long travel insurance cover lasts depends on the type of policy you choose:
Single trip cover ends on the day you are due to return home from the trip in question.
Annual multi-trip cover lasts for 12 months from the start date you chose for your policy. Some policies have a maximum trip length of 31 days.
Long-stay cover, like single-trip cover, protects you for a specific period and ends on the date you are due to return home.
What happens if I am delayed coming home?
In the event of delays, insurance providers won't usually stop your cover until you're able to return home. For example, if a natural disaster has stranded you in another country, your provider will usually keep your policy active until you've managed to get back safely.
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Frequently asked questions
What should be the start date of travel insurance?
Your travel insurance start date should usually be the day you buy the policy or the day you book your trip, so cancellation cover begins immediately. The policy will then provide full travel cover from the date you depart until the end of your trip.
In general, it's best to buy coverage as soon as you make your reservations for maximum protection.
How long does it take for travel insurance to activate?
Travel insurance activates immediately upon purchase for single trip policies and some specialist types like cruise or winter sports cover.
For annual travel insurance, it starts from the chosen start date, which should ideally be the day you book your holiday. Last-minute travel insurance can be obtained up to the day before your trip.
Does travel insurance get more expensive the longer you leave it?
Travel insurance does not usually get more expensive simply because you buy it later, but waiting can reduce the amount of protection you have – especially for cancellation cover before your trip.
The cost of travel insurance is more influenced by the length of your trip rather than the timing of the purchase.
What happens if I don't buy travel insurance?
If you don’t buy travel insurance, you may have to pay for unexpected costs yourself, such as medical treatment abroad, cancelled flights, lost luggage or travel disruption. In serious cases – especially outside Europe – medical bills or emergency repatriation can cost thousands of pounds, leaving you fully responsible for the expense.
Author
Beth Leslie
Senior Insurance Content Editor
Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
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Emma Lunn
Personal finance expert
Emma has written about personal finance for almost 20 years, with a career spanning several recessions and their inevitable consequences. Emma’s main focus is helping people learn to manage their...
