Single trip travel insurance

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What is single trip travel insurance?

Single trip cover is a travel insurance policy for a one-off holiday or business trip. It can offer financial protection if something goes wrong before or during your trip, from illness to lost baggage.  

The type of single trip travel insurance policy you’ll need depends on where you’re going. You can choose from:

  • UK single trip insurance (including the Channel Islands)

  • European single trip travel insurance

  • Worldwide single trip travel insurance (including USA, Canada, Caribbean and Mexico)

If you know you’re only taking one trip in a year, single trip travel insurance can be cost-effective. But if you go away more than once a year, it could work out cheaper to buy annual multi-trip travel insurance. 

Amsterdam in the Netherlands

How much does single trip travel insurance cost?

The cost of single trip travel insurance can vary significantly.

Our data shows that a 20 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions could pay as little as:

£1.38[2]
Two nights in the UK
£7.98[3]
One week in Europe
£16[4]
One week in a worldwide destination
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[2] 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 2026.

[3] 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 Europe for 1 week. Prices correct as of July 2026.

[4] Based on Compare the Market data for a worldwide travel insurance policy for a 20 year old with no pre-existing medical conditions travelling for 1 week. Prices correct as of July 2026.

How does single trip travel insurance work?

Buy a policy

Choose cover for a specific journey, tailored to your destination, trip duration and planned activities. You’ll also need to declare any medical conditions you have.

Make a claim if you need to

If you want to claim for an insured event covered by your policy, you should contact your provider as soon as possible. You’ll be asked to provide details of the incident, along with evidence such as receipts, medical certificates or police reports.

Your policy expires

With single trip insurance, your policy will typically end on the day you return home from your trip. This date will be stated in your insurance documents.

What does single trip insurance cover?

Policies typically cover

  • Emergency medical expenses – cover if you have an accident or become ill while you’re away. It can also help to pay for an air ambulance and repatriation to the UK if needed.

  • Cancellation – if you have to cancel or cut short your trip for any of the reasons specified in your policy, such as a family bereavement.

  • Theft or loss of personal possessions – this could cover your valuables, money, travel documents and other belongings. Get tips on keeping your belongings safe while travelling.

  • Missed departure or delays – cover if you miss a flight or connection because of a reason out of your control, such as strikes, road accidents or public transport delays.

  • Personal liability – could help pay your legal expenses if you accidentally injure someone or damage their property during your trip.

Policies typically don’t cover

  • Undisclosed medical conditions – you won’t be covered for treatment for pre-existing conditions you didn’t declare when you took out the policy. You’ll usually need to pay extra to cover these or look for a specialist policy.

  • Known events – cancellation is excluded if you were aware of the reason when you bought your policy: for example, knowing a close relative was unwell and their condition was likely to deteriorate.

  • High-risk activities – some sports and activities, such as bungee jumping, may not be included. You can pay extra to add them to your policy or take out a specialist policy.  

  • Travelling against official advice – you won’t be covered for claims arising from travel to a place the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised to avoid prior to your trip.

  • Accidents under the influence – claims resulting from being under the influence of alcohol or drugs won’t be covered.

  • Preventable diseases – claims because you didn’t get the recommended vaccinations for your trip are excluded. 

Tips on getting cheap travel insurance

If you’re making more than one trip in a year, you might find it cheaper to get annual travel insurance. We can show you both options, so you can decide which is right for you.

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We can help you find cheap single trip travel insurance

Choose a cheaper region

Some destinations, particularly the USA, Caribbean and Canada, have very high healthcare costs and are therefore more expensive to cover. Europe is generally cheaper due to lower repatriation costs

Choose a higher excess

Excess is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. Choosing to pay a higher excess could lower your premium. Just make sure you can afford to pay it if you need to make a claim

Avoid unnecessary add-ons

Skip optional extras, such as gadget cover and winter sports, cover if they don’t apply to your trip

Choose your cover levels carefully

Typically, the higher the level of cover, the more expensive the policy is likely to be. There’s no need to buy a policy with £3,000 of baggage cover if you’re travelling light, for instance

Don’t duplicate cover

Travel insurance is included in some packaged bank accounts, so check you don’t already have cover before you buy

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When is the best time to take out travel insurance?

Whether you’re off for a weekend escape or setting off on a long-haul journey, getting cover as soon as possible can provide you with the best protection.

To ensure you’re covered from the start, it’s best to take out a policy as soon as you book your trip. This way, you’ll be protected if something forces you to cancel before you leave.

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What optional extras can I add to single trip travel insurance?

Extra options or upgrades you can choose to buy include:

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Sports cover

Some sports and activities may not be covered by standard travel insurance, so check your policy. You might need extra cover for winter sports, water sports or even golf.

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Cruise cover

If you’re going on a cruise, you’ll need cruise travel insurance to cover you for things like missed port departures and getting you to a hospital if you fall ill while at sea.

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Natural catastrophe and terrorism cover

If natural catastrophes or terrorism cause you to cancel your trip, or it’s disrupted, this type of cover can compensate you.

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Cover for airspace closure

For example, because of volcanic ash or drones around an airport.

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Gadget cover

Offers higher single-item limits for valuable tech, such as smartphones, laptops and wearables. Gadget cover can be bought as an add-on or as a standalone policy.

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Excess waiver

Some providers give the option of paying extra on your premium to avoid having to pay an excess if you do need to claim.

Be aware that any extras will push up the price of your single trip policy, so only add them if you think you’ll need them.

Emily Barnett

What our expert says...

“A single trip policy can be a good option if you’re going on a holiday lasting longer than a month. Unlike annual cover, which often limits each trip to 31 days, single-trip policies can cover you for up to 365 days.

“It could also save you money if you’re travelling to the USA or Canada only once during the year as an annual premium covering these regions tends to be pricey.”

Emily Barnett, Insurance and utilities expert

Customers with pre-existing medical conditions

If you have a serious health condition, your travel insurance is likely to be more expensive. Whatever happens, don’t lie to an insurance provider, because this could mean any claim you make further down the line is likely to be rejected.

When you declare any medical conditions on our website, we’ll only show you quotes from insurance providers who will cover them, with no exclusions.

If your condition is more serious, MoneyHelper has a directory of insurance providers who may be able to provide quotes over the phone. You can call them on 0800 138 7777.

What are the pros and cons of a single trip policy?

Pros of single trip insurance

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    Price – only going on one holiday in the next 12 months? A single trip policy could be the cheapest option

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    Cover for your whole trip – you can arrange cover for the exact number of days you’re away

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    Higher or no age limits – many insurance providers won’t offer annual travel insurance for travellers over 75, so a single trip policy could be the only option

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    Cover for your trip will start when you buy it – useful if you need to cancel your trip

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    Tailored to your trip – if you love taking different kinds of holidays every year, a single trip insurance policy for each one allows you to tailor your cover for the region and activities you’ll be doing

Cons of single trip insurance

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    Potential higher overall costs  – if you you take more than one trip in a year, you could end up paying more than if you’d chosen an annual policy

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    Effort – you’ll miss out on the ease offered by annual policies. For example, with an annual policy, you can take spontaneous trips away without having to spend time sourcing travel insurance

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    More potential risk – if you delay buying your single trip policy after you’ve booked your holiday, you might be unable to claim if you need to cancel, for example

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    More hassle if you extend your stay – single trip cover is based on fixed dates. That means if you stay a little longer, you’ll have to either extend your insurance or take out a new policy

What do I need to get a quote?

When you search for single trip travel insurance with Compare the Market, it’s a good idea to have some basic information about your travel plans, including:

  • Dates of travel

  • All countries you’re planning to visit

  • How many people you want to insure

  • Any medical conditions – including current or older pre-existing medical issues

  • How much cover you need and any additional cover you might want.

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FAQs

What is an excess?

An excess is the amount of money you’re expected to contribute towards a claim. For example, if your cancellation cover claim was for £1,000 and the policy excess was £250, you’d get £750 when your claim is paid.

Travel insurance policies may have different excesses for different types of claims. And the excess may depend on the cover level you choose. Check your policy terms and conditions so you know exactly how much the excess for each type of claim will be.

Do I need single trip insurance if I have a GHIC?

Yes, a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) isn’t a substitute for travel insurance. It allows UK residents access to state-provided healthcare, i.e. the same as the locals, while visiting most European countries and Australia.  

However, it won’t cover repatriation if you need to be flown back to the UK. And it won’t cover non-medical mishaps like holiday cancellation, flight delays or lost baggage. ver non-medical mishaps like holiday cancellation, flight delays or lost baggage.

You can apply for a free GHIC on the NHS website.

Do I need single trip travel insurance if I’m holidaying in the UK?

If you’re planning a staycation in the UK, you won’t have to worry about medical cover as you’ll be able to receive treatment from the NHS.

However, travel insurance could cover your costs if you need to cancel your holiday or if anything happens to your baggage. UK travel insurance plans often have minimum stay and distance requirements, so make sure you check this before buying a policy.

What are my other travel insurance options?

If you travel frequently throughout the year, an annual travel insurance policy might be a cheaper option than taking out a new single trip policy every time you go away. Annual policies are sometimes called multi-trip insurance.

If you take just one family holiday a year, single trip family travel insurance for a single trip could offer great value. The whole family are covered under one policy, and some providers even cover the kids for free.

Can I get one-day travel insurance?

Yes, it’s possible to get overseas travel insurance for a single day.

For a UK staycation, many insurance providers require a minimum number of nights’ booked accommodation to insure you. Normally that’s at least two nights, but some providers will cover you for one-night stays, as long as it’s a minimum distance from your home. 

Is single-trip cheaper than an annual policy?

If you’re only taking one holiday in the next 12 months, then a single trip policy could be the most cost-effective choice.

But if you’re planning to take more than one trip in a year, you could find that an annual policy works out cheaper overall.

Will one single-trip policy cover multiple countries in the same trip?

Yes, one single-trip policy can cover multiple countries as long as they’re part of the same trip and all destinations are covered by the policy. You’ll need to let the insurance provider know which countries you're planning on visiting when you take out the policy.

And be aware that there may be a maximum trip length (some policies only offer cover for up to 180 days).

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Emily Barnett
Reviewed 05 Jun 2026 by Emily Barnett Insurance and utilities expert

Methodology

1Correct as of June 2026.