Without travel insurance you could be left out of pocket if anything unfortunate happens on holiday, like your belongings being stolen or needing urgent medical care. So we recommend buying a policy, even if you leave it until the last minute.
When’s the best time to buy travel insurance?
Ideally, the best time to buy travel insurance is when you book your holiday. You need to do it well ahead of time if:
- you or anyone on the policy has a pre-existing health condition to disclose – if your condition isn’t listed, you might need to call us to discuss your cover. Read our guide on travelling with a pre-existing condition.
- you intend on doing any hazardous activities (like bungee jumping or paragliding) while abroad – again, you’ll need to speak to us ahead of time to see if we can cover it if they're not listed in the policy book. You might need to pay an extra premium.
Booking your travel insurance ahead of time means you’ll be covered for any delays or cancellations.
Without it, you couldn’t claim compensation for cancelled accommodation, flights or any booked excursions.
While it’s best to try and book early, you can buy travel insurance with us the same day you leave for your trip if needed.
When is it too late?
You can buy a travel insurance policy even when you’re at the airport about to board the plane.
Most insurers, including us, offer travel insurance policies until you have gone through customs at the airport.
We can’t provide post-departure policies – once you’ve entered the country or are halfway through your trip.
This means you’d still be covered for the important stuff like medical care, repatriation and lost baggage, but a last-minute policy doesn’t usually include cancellation cover.
Read our guide on holiday cancellation cover.
When will my cover start?
Your cover usually starts the day you buy your policy or leave for your trip. This might be the same day.
With same-day travel insurance, there could be a delay of 24 hours before your policy begins, and you’d be able to claim if you needed to.
Can I use my GHIC/EHIC card?
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are good to have when travelling anywhere in Europe but are not stand-ins for travel insurance.
You still need a travel insurance policy to be fully covered for emergency or non-emergency medical treatment and other incidents like theft of belongings or lost baggage.
The GHIC/EHIC is also not valid if you travel to any country outside of Europe.
Read our guide on the GHIC/EHIC card.
Annual travel insurance
We recommend getting annual insurance if you travel frequently or just have two or more trips booked this year.
Annual insurance covers you for every holiday you take in a year up to 31 days at a time.
This means that once you’ve bought your policy, you won’t have any last-minute panics for a year at least.
It also means you’ll have full cancellation cover for the year if you have to cancel or delay a trip for any reason.
FAQs
Admiral offers three tiers of travel insurance to suit different budgets and cover requirements. Admiral Platinum has a five-star rating from Defaqto, Admiral Gold has a four-star rating and it's a three-star rating for the Admiral policy.
How do I contact Admiral travel insurance? ›
If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online.
Does travel insurance cover last minute cancellations? ›
However, if you leave buying travel insurance until very close to your departure date, you will not get cancellation cover. Last minute travel insurance might also not cover certain medical conditions or more risky activities. And if you buy post-departure cover, there might be more exclusions to watch out for.
How late can you buy travel insurance? ›
In general, you can buy coverage any time before the date of your trip. That said, it's always best to buy coverage as soon as you make your reservations. The sooner you buy travel insurance, the sooner you'll be protected and the more benefits you may be eligible to receive.
What is the best travel insurance company? ›
Our Rankings of the Best Travel Insurance Companies of 2024
- Faye: Our top pick.
- Travelex Insurance: Our pick for families.
- Nationwide Travel Insurance: Our pick for cruise travel.
- Tin Leg Travel Insurance: Our pick for customizable coverage.
- Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection: Our pick for luxury travelers.
Post Office. Why we rate it: If you have a pre-existing medical condition then the Post Office will likely be a great travel insurance option. This is because it covers most pre-existing medical conditions, like high-blood pressure or diabetes, so you'll likely find the cover you need.
Does travel insurance get less expensive closer to departure date? ›
Unlike other aspects of your travel experience like airfares or hotel-room rates, the price of travel insurance doesn't increase the closer you get to your travel date. There's no financial penalty if you wait to buy travel insurance (except for those bonus coverages, of course).
Will I get a refund with travel insurance if I cancel my flight? ›
If you do need to cancel, you will be reimbursed 100% of the prepaid, non-refundable trip cost for which you are insured and can provide documentation. All of this coverage, is only if the trip is cancelled due to a specific, unforeseen covered reason.
What is considered last minute cancellation? ›
According to Dr. Crain, an appropriate time to cancel last minute is usually about 48 hours before. This typically leaves enough of a cushion for the receiver to adjust their plans around your absence. However, the amount of head's-up time that's considered polite “is still situation-dependent,” she adds.
What's the latest you can get travel insurance? ›
The cost of last-minute travel insurance
It can be bought right up to the day you travel, with policies available online even from the airport or departure port. However, keep in mind that booking last minute means you'll miss out on the cancellation benefits that could have been available earlier.
Allianz is a popular choice among business travelers due to its AllTrips Executive travel insurance policy with coverage for lost, stolen or damaged business equipment and rental car insurance. Earning 4.1 out of 5 stars, our expert reviewers think Allianz is a great choice for international travel insurance.
How much in advance should I get travel insurance? ›
Our simple answer is to get travel insurance as soon as you have booked and paid for your holiday, especially for a non-refundable trip. Although it is tempting to leave booking travel insurance until the last minute, it's more beneficial to get it in advance as the sooner you buy cover, the sooner you are protected.
Is admiral a reliable insurance company? ›
Admiral has been voted the UK's Best Car Insurance Provider in the Personal Finance Awards 2020/21 for the ninth year running.
Who is admiral travel insurance underwritten by? ›
Admiral travel insurance is underwritten by Admiral Insurance (Gibraltar) Limited.
Who underwrites admiral policy? ›
Today, Gladiator also underwrites Admiral Van policies. Launched in 2021, Admiral Pioneer is a venture building business which focuses on long-term diversification.
What is a good rate for travel insurance? ›
The average cost of travel insurance is about 3% to 5% of a trip's total value, according to quotes gathered by our research team across different travel insurance providers for various traveler profiles.
