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Cheap travel insurance
Get annual cover from £13/year, or less for single-trip cover
As more and more pandemic-related restrictions relax, many are booking to leave the UK for the first time in a couple of years. Travel insurance remains as vital as ever, and most policies now cover Covid medically. A few even offer wider protection, though no policies cover all scenarios. We take you through what to watch out for, then give you our top-pick travel insurance policies.
Warning! Know the risks if you book a trip, as restrictions can change at any time
Before you book a trip, be aware that with most travel insurers:
- You won't be covered for cancellation if entry restrictions in your destination mean you can't go on your trip.
- You won't be covered for ANYTHING if you travel to a country or region against the advice of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).
As travel rules can change quickly, book flexibly where you can, and understand what is and isn't covered by your travel insurance so you know what financial risk you're taking on. For more info, see our Coronavirus travel rights guide.
- Over 65? See our Over-65s' travel insurance guide.
- Medical conditions? See Pre-existing conditions.
- Staycation planned? See UK travel insurance.

What is travel insurance?

The aim of travel insurance is to cover the cost of the unforeseen, such as illness and injury or theft of your personal possessions while you're on holiday. It's also designed to cover you if you have to cancel your trip before you go, or if you need to return early due to an emergency.
However, it's not designed to cover every eventuality or every loss or inconvenience that you experience while on holiday. Read this guide carefully so you know what is (and isn't) covered.
What does travel insurance cover?
Here's what a good travel insurance policy should cover you for as standard, for normal 'non-covid' related reasons... (we've detailed Covid cover below).
While you can expect an insurer to pay out for most of the above, the exact level of cover will vary by policy – so check the terms carefully before you buy.
You also won't be covered for any of the above if you're travelling to a country the Foreign Office is warning against travel to, whether that's because of its coronavirus levels or for other reasons eg war or terrorism. If you do need to travel to one of these countries, you'll need specialist cover.
What Covid-related issues does a travel insurance policy cover?
Any pandemic is a major concern for any prospective travel, but working out exactly what a policy covers isn't always straightforward. In the table below, we've summarised the level of cover you can expect when it comes to Covid-related cancellations.
Covid-related cancellation cover you can typically expect
Scenario | Covered by a travel insurance policy? |
You/family member can't travel as you test positive for Covid-19. | Most DO, unless travelling against Government advice. |
You test positive for Covid-19 overseas and need to extend trip and/or get medical help. | Most DO, unless travelling against Government advice. |
You/family member can't travel as told to isolate by NHS (though this is no longer a legal requirement in England). | SOME cover this – check with your insurer. |
Government restrictions in the UK mean you can't travel, such as a lockdown or change in FCDO travel advice. | FEW cover this – check with your insurer. |
Overseas government restrictions mean you can't travel, such as lockdowns and quarantine on entry. | Generally NOT covered (though a few cover cancelling pre-booked accommodation). |
You can't go as you're not willing/able to meet quarantine requirements on return to the UK (if applicable). | Generally NOT covered (though a few cover hotel quarantine costs if you choose to travel). |
Can't travel as you don't feel safe going. | NOT covered – travel insurance never covers 'disinclination to travel'. |
In short, you're generally covered if you catch coronavirus before your trip or while on it. We've also focused our top-pick policies on those which cover you if you've been told to self-isolate and can't go on the trip, though this is by no means standard.
Most cover stops there, however there are a handful of travel insurers that provide some cover for cancellations due to national or local lockdowns in the UK, as well as changing Foreign Office advice.
As no policy is completely comprehensive as regards Covid and cancellation, it's still best to book flexible, easily cancellable flights and hotels so you can cancel or rearrange your trip if you're caught by restrictions. Our Coronavirus travel rights guide has more information about your rights to cancel/move your trip, or get refunds from your provider.
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Book flexibly and pay on plastic for extra protection
Travel insurance provides valuable last-resort protection, but it's best used in combination with other ways to minimise the risk of losing money on a trip...
- Book easily cancellable or flexible flights and accommodation. Hedge towards offers with no/low deposits or those that give refunds or let you rebook for free if you find you can't go.
- Pay on plastic. Credit cards offer strong protection as Section 75 refund rules mean for items costing more than £100, the card provider is jointly liable – though note that bookings via travel agents may not be covered as it usually only covers payments made directly to the travel provider.
Debit cards also have some protection under the 'chargeback' refund rules (but these aren't legal requirements and firms sometimes challenge them).
Yet for both schemes, you'll only be covered if the service wasn't provided, for example if the flight was cancelled or the accommodation was shut. These card schemes won't cover you if you weren't able to, or didn't want to, go on the trip.
- Package holidays can offer greater protection. If an airline or accommodation provider cancels, then you're entitled to a refund. But if the trip or flight is still going ahead but you can no longer travel, such as a new travel warning from the Foreign Office banning all but essential travel, then you have few or no rights.
However, most package holiday providers won't operate holidays to countries where a travel restriction has been put in place, so they are more likely to cancel the trip anyway.
10 travel insurance need-to-knows
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As we highlighted above, travel insurance still covers a large range of unforeseen events, even if you won't be able to completely cover yourself for coronavirus-related events. It's still vital to get before you go away – and here are a few things you need to know before you choose a policy...
Use our cheap travel insurance finder tool
You or a family member can't travel as you test positive for Covid-19 or you get Covid overseas and have to pay medical bills or accommodation costs as you need to isolate.
But you won't be covered if there are UK Government Covid restrictions that mean you can't travel, or the Foreign Office is advising against travel to your destination. If you'd like additional Covid cover, such as cancellation cover if Government advice were to change, see our top picks for extra Covid cover, from £33/week.

There are a few policies that go slightly further than the rest, providing cancellation cover if you're unable to travel due to a change in the UK Government's travel restrictions. All the policies here meet our normal minimum cover levels, with these higher limits:
- £5,000 cancellation cover per person (M&S Bank is £4,000 as standard)
- £10 million medical and repatriation expenses per person
They also offer the following cover for Covid-19 (do check the claim limits):
You/family member can't travel as you test positive for Covid-19 or you get Covid overseas and have to pay medical bills or accommodation costs as you need to isolate.
UK Government Covid restrictions mean you can't travel and need to cancel, such as a change in FCDO travel advice.
Though you still can't think of this as complete coverage as there are still many scenarios you're not covered for, for example, if the Foreign Office advises against travel to your destination and you still travel, or you can't travel due to not having the correct entry documentation or being unable or unwilling to meet quarantine rules on entry and/or return.
Top travel insurance with extra Covid cover for under-66s
TABLE_CELL_STYLE | Europe | Worldwide | TABLE_CELL_STYLE | ||
Insurer | Individual – price from (i) | Family (i)(ii) | Individual – price from (i) | Family (i)(ii) | Excess |
Top single-trip policies. Prices here are for a one week trip. | |||||
Churchill (iii) | £32.54 | £47.57 | £72.91 | £103.44 | £50 |
M&S Bank (iii) | £34.31 | £72.69 | £50 | £139.32 | £50 (iv) |
Aviva (iii) (v) | £37.71 | £94.21 | £44.64 | £167.85 | £50 |
Top annual policies. If you go away 2+ times a year. | |||||
M&S Bank (iii) | £68 | £165.35 | £99.73 | £326.63 | £50 (iv) |
Direct Line (iii) | £69.89 | £101.57 | £149.40 | £180.36 | £50 |
Churchill (iii) | £73.94 | £74.14 | £167.95 | £168.34 | £50 |
Aviva (iii)(iv) | £78.38 | £220.02 | £78.38 | £342.59 | £50 |
Top annual travel insurance via fee-paying bank accounts. These could be cheaper than those above for families making a worldwide trip, but require you to open a new current account. | |||||
Nationwide FlexPlus | £13/month rolling cost (£156/year) – also includes European breakdown cover and mobile phone insurance. | £50 | |||
Barclays Travel Pack | £12.50/month rolling cost (six-month minimum term, so min £75 or £150/year) – also includes European breakdown cover. You need a Barclays current account to add this on. | £50 |
Prices correct as of February 2022.
(i) Price will vary depending on your age.
(ii) Based on two adults aged 40 and two children aged 10 and 15 travelling.
(iii) Baggage cover is an optional extension, which we've included in the price.
(iv) Price includes optional extra to reduce excess from £100 to £50.
(v) Price includes travel disruption cover, which is required for the extra Covid cover.

Travel insurance if you're travelling against Foreign Office advice
If you decide to travel to a country that has a Foreign Office warning against travel (though note we're not encouraging you to do so) and are looking for insurance to cover the trip, we've found some policies that give some level of cover. Here's how it works...
- You WILL be covered for normal medical issues while overseas.
- You WILL have cover for the normal scenarios that travel insurance covers, such as loss of belongings, theft and so on.
- You MAY NOT have cover if you catch coronavirus overseas, so check the policy.
Here are some insurers to consider:
Insurer | Cover as standard, or optional extension? | Covid-19 covered medically? | Cancellation cover for Covid-19? |
Battleface* | Standard | Yes – with repatriation cover | No |
Insurefor.com* | Standard (but only for single-trip travel to Europe) | Yes – with repatriation cover | Yes, but ONLY if insured or family member diagnosed with coronavirus |
Leisure Guard* | Standard (but only for single-trip travel to Europe) | Yes – with repatriation cover | Yes, but ONLY if insured or family member diagnosed with coronavirus |
Staysure* | Optional – add "European Foreign Office travel advice extension" | Yes – if you've had all Covid vaccinations offered to you by the NHS | Yes, but ONLY if insured or family member diagnosed with coronavirus and you’ve had all Covid vaccinations offered to you by the NHS |
Still can't get cover or not happy with the price?
Specialist brokers can help you find insurers that cover non-standard trips, or help you if medical conditions mean you're struggling to find an affordable policy. To find one, see the British Insurance Brokers' Association website.
Always double-check the level of cover offered before taking out a policy as well as providers' websites for any info about coronavirus. Your broker should also be able to help you with any questions you have.
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How to claim on your travel insurance
Claiming on your travel insurance shouldn't be daunting and – if you understand the terms and the excesses on your policy – you shouldn't be in for any nasty shocks. Follow the five steps below if you do need to make a claim.
- Submit your claim as soon as possible. Contact your insurer as soon as you can. Some parts of your policy may have a short window to submit a claim and it may take a while to be processed.
- Get your insurer to accept a medical claim before you get treatment. If you need to make a medical claim – and it's not an emergency – get your insurer to accept the claim over the phone first. For example, if you sprained your ankle, call your insurer – if it accepts the claim then, you're less likely to be faced with a rejected claim later down the line. For obvious reasons, don't delay treatment if it's an emergency.
- Notify the police if it's a theft or loss. If something goes missing or is stolen when you are abroad you may need to get a crime reference number or the overseas equivalent to make a successful claim. Report the incident to the police as soon as you can – you often have to do it within 24 hours to be able to claim – to make sure your claim doesn't hit the skids.
- Keep receipts. If you are claiming for lost luggage or delay, remember to keep receipts of essential items you have bought in the interim, such as food and drink. Many insurers allow you to add these expenses to a claim and may ask for receipts as proof.
- Complain if you feel your claim was unfairly rejected. If your insurance company rejects your claim, and you think it has done so wrongly, do not take it lying down. Complain to the free Financial Ombudsman. This independent adjudicator will make the final decision on a claim if you are locked in a dispute with your insurer. For more on how to make a complaint, read our Financial rights guide, or see our section below.
How to complain about your insurance provider
The insurance industry doesn't have the best customer-service reputation and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others.
Common problems include claims either not being paid out on time or at all, unfair charges, or exclusions being hidden in small print. It's always worth trying to call your provider first, but, if not, then…
You can use free complaints tool Resolver. The tool helps you manage your complaint, and if the company doesn't play ball, it also helps you escalate your complaint to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.
Travel insurance FAQs

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