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How to find cheap travel insurance

We explain how to cut the cost of travel insurance and whether you could already be covered
Dean SobersSenior researcher & writer
How to find cheap travel insurance

How can I save money on travel insurance?

Getting travel insurance quotes from several comparison sites - and insurers that aren't on them - is the first step in saving money on travel insurers.

Shopping around works best when you understand what cover you do and don't need.

In this guide we explain the essential features you need, those you can do without - and when you might already be insured.

We also discuss when you should buy your insurance, and where. For the best policies, read our best travel insurance reviews.

Read on for simple ways to get cheaper travel cover.

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Don't travel without insurance

Many people, having already shelled out for flights and hotels, skip travel cover. But they shouldn't.

Having to cancel a holiday worth thousands of pounds is bad enough. The cost of falling ill abroad and needing to be flown home could run into six figures or more.

Yet this could all be covered by a travel insurance policy which, for many, will cost less than £100.

Here, we share our top tips on getting great travel insurance for less.

What travel insurance do you need?

Travel insurance can cover you if you need to cancel your holiday or return early. It can help you get emergency medical treatment overseas, and cover the cost of replacing your luggage if it goes missing or is stolen.

While it can be tempting to get the cheapest cover you can find, this could prove a false economy. Everyone's specific cover needs will be different, but as a starting point, we recommend looking for policies with these minimum levels of cover:

  • Medical expenses: £5 million
  • Cancellation cover: £2,000 – or the full cost of your holiday (which may be higher or lower)
  • Personal belongings: £1,500 – or the value of your possessions
  • Personal liability cover: £1 million.

Our policy scores for travel insurance are based on how extensive a policy's cover is. To see how more than 50 providers compare, check our guide to the best travel insurers.

It might be tempting to buy travel insurance without looking at a lengthy policy document, but it's not worth taking the risk. Make sure that all the cover you need is listed in the policy.

How can you find cheap travel insurance on comparison sites?

Comparison sites enable you to check the prices of scores of policies from dozens of insurers in the time it takes to run a single quote.

We think they make a great place to start when shopping around, but bear in mind that they won't be the best option for everyone.

1. Use more than one comparison site if you can

Different insurers work through different comparison sites, meaning you'll see a larger share of the market by using more than one.

2. Think carefully about your requirements

Comparison sites might ask you some questions to help you narrow down your search – for example, they might ask you the maximum excess you're prepared to pay, or the minimum amount of cancellation cover you want. Think carefully about the protection you need when applying these filters. If your holiday costs £2,000, a policy with £500 cancellation cover – though probably cheaper – is unlikely to meet your needs.

3. Look at more than the price

A low price doesn't necessarily mean great value, so check the cover of each deal. There can be major differences between policies – some, for example, won't include any cancellation cover. Others might not cover your baggage or belongings.

If you see a deal you like, we strongly recommend checking the policy documentation (on the provider's website) before buying. Travel insurance is complex and key strengths and weaknesses can be hidden in the small print.

4. Comparison sites might not reveal your best deal

If you've typed in your details and see nothing but a list of eye-watering prices, or a message that no insurer on the site is willing to cover you, don't despair.

Some insurers don't sell through comparison sites, including NFU Mutual travel insurance and Direct Line, and specialist insurers.

Both the government's MoneyHelper website and the British Insurance Brokers Association have directories of such insurers.

Find out more in our guide on how to get insurance if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

5. Consider a broker

An insurance broker can find affordable cover for unusual scenarios that most insurers won't cover.

The best place to find a broker is via their trade association – the British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA).

BIBA runs a 'Find insurance' service that may be able to help you track down a broker to get the insurance you need.

Covid-19 and travel insurance

While many insurers offer 'Covid cover', this doesn't mean you're necessarily covered for all eventualities. For example, you might not be covered for missing out on pre-paid activities while quarantining, or your trip being scuppered by a change in advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).

All policies contain exclusions, and there's no way around it – you'll need to check carefully which apply to yours.

Should you buy single or annual cover?

As the name suggests, single-trip policies cover one-off trips and generally cost less than annual policies, which give continuous cover throughout the year. 

However, for frequent travellers, annual cover is usually the cheaper way – per trip – of insuring your travel. It's basically the same principle as saving money through buying in bulk.

There are exceptions to these rules. If you take two trips in a year, for example, it can sometimes still be cheaper to insure them separately. And we've also seen cases where it's been cheaper to buy an annual policy to cover one-off trips to far-flung destinations.

For this reason, it's worth investigating prices for both annual and single-trip cover when shopping around – especially if you pay a lot for travel insurance.

Key Information

Where are you headed?

If you're opting for annual travel insurance, consider where you're likely to travel in the next 12 months.

If the US, Canada and the Caribbean aren't on your list, going without insurance cover for these areas will likely make your policy considerably cheaper. You'll save the most money by opting for Europe-only cover.

Travellers with existing annual policies should check they're covered for the destinations they want to go to.

When should you buy travel insurance?

You should buy travel insurance on the same day you book your holiday.

One of the best features of travel insurance is that it covers you if you're unexpectedly forced to cancel the trip and stand to lose money as a result.

If you leave buying your insurance until the last minute, you won't benefit from this protection.

With this in mind, you should buy your insurance as soon as you book your holiday – unless you already have annual cover in place.

Does travel insurance get cheaper closer to the travel date?

While some providers might give you a slightly cheaper price for buying your insurance closer to the date you travel, delaying your purchase to save a few pounds could in fact cost you dearly.

This is because many policies include cover if you need to cancel your holiday. Cancellation claims are among the most common of all claims.

You don't need your insurance start date to be immediately - it can be when you travel - as cancellation cover applies from the day you buy the policy.

Should you buy travel insurance from the tour operator or airline?

When you buy your holiday, whether that's through a traditional package provider or a budget airline, you're likely to be offered insurance at the same time.

But cover offered as an add-on to your trip is unlikely to be tailored to your needs and could be more expensive. Always check the wider market to see if you can get better cover for less.

If you do buy add-on insurance, make sure it covers any medical conditions that you have.

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Do you already have insurance?

Some packaged bank accounts come with travel insurance as a sweetener, so if you have a packaged account, check whether cover is included.

If you do have travel insurance with your bank account, check its terms carefully and make sure it meets your needs. Does it cover you for trips outside Europe? Will it cover your medical conditions?

If it doesn't, call your bank to see if you can add the cover you need or look for a standalone policy that meets your needs.

  • You might also have some of your insurance needs met if you have personal possessions cover with your home contents insurance. These policies often protect things you carry on your person (such as gadgets or jewellery) around the world, from loss, damage or theft.

Check you're getting a great deal and search for a new travel insurance policy using the service provided by Confused.com. Get a quote now

Can I get insurance if I have a medical condition?

Yes, but you might have to search a little more to find cover.

Insurers will ask you about your medical history so they can set your premiums and cover you correctly. Any pre-existing conditions your insurer doesn't know about won't be covered, and you could end up facing a massive medical bill if you fall ill abroad.

If you're struggling to get covered through standard insurers, take a look at specialist medical conditions insurers.

Do I have to declare medical conditions?

Yes. Not declaring medical conditions means your insurer can refuse to pay any claim you make connected to that condition. The resulting bill could be huge.

You also need to declare changes in your medical conditions to your insurer, however minor.

While you may have to pay more, comparing both mainstream and specialist travel insurance providers may still be able to save you money.

Is it worth buying expensive travel insurance?

Due to personalised pricing, and insurers viewing people in different ways, the best travel insurance policies may not be the most expensive.

Being prepared to compromise, however, can save you money.

Beyond the minimum levels of cover we recommend, there's little point paying for very high cover limits. A European weekend city break costing £1,000 doesn't need a policy with £5,000 cancellation cover, for instance. 

Nor would a policy packed full of cover for extreme sports be that necessary if you're planning a week on the beach.

Consider your destination, how much you're spending and your priorities when buying cover.

Remember your Ehic or Ghic

A Global Health Insurance Card (Ghic) – the replacement for the Ehic – is a medical card that can be used throughout the EU. It entitles you to treatment in state hospitals for the same price paid by the residents of the country you're visiting. If they get free treatment, so do you.

If you're travelling to Europe, make sure you take your Ghic with you, as some insurers will waive the excess on a medical claim if you have one.

But remember – a Ghic isn't a replacement for travel insurance.

As well as covering treatment costs, travel insurance will cover costs of medical transportation (for example ambulance bills or being flown back to the UK where medically needed), alongside costs of cancelling your holiday or returning early, replacing lost and stolen possessions, and many other things.

More questions on travel insurance? Take a look at our guides:

Compare travel insurance

Find the right policy for your holiday using the service provided by Confused.com

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