One in four purchase travel insurance on the day they fly
Experts warn doing so leaves travellers unprotected and at risk
Over a quarter of holidaymakers (27%) wait until the day of departure to buy travel insurance, leaving them completely unprotected against issues that could arise before their trip, new data from Go.Compare Travel has revealed.
Analysis from the price comparison website shows that in 2024, alongside the 27% purchasing travel insurance on the day of their trip, a further quarter (26%) bought insurance within a week of their holiday. Another 25% of people purchased it one month in advance, while one in five secured it within six months of their vacation.
While the data revealed that the number of people leaving travel insurance until the day they travel has decreased by 6% in the last year, Go.Compare’s travel insurance experts warn the number is still too high – and travellers need to be aware of the risks of leaving it too late.
| When people purchase their single-trip travel insurance policy | 2024* | 2023** |
| Same day | 27% | 33% |
| Within a week | 26% | 29% |
| Within a month | 25% | 25% |
| Within six months | 19% | 13% |
| Over six months ago | 2% | 1% |
Rhys Jones, spokesperson for Go.Compare Travel Insurance, explained: “No matter where you are planning to head off to in 2025, it’s important to make sure that you have adequate travel insurance in place in advance of your trip.
“Those buying a travel policy last minute leave themselves at risk, as you won’t be covered for any issues that arise in the run-up to your holiday, before your policy is in place – for instance, airline closures or issues with your accommodation.
“A last-minute policy is also unlikely to include cancellation cover, and cancellation is one of the main reasons that people purchase a travel insurance policy. Those with pre-existing medical conditions could also be left without coverage. So, while it’s tempting to leave it until the last minute, a bit of planning could save you stress – and money – further down the line.”
While the data reveals that there are still a significant number of people purchasing travel insurance at the last minute, it also shows that couples are the most organised, with 28% purchasing their policies 6 months before going on holiday.
Meanwhile, individual travellers leave themselves the most vulnerable, with almost a third (31%) purchasing insurance on the day they travel, and only 16% buying it within 6 months.
| When people purchase their single-trip travel insurance policy | ||||
| Same day | Within a week | Within a month | Within 6 months | |
| Individuals | 31% | 27% | 42% | 16% |
| Families | 23% | 27% | 28% | 19% |
| Couples | 18% | 22% | 28% | 28% |
Rhys added, “To get the most out of your coverage, it’s best to book travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday. That way, you’ll have more comprehensive options and peace of mind knowing you’re protected long before your journey begins.”
For more information about the different types of travel insurance, visit: https://www.gocompare.com/travel-insurance/
Contact Information
Rubie Barker
Notes to editors
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Notes to editors
*Taken from all single-trip travel insurance policies sold in 2024 through Go.Compare. % have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
**Taken from all single-trip travel insurance policies sold in 2023 through Go.Compare. % have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
For further information please contact:
Lynsey Walden or Rubie Barker at Go.Compare on lynsey.walden@gocompare.com or Rubie@fdcomms.co.uk
Keep up-to-date with GoCompare 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/.