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When should I book travel insurance?
Your destination, flights and accommodation are sorted. If you’re wondering when to buy travel insurance, it may not be too late
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When to book travel insurance may not be the first thing on your mind when planning your next dream holiday. You’ll likely be focusing on where to go, how to get there and where to stay. But accidents, illness and cancellations do happen and it is important to be prepared.
In recent years, travel insurers have paid out more than £1m a day in claims to distressed British travellers overseas.
This travel insurance guide will answer key questions such as what you need to know about travel insurance, when to buy it and ultimately, is travel insurance worth it?
Do I need travel insurance?
It is usually recommended that you buy travel insurance to help protect you financially from some of the risks involved in travel.
Travel insurance provides a safety net if you run into problems before or while you are on your holiday. It can cover cancellations and disruption to your plans, theft or loss of your personal possessions, and medical treatment or transport home in an emergency. It can also protect you from incurring costs if you accidentally injure someone else or cause damage to property while you’re away.
It is also important to note that some destinations or types of holiday, such as cruises, will require you to purchase travel insurance as a condition of travel or entry.
When should I buy travel insurance?
A common question travellers often ask is when should travel insurance start? The best time to buy travel insurance is at the same time you book your holiday. Whether you have merely booked your flight, paid a deposit or the balance in full, travel insurance protects you if you need to cancel the trip before your departure date due to certain unforeseen events that are outside of your control.
When is it too late to buy travel insurance?
It is not always possible to buy your policy early, so most insurers allow you to purchase travel insurance right up until the time you leave home. Once you have started your trip however, it is likely to be too late to buy cover for that particular holiday. With this in mind, it is wiser to purchase travel insurance sooner rather than later.
How long does travel insurance last?
This depends on the kind of travel insurance policy you buy. Before you purchase, it is important you ask yourself what type of travel insurance do I need?
Single trip travel insurance
When you buy single trip cover, your policy starts on the day you intend to leave home and ends on the day you intend to return from your holiday. From the moment you buy your policy, you are also covered against certain unexpected cancellations that occur before you embark on your trip.
Annual multi-trip travel insurance
If you are likely to take more than one trip over the course of a year, an annual multi-trip policy may be a better value option than buying individual policies for each trip. Your cover starts on the day you select as the policy start date, rather than the day you purchase the policy, and ends 12 months later. It will provide cover for trips you take within your chosen region throughout that period.
What travel insurance documents do I need to take?
It is a good idea to save a copy of your travel insurance policy somewhere accessible such as on your phone or laptop, or back it up online so you can easily refer to it in an emergency. It may also be wise to leave a copy with a friend or family member at home in case you need help making a claim while you are away.
Do I need to print travel insurance documents?
If you are travelling without a smartphone, laptop or tablet, or you are going somewhere with limited or unreliable internet access, it is a good idea to print your travel insurance policy documents and take them with you. That way you will have everything with you including emergency phone numbers and instructions on how to make a claim.
What other documents might I need?
If you have an existing medical condition, you should pack paperwork detailing your illness and any regular medications you take. This could be critical if you fall ill during your trip or you are in an accident.
Make sure you check the latest FCDO travel advice for your destination, including any specific entry rules or requirements.
If you are the victim of a crime or are involved in an accident during your trip, speak to the local police and ask for a police report with a reference number to support your claim.
Buy travel insurance today
If you are planning a holiday and want a travel insurance policy that offers comprehensive cover, the Telegraph Media Group Travel Insurance Service, provided by AllClear, may be able to help. It protects you in the event of a range of unexpected problems including cancellations, loss and theft, accidents and injuries. AllClear branded policies also include Covid-19 cover.
Read more:
- How much travel insurance do I need for the USA?
- Travel insurance Europe: How it works
- How to find the best travel insurance for diabetics
- What travel insurance do I need for Australia?
Telegraph Media Group Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of AllClear Insurance Services Limited, a company that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The above article was created for Telegraph Financial Solutions, a trading name of The Telegraph Media Group. For more information on Telegraph Financial Solutions click here.