It’s an issue that crops up time and time again – when should you buy travel insurance?
I work in the travel team here at PayingTooMuch.com and customers are always ringing me up asking for an annual policy to start the day before they travel. Or some customers will wait until the day before they travel to purchase a single-trip policy. Would you buy a brand new car and leave it uninsured on the road when you aren’t using it? No. So why leave your holiday uninsured?
Too early – don’t buy insurance until you’ve booked your holiday
For many people with pre-existing medical conditions the cost of travel insurance is significant, so needs to be taken into consideration when booking a holiday. Make sure you get a quote before booking, but don’t get carried away with our amazing prices and buy insurance before you book your holiday.
Your dates will need to match exactly on your holiday booking and your travel insurance. Amendments can be costly, and are just a hassle you don’t want, so it’s best to get it all correct the first time.
Best time – just after booking your holiday
The ideal time to purchase travel insurance is just after you book your holiday. Cancelation cover will offer you insurance against the purchase of your holiday and will refund you the cost if you, or anyone on your policy, becomes sick or injured and is unable to travel.1 Can you afford to loose the cost of your holiday if you can’t travel?
Common mistake – the day before you travel
Waiting until the day before you travel to buy a policy means you have not actually insured your holiday. Practically, you’ve only insured your medical needs whilst away. Although it’s important to have medical cover in place, you’ve missed one of the major reasons for buying travel insurance.
Cruise cover is compulsory, so why wait?
If you’re off on a cruise, your cruise operator will mandate that you have travel insurance. So why wait?
Recently a couple were left unable to go on their cruise after one of the travellers contracted a life-changing condition six months before she was due to travel. She had no travel insurance and subsequently lost her deposit.
For any questions on travel insurance, or to get a quote on the telephone, please call the travel team on 01243 784000.
1. Cancelation cover is subject to a per-person excess
