Comparing travel insurance is essential before going on holiday. Having travel cover in place protects against major problems, from flight cancellations to theft and injury.

And with the cost of holidays for summer 2025 up 4.2 per cent on average, according to Which? Travel, many Britons will be considering ways to cut costs.

Getting cheaper travel insurance is one way to do so.

But there's much to consider when buying travel cover:

• What are your requirements?
• Will a cheaper policy provide the cover you need?
• What are the implications for buying cover if you have pre-existing medical conditions?

You might also be wondering whether you need travel insurance in the first place. Our view is it's unwise to scrimp on buying cover.

Travel insurance is widely available, generally affordable, and it's quick to compare travel insurance from major providers online. Here's what you need to know.

How to compare travel insurance: Our top tips

1. Shop around by using two or more price comparison websites

Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySupermarket, says comparing quotes online is the best way to assess different options and find the best deal.

Using a price comparison website allows you to shop around and get several quotes at the same time, meaning you can check all your options quickly.

It's best to check more than one price comparison website when comparing travel insurance.

Not all insurance companies appear on every price comparison website. Using at least two websites should mean you've compared as many options as possible.

This might feel onerous, but it can help you secure the best deal.

2. Check quotes with the travel insurance provider directly

Comparison sites are great for checking options for travel insurance quickly, but it's also worth comparing prices directly with the insurer.

Keep in mind not all insurers are on price comparison websites, so you may have options outside of the quotes you're given by these services.

And if you have specific needs, going to a broker is a good bet. For example, those with pre-existing medical conditions may still be able to find cover from a travel insurance intermediary or broker, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).  

3. Check other policy options 

You can buy travel insurance solo, as a couple, as a family or as a larger group.

'If you're going on a holiday with multiple people it's worth checking if a group or family policy could be cheaper than individual cover,' says Alicia Hempsted.

She also told us that a multi-trip policy can work out best if you take more than three trips a year.

4. Find out whether you already have travel insurance elsewhere

Some bank accounts and credit cards offer perks that sometimes include travel insurance.

This means one way to save money is to check whether you're already covered.

But even if you've already got travel insurance through an existing financial product, it's a good idea to scrutinise what it actually covers so you're not caught out while on holiday. 

You may still need additional protection, for example if you're planning on taking part in riskier activities.

5. Make sure travel cover offers the protection you need 

Using a price comparison website is a quick way to check all your options for travel insurance, but it's important to look beyond the cheapest option or the one that shows at the top of your quote results.

'When you're looking for travel insurance, medical, lost luggage and cancellation cover are the key things to check the level of cover for,' Alicia says.

'Remember, the cheapest option isn't always the best fit, so be sure to read the policy details and assess your travel needs before buying your policy. 

'If you have any type of existing medical condition, it's vital that this is declared on your travel insurance prior to booking to ensure your policy isn't invalidated should you need to make a claim.'

6. Make sure you would be able to afford the excess 

Increasing the excess you'd be prepared to pay when making a claim can result in cheaper travel insurance.

But it's vital to check all the fees involved in making a claim. If you can't pay, the excess may be deducted from the payout or your claim may be rejected altogether.

You may have to pay multiple excesses when claiming for a single incident, if you're protected by more than one type of cover.

For example, if you're injured in a mugging and you turn to your policy to cover both emergency medical expenses and stolen cash, you may have to pay excess for each claim.

If a policy can give you the peace of mind that you wouldn't have to fork out a considerable amount in fees when claiming, it could be worth paying slightly more. 

7. Don't pay for more travel insurance than you need

Overestimating the amount of cover you need will result in a higher price for your travel insurance.

For example, you're normally asked how much cover you need for baggage and cancellation.

You'll be covered up to a set amount – the cover limit – and so you should make sure you buy a policy that's at least the amount you need.

However, if you've got £3,000 of baggage cover but the value of your belongings is just £1,000, it's possible you could've bought a cheaper policy. Just keep in mind that cheaper policies will usually ask that you pay more excess when making a claim.

What is travel insurance?

Travel insurance can protect you from the numerous risks involved with going away, both large and small. It can cover:

• lost or stolen luggage
• medical treatment
• delays and cancellations
• lost or stolen passports

When you hit a problem that's covered under your travel insurance policy, the payout ensures you're not significantly out of pocket.

Travel insurance is especially important when it comes to emergency medical expenses, because a bill abroad can end up being tens of thousands of pounds.

And people who get seriously ill or injured will need to be repatriated, which involves returning home while still receiving expert care, or because specialist care isn't available.

Types of travel insurance 

There are different types of travel insurance policy you can choose from. The price varies by type, but certain policies can work out cheaper in the long run, for example a policy that covers multiple trips rather than just one. 

Here are some examples:

Single or multi-trip travel insurance: If you're going on several trips over a year, check the cost of multi-trip travel insurance. It can work out cheaper than a policy that covers a single trip.

Individual cover or cover for multiple people: You can buy cover solo, or you can buy it as a couple, family or larger group. It can sometimes – but not always – be cheaper to buy joint or group policies, so make sure you check your options if you're not travelling alone.

Cover for more specific trips: Backpacker insurance covers longer trips, for example if you go travelling for 12 or 18 months. There's also sports travel insurance for riskier activities such as skiing, sailing and cycling.

We've covered buying cheaper policies for other types of insurance, including:

Do you need travel insurance?

Flight delays, cancellations and medical emergencies can leave travellers thousands of pounds out of pocket, so travel insurance is worth it for peace of mind.

Buying travel insurance isn't a legal requirement, but Government guidance recommends you purchase it as soon as possible after booking an international trip.

Citizens Advice also says it's essential – especially for solo travellers, who'll find it more difficult to get support when things go wrong and can end up getting stranded.

Travel insurance is also important to buy even if you have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which replaced the EHIC. These schemes cover medical emergencies at state-run hospitals in the EU.

However, they don't replace travel insurance. For starters, not all healthcare in the EU is free, plus neither the EHIC nor GHIC covers repatriation, rescue, or cancellation.

Is it possible to find cheaper travel insurance?

Travel insurance can be expensive depending on your requirements. The best way to get the cheapest deal is by entering your details into a price comparison website, which allows you to compare quotes from major providers quickly and with minimum fuss.

Our tips for comparing travel insurance are:

• compare quotes on two or more comparison websites
• check the price directly with the providers
• look at the excess costs carefully – it may be worth paying slightly more for a policy that means you'd pay less excess when making a claim

Even though you might want to cut costs, it's important the cover will pay out when you need it to, so check the policy information carefully before buying.

For example, if you have an expensive phone that gets stolen while you're on holiday, it might not be covered as standard. Insurance for gadgets is often an optional add-on.

And more importantly, what are the terms and conditions around paying out for medical expenses, or a lost passport?

You should be careful when it comes to the excess you'd need to pay in the event of a claim. Insurers compete on price comparison websites by offering low prices. But when you dig into the terms, it can be costly to claim on one of these policies.

How much is travel insurance?

According to MoneySupermarket data, the average price of travel insurance in 2025 is £16.15. This figure is the median price of travel insurance sold through the website in May 2025.

You can compare the cost of travel insurance at these price comparison websites: