Travel insurance
Going away? Don't overpay
- Get single trip travel insurance from just £1.57[1]
- Find cover for pre-existing medical conditions
- Plus, enjoy fantastic rewards, on us*
[1] Based on Compare the Market data for a single trip travel policy for a 20 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling in UK for 2 nights. Prices correct as of July 2025.
We work with 43 trusted travel insurance brands[2], including:
[2] Correct as of June 2025.
Over 90,000 customers rated us on average 4.9 out of 5
As of July 8th 2025, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 from 93,668 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.9 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’. Learn more about our rating
What is travel insurance?
Travel insurance could cover medical expenses, trip cancellation or delays, lost or stolen baggage and personal liability while you’re travelling. The type of cover you need will depend on the countries you’re visiting, the activities you’ll be doing and the length of your trip. You’ll also need to state whether you want travel insurance for a single trip, multiple trips or for backpacking.
Why do I need travel insurance?
While we all love to get away from it all, accidents do happen - as well as medical bills, travel insurance covers, delays, lost items and thefts. All these can prove costly if you’re not properly insured.
Almost 1 in 4 people don’t take out travel insurance for their holidays. However, they probably should have, when you consider that travel insurance providers paid out £370m in 591,000 claims last year, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
To give you some idea of the potential costs without insurance for emergency medical care, the ABI has examples of what has been paid in 2017 for claims that you’d have to pay if you had no insurance:
- £768,000 was paid to cover the medical costs of treating a traveller who suffered a stroke in the USA.
- This includes £60,000 for an air ambulance back to the UK.
- £125,000 to pay for surgery following a jet-ski accident while holidaying in Turkey.
- £136,000 for treating complications following an insect bite in Chile. This included paying for a nurse to escort the traveller home.
So, whether you’re taking the family to the beach, a student on your gap year taking the trip of a lifetime or simply making the most of your retirement, there’s sure to be a policy to keep you covered.
Frequently asked questions
How does travel insurance work?
Travel insurance provides financial protection for certain problems that could occur while you’re away.
If you need to make a claim, you should contact your insurance provider as soon as you can. You’ll usually be able to claim online or phone a dedicated claims line.
Note that you may need to pay for any costs upfront before claiming them back. It’s vital to keep any receipts and hospital bills you’ll need to support your claim.
What does excess mean in travel insurance?
Excess in travel insurance is the amount you agree to pay towards any claim you make.
So, for example, if you have a policy with a £100 excess and successfully claim £1,000 for a cancellation, you’d pay the £100 towards the claim. Your insurance provider would reimburse you the remaining £900.
Do I need travel insurance for Europe?
Brexit introduced several changes for people travelling between the UK and EU, including:
- You now need to have at least three months left on your passport
- Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before your arrival date
- Tourists can stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
- If you’re planning on taking your car abroad or hiring a vehicle, you’ll need the right driving documents
- When your current EHIC card expires, you’ll need to get a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).
Find out more about post-Brexit changes for UK nationals visiting the EU at GOV.UK.
Do I need travel insurance if I have an GHIC or EHIC?
Yes, because these cards won’t offer cover for other emergencies such as cancellation, theft or loss of baggage.
The GHIC card or EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) only provides help with necessary medical care.
So if, for example, you need to claim for emergency repatriation, you’ll need travel insurance to cover the cost of returning you to the UK.
However, it’s still important to have a GHIC or EHIC when you go away. Some insurance providers won’t cover medical claims unless you do.
Do I need holiday insurance for the UK?
If you're holidaying in the UK, although the NHS will cover your medical needs, you might still want cover for:
- An internal flight or train being cancelled
- Your hotel being closed or going out of business
- Baggage getting lost, damaged or stolen
- Cancelling your trip due to ill health or bereavement.
Travel insurance could potentially cover you for all these. But be aware that some travel insurance policies for the UK will require you have a minimum three-night pre-booked stay to be covered.
Will travel insurance cover lost passports?
Yes, while you should always check your policy beforehand, most travel insurance will cover you for lost or stolen passports.
If your passport is lost or stolen, it’s important that you report this quickly. You’ll need to apply for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) to help minimise the disruption to your holiday.
Keep any reference numbers when you report your missing passport – you’ll need these when claiming on your insurance.
Can I get travel insurance if I’m pregnant?
Yes. Pregnancy isn’t considered a pre-existing condition, so travel insurance when pregnant shouldn’t cost you any more than usual.
But you won’t be covered if you fly against medical advice. And you might not be covered if you give birth abroad.
Check your policy to see if it covers holiday cancellation or curtailment due to pregnancy complications. Also, see what medical cover you have in case your baby arrives sooner than expected.
Can I get travel insurance when I am already abroad?
You might be able to buy specialist travel insurance after you’ve departed. However, you should ideally arrange cover before you set off.
Your circumstances and whether you intend to make a claim will be considered. Also, be aware that there may be a waiting period to prevent you from making an immediate claim.
Can travel insurance be extended?
Many providers will let you extend your cover if you decide to make your holiday last a little longer.
You should let your travel insurance provider know as soon as possible and avoid letting your cover expire. If you do, it might be harder to get an extension.
What does 'doubling up' on travel insurance mean?
Doubling up on insurance means that you’ve taken out more than one type of cover.
This might be because you’ve taken out a travel insurance policy but also have cover from another source, such as a bank or credit card provider.
Having two forms of cover doesn’t mean you’ll get twice the payout, and is not usually considered a plus. In fact, it could delay your claim being processed, while the providers work out which should cover the cost.
