Single trip
A single trip policy is the cheapest. If your child is only going away once this year, this may be a good option for you.
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Can you get travel insurance for under 18s?
You can buy separate policies for children under 18 if they are travelling alone, but you need to think about what they are doing while they are away. When you’re shopping for travel insurance for under 18s, you need to inform the insurer where they’re going, who they’ll be staying with, and what they’ll be doing.
For travel insurance purposes, a child – often referred to as an ‘unaccompanied minor’ – usually means of anyone under the age of 18. Some insurers count children up to the age of 22 if they are still in full-time education.
Your child does not count as an unaccompanied minor when on a school trip, as school personnel are counted as ‘in loco parentis', which means ‘in place of the parents’. They are responsible for your children for the time they are away.
What does under 18s travel insurance cover?
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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What is covered
Lost or stolen baggage: If your luggage is lost, stolen, or damaged while you're away, your insurance will provide some compensation
Overseas medical treatment: Your policy will cover any medical fees associated with the treatment you need while you're abroad
Repatriation: In the event of a medical emergency that requires you to be sent home, your insurance will cover the cost of arranging your repatriation
Cancellation and curtailment: If you need to cancel or cut short your holiday due to unforeseen circumstances that are also listed in your policy, your insurance will reimburse you
Passport Cover: In the event that your passport gets lost or stolen, most policies will provide cover in this instance
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What isn't covered
Water sports and winter sports: Activities like skiing and snowboarding aren't covered under a standard travel insurance policy you will need to add winter sports cover to your policy
Gadget cover: To protect your gadgets such as your phone and camera while you're away, you can add gadget cover as an add-on to your travel insurance policy
Alcohol or drug-related incidents: Your provider is unlikely to pay-out for any incidents that occur as a result of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol while you're abroad
Pre-existing medical conditions: Standard travel insurance policies don't usually cover any pre-existing conditions, but you can get specialist travel insurance for any health conditions you may have
How much is travel insurance for under 18s?
Travel insurance typically becomes more expensive as you get older because older travellers have a higher risk of making insurance claims.
Traveller age | Average insurance price |
|---|---|
Under 18s | £16.92 |
18-49 | £27.83 |
50-54 | £32.93 |
55-59 | £36.57 |
60-64 | £45.45 |
65-69 | £62.28 |
70-74 | £78.48 |
75-79 | £99.26 |
80-84 | £108.18 |
85+ | £172.12 |
Choosing the best policy type
There are a few different policy types to choose from based on your circumstance, these include:
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Family policy
If your child is going away with family members, getting a family policy will allow you to cover them and other members of your family.
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Annual multi-trip
An annual multi-trip policy is a good option if your child has a few trips planned over the next year.
Will my child be covered on our existing family travel insurance policy?
Yes, if you have a child that is under 18 years old, they can be covered under your existing family travel insurance policy. Children need to be added to a family travel insurance policy to be included in your cover, which can be done by contacting your insurance provider.
However, once your child is over 18, they will need their own travel insurance policy. Some travel insurance providers will cover your child until the age of 22, provided they are still in full-time education.
What destinations does under 18s insurance cover?
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European Travel Insurance
Get covered for travels across Europe. Some providers will also include cover for some non-European destinations, such as Egypt.
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Worldwide - with exclusions
Provides cover for worldwide travel, with exclusions to certain countries depending on where your voyage is taking you - including the United States, the Caribbean, Canada and Mexico.
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Worldwide
Get cover for the widest range of countries around the world. This is ideal for cruises, so you can be covered for the risks associated with stopping off at different destinations.
Ensure you’re covered from the moment you book your trip
So when is the right time to buy your travel insurance? It is best to get travel insurance cover as soon as you book your trip. If you wait until you are leaving, any cancellations, delays, or any incidents (that have the potential to cancel or impact your trip) that happen prior, will not be covered if you are not insured at the time it occurs. This could include the company you booked with going bust, flight strikes, flight cancelations, death in the family or a personal injury.
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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Flexible to suit your plans
Get fully comprehensive cover for as long as you need it, whether that's one day or a few months, or single trip or multi trip policy
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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.
Things to consider when buying travel insurance for under 18s
When choosing a travel insurance policy for someone under the age of 18, there a few things to consider including:
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Their destination
Will the trip be covered by European travel insurance or will you need worldwide cover?
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Activities
If your child is going to be taking part in winter sports or water sports, make sure you take out extra cover.
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Protecting valuables
If your child is planning to take a laptop or a phone, it may be worth getting gadget insurance to protect your electrical items.
Guides and tips for under 18s travel insurance
Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.
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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
Do I need travel insurance for a school trip?
If the trip is organised by a specialist educational travel agency, travel cover is probably included in the price. In this case, you won’t need to search high and low for travel insurance for under 18s. The school may also prefer to make its own arrangements to ensure that no child is left without adequate cover. They will then charge parents accordingly.
Once you know what insurance is in place, make sure that you know what it covers and what it doesn’t, in case you need to buy additional cover.
Can stepchildren be included on family insurance policies?
Yes, there are a lot of policies that will cover stepchildren and foster children. As with any other family travel insurance policy, you will need to specifically add you children to the policy to include them in your cover.
The majority of family travel policies offer cover to children without a residence requirement. However, depending on your policy, you may find that biological children who don’t live with you aren’t covered to travel with you, while your live-in stepchildren are.
If they are not covered for travel with you under a policy held by the parent they live with, it will be necessary to purchase another insurance policy – either a family policy providing the correct level of cover or a separate policy for non-resident children.
It’s worth checking your own existing household policies. An annual family travel insurance policy might extend cover to a family member travelling independently of the rest of the unit, while contents insurance may provide cover for certain items which are lost or stolen abroad.
You may decide, however, that rather than risk the no-claims discount on your own travel policy, buying an additional policy for the kids is a smarter plan.
What cover does a GHIC card offer my child?
A GHIC card will be able to offer emergency treatment and state-provided healthcare that would be deemed necessary while your child is abroad however, a GHIC card does not provide the same medical coverage that a travel insurance policy offers.
Does my child need travel insurance for travelling in the UK
Travelling, even within the UK, comes with its own risks. Should anything go wrong, a travel insurance policy can ensure that you can get compensated.
What is travel insurance excess?
The excess you choose is the amount you volunteer to pay each time you make a claim.
Can I get under 18s backpacker insurance?
Yes, if you are under 18 and planning a long trip, you can get backpackers insurance to cover your trip.
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Reviewed on 26 Dec 2025 by
Data based on the minimum price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age < 18 in September 2024. Prices vary based on your personal details & circumstances.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age < 18 in September 2024.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 18-49 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 50-54 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 55-59 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 60-64 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 65-69 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 70-74 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 75-79 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 80-84 in November 2025.
Data based on the average price of travel insurance sold through MoneySuperMarket for age 85+ in November 2025.
The number of providers for travel insurance in August 2025
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