Without travel insurance you could be left out of pocket if anything unfortunate happens on holiday, like your belongings being stolen or needing urgent medical care. So we recommend buying a policy, even if you leave it until the last minute.
When’s the best time to buy travel insurance?
Ideally, the best time to buy travel insurance is when you book your holiday. You need to do it well ahead of time if:
- you or anyone on the policy has a pre-existing health condition to disclose – if your condition isn’t listed, you might need to call us to discuss your cover. Read our guide on travelling with a pre-existing condition.
- you intend on doing any hazardous activities (like bungee jumping or paragliding) while abroad – again, you’ll need to speak to us ahead of time to see if we can cover it if they're not listed in the policy book. You might need to pay an extra premium.
Booking your travel insurance ahead of time means you’ll be covered for any delays or cancellations.
Without it, you couldn’t claim compensation for cancelled accommodation, flights or any booked excursions.
While it’s best to try and book early, you can buy travel insurance with us the same day you leave for your trip if needed.
When is it too late?
You can buy a travel insurance policy even when you’re at the airport about to board the plane.
Most insurers, including us, offer travel insurance policies until you have gone through customs at the airport.
We can’t provide post-departure policies – once you’ve entered the country or are halfway through your trip.
This means you’d still be covered for the important stuff like medical care, repatriation and lost baggage, but a last-minute policy doesn’t usually include cancellation cover.
Read our guide on holiday cancellation cover.
When will my cover start?
Your cover usually starts the day you buy your policy or leave for your trip. This might be the same day.
With same-day travel insurance, there could be a delay of 24 hours before your policy begins, and you’d be able to claim if you needed to.
Can I use my GHIC/EHIC card?
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) are good to have when travelling anywhere in Europe but are not stand-ins for travel insurance.
You still need a travel insurance policy to be fully covered for emergency or non-emergency medical treatment and other incidents like theft of belongings or lost baggage.
The GHIC/EHIC is also not valid if you travel to any country outside of Europe.
Read our guide on the GHIC/EHIC card.
Annual travel insurance
We recommend getting annual insurance if you travel frequently or just have two or more trips booked this year.
Annual insurance covers you for every holiday you take in a year up to 31 days at a time.
This means that once you’ve bought your policy, you won’t have any last-minute panics for a year at least.
It also means you’ll have full cancellation cover for the year if you have to cancel or delay a trip for any reason.
FAQs
Is Admiral travel insurance good? There are many benefits to Admiral's travel cover, including its Covid-19 cover and high levels of cover for emergency medical claims. Its platinum level cover also has a five star rating from Defaqto.
Can I get travel insurance last minute? ›
In general, it's better to purchase a travel plan from an insurance company as soon as possible after booking. However, you can still get coverage for a spontaneous trip (or a planned vacation you decided to insure at the last minute).
How do I contact Admiral travel insurance? ›
If you wish to get in touch with them you can call them on 0800 138 7777 or find them online.
Does travel insurance cover last minute cancellations? ›
However, if you leave buying travel insurance until very close to your departure date, you will not get cancellation cover. Last minute travel insurance might also not cover certain medical conditions or more risky activities. And if you buy post-departure cover, there might be more exclusions to watch out for.
Is the admiral trustworthy? ›
Admirals is considered Highly Trusted, with an overall Trust Score of 93 out of 99. Admirals is not publicly traded, does not operate a bank, and is authorised by four Tier-1 regulators (Highly Trusted), two Tier-2 regulators (Trusted), zero Tier-3 regulators (Average Risk), and one Tier-4 regulator (High Risk).
How long do admiral claims take? ›
On average, claims usually take between six to twelve months to settle, but some cases can settle outside of this timescale. Your case handler will keep you updated with anticipated settlement times throughout the life of your claim with us.
What is not covered by travel insurance? ›
Reasonably foreseeable events. Known storms, epidemics, acts of war. Travel restrictions imposed by government authorities. Pre-existing conditions, unless the Premium plan is bought within the window for coverage.
How soon before a trip should you get travel insurance? ›
When Is the Best Time to Get Travel Insurance? If you're wondering when you should buy travel insurance, the simple answer is as soon as possible. Ideally, you'll buy coverage no later than 15 days prior to your trip.
How much in advance should I get travel insurance? ›
The golden rule is to buy your insurance as soon as you book your trip. This move will make you a savvy traveller because it means you're immediately protected against any pre-departure mishaps, like cancellations or health issues that prevent you from travelling.
Can I speak to someone at Admiral? ›
We have a few different ways to contact us, including Messaging, email and phone number. Choose your category and you'll get all the contact information you need, along with our opening times.
How to claim on your travel insurance
- Read your policy book. Check that we cover the event you want to claim for.
- Prepare your information. You'll need documents to support your claim.
- Contact us. Visit our make a claim page for our contact details or log into MyAccount.
Admiral travel insurance is underwritten by Admiral Insurance (Gibraltar) Limited.
How much does it cost to cancel a flight last minute? ›
In some cases, you can make changes to your itinerary with no fee. Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees can vary from as low as $25 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.
Is it rude to cancel a trip last minute? ›
“Once a commitment is made, unless you have a legitimate excuse, it's rude to cancel. Period,” says etiquette expert Lisa Grotts, founder of the Golden Rules Gal.
Will I get a refund with travel insurance if I cancel my flight? ›
Travel insurance reimburses the cost of nonrefundable travel plans if you need to cancel your flight for a covered reason. To receive reimbursem*nt, you must file a claim and submit supporting documentation that validates your eligibility to receive reimbursem*nt.
Does admiral travel insurance cover flight cancellations? ›
No, it's not a legal requirement but it gives you cover against things like cancelled holidays, missed transports, missing luggage and injury while abroad.
Who is the best and cheapest travel insurance? ›
The 7 Best Cheap Travel Insurance Companies Worth The Cost
| Company | BBB Rating | Cheapest Plan |
|---|
| Travelex Compare Plans | A+ | Travel basic |
| Seven Corners Travel Insurance Compare Plans | A+ | Trip Protection Basic |
| Generali Global Assistance Compare Plans | A+ | Standard Plan |
| AIG Travel Guard Compare Plans | A+ | Essential |
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What benefits do I get with Admiral's annual cover? Annual, multi trip travel insurance is perfect for regular holidaymakers and it can cover you whether you're in the UK, Europe or Worldwide.
