Two places you should never buy travel insurance - it could cost you £1,000s

09 February 2024 , 12:21

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Travel insurance should be taken out as soon as you book (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Brits who are planning a holiday abroad this summer are being urged not to leave their travel insurance to the last minute - as it could invalidate your claim.

Research from Aviva shows that over one in nine holidaymakers going away this year (12%) plan to purchase travel insurance either at the airport or when they have arrived at their destination. But doing this could mean you won’t be covered if something was to go wrong on your trip.

Kelly Whittington, Director of Travel Claims at Aviva, explained: “This is for a couple of reasons – firstly, because most insurers will state that all journeys must start from the UK. Secondly, you wouldn’t be covered for a journey that has already begun (which technically counts as soon as you’ve left your front door).”

Recent research from Aviva reveals that over a third of Brits (35%) are choosing to holiday in the UK this year, and 37% are opting to holiday abroad. But one in nine UK holidaymakers who plan on going away admit to never purchasing travel insurance.

There are other things to consider when booking travel insurance, including checking you've declared all medical conditions to avoid a potentially expensive medical bill when abroad. If you're booking a winter sports holiday, Aviva also says you should check if your policy covers you for all the activities you plan on doing.

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Finally, read through your existing insurance policies that you already have - for example, if you have home insurance - to see if you have personal belongings cover. This could cover your items outside of the home, anywhere in the world and could mean you don't need to protect your items through travel insurance.

How to find cheap travel insurance

You can use a search comparison website such as Compare the Market or Moneysupermarket to check the latest prices for travel insurance. You'll need to enter details about yourself, such as your age, as well as information about your trip, including where you're going and for how long.

Remember to check the level of cover carefully, as the cheapest policies may not necessarily provide all the protection you need. For example, you'll need to look at the levels of medical expenses and cancellation cover, as well as how much personal belongings insurance you get. Depending on the type of cover you've got, you may be able to claim on anything from medical expenses to your luggage going missing.

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