Last-minute travel insurance

Do I need travel insurance? 

Yes, and it’s best to get travel insurance as soon as you book your trip. That way you’ll be covered for cancellation or if your airline goes into administration.

The sooner you book your travel insurance, the better, but you can still get travel insurance right at the last minute, or even when you’re already abroad.

Travel insurance on the day of departure

If you book last minute, you might not be able to get cancellation cover - it’s unlikely you’ll be covered for missed flights either. But, even if you buy last minute your travel insurance should include:

• Medical care
• Repatriation
• Lost luggage
• Delays and disruption

You can make the most of cancellation cover by taking out a policy as soon as you buy your holiday. You'll be covered straight away.

There will be exclusions, so make sure you check the policy details to see exactly what’s covered - it’s one way to pass the time on a long flight.

Buying travel insurance when you’re already abroad

If you’re already abroad when you realise you don’t have travel insurance, you can get travel insurance that begins straight away.

Alternatively, you could get specialist post-departure travel insurance.

Getting travel insurance when you’re already on holiday might cost more than usual - as you’re buying it last minute. Or, it could end up being cheaper, because insurers won’t need to worry about your trip being cancelled before you travel.

Why should I buy travel insurance in advance?

If you get travel insurance at the last minute, you could miss out on important cover.

For example, if you have a pre-existing medical condition, it could be more difficult to get a policy to cover your specific health needs.

Any claims you do make will be scrutinised extra carefully, which could cause delays. It's likely you'll have to provide additional proof that your claim happened after you had taken out your policy.