One in five holidaymakers didn’t take out travel insurance for their last trip abroad
Experts warn that travelling without insurance could turn an exciting trip into a financial or logistical nightmare
More than one in five holidaymakers (22%) travelled without insurance for their last trip abroad, new research from Go.Compare Travel has revealed.
When asked why they didn’t take out travel insurance, more than a third (36%) thought they didn’t need it, 31% said it was because it was just ‘a short trip’, and a quarter (25%) said it was too expensive.
The research also found that, of those who DID take travel insurance out, nearly a quarter (23%) ended up needing to make a claim. The most common reasons for these claims were lost baggage (30%), transport delays (29%), and medical expenses (28%).*
Rhys Jones, spokesperson for Go.Compare Travel Insurance, said that travelling without insurance exposes holidaymakers to a variety of risks which can transform a dream trip into a costly and stressful ordeal.
He explained: “No matter where you are planning to head off, it’s important to make sure that you have adequate travel insurance in place in advance of your trip. If you fall ill or get injured while abroad, medical expenses can be extremely high, especially in countries without free healthcare. Without insurance, you may have to pay out of pocket for treatment, hospital stays, or even medical transportation back home.
“Our research shows that the majority of those who needed to make a claim did so due to lost baggage and transport delays. Flights can be cancelled, delayed, or disrupted due to unforeseen events such as bad weather, strikes, or personal emergencies. Without coverage, you might lose money on non-refundable bookings.
“Lost luggage, stolen passports, or missing valuables can be costly and stressful to replace. Travel insurance often helps with reimbursement and assistance in these situations.”
Rhys recommends buying travel insurance as soon as you’ve booked your trip.
He said: “The best time to book travel insurance is as soon as you’ve made any financial commitments toward your trip, such as booking flights, accommodation, or tours. That way, you’ll have more comprehensive options and peace of mind knowing you’re protected long before your journey begins. Buying travel insurance might not be the most exciting part of planning a trip, but it’s one of the smartest.
“Recent data from Go.Compare revealed that over a quarter of holidaymakers (27%) wait until the day of departure to buy travel insurance, which leaves them completely unprotected against issues that could arise before their trip. Those buying a travel policy last minute leave themselves at risk, as they won’t be covered for any issues that arise in the run-up to their holiday, before their policy is in place – for instance, airline closures or issues with accommodation.
“The best type of travel insurance for you will depend on how often you plan to travel, where you’re going and for how long. Make sure you shop around, read the fine print, and compare coverage options from different providers and choose a plan that matches your trip. If you’re going on an adventure holiday, for example, ensure activities like skiing or scuba diving are covered.”
For more information about the different types of travel insurance, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/
//ENDS//
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
*The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,000 UK nationally representative consumers, aged 18+. The stats throughout the release refer to the UK nationally representative consumers, aged 18+. The data was collected between 18.03.2025-21.03.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.
For further information please contact:
Lynsey Walden on lynsey.walden@gocompare.com, or Kath Chadwick on Kathryn.chadwick@gocompare.com
Keep up-to-date with Go.Compare on Twitter; @GoCompare
About Go.Compare
Go.Compare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.
It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. Go.Compare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.
When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.
Go.Compare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover.
Go.Compare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.