1. Home
  2. Travel insurance
  3. Last Minute Travel Insurance

Last minute travel insurance

Compare quotes and find last minute travel insurance

Retrieve quote
  • Compare policies from up to 431 UK travel insurers

  • Tailor your policy with add-ons like gadget cover or business cover

  • Find cover for a range of pre-existing medical conditions

1Correct as of February 2025

Compare last minute travel insurance quotes

Leaving it until the last minute to buy travel insurance can make it a bit harder to find cover. That's where we can help. Comparing quotes is the easiest way to find a policy, even at the last minute!

Number 1 icon

Fill out our quote form

We'll need a few bits of information, including your destination, departure date, and how long you're travelling for.

Number 2 icon

Tell us who you want to cover

Travelling with others? It can be cheaper to buy a joint policy rather than individual ones.

Number 3 icon

Compare policies and prices

We'll run your details past the panel of insurers we work with to show you a list of quotes. All you have to do is compare them to find the one that best suits you!

1Correct as of February 2025

When is it too late to buy travel insurance?

Generally, you can buy travel insurance up until you go through customs or leave the UK.

If you're already travelling, you might not be able to get travel insurance as easily. It's not impossible to find cover, but it'll probably cost more and might not be as comprehensive.

Your insurer might also delay the start of your cover by a couple of days to run fraud checks. So, you risk being unprotected for the beginning of your holiday.

What does last minute travel insurance cover?

It depends on when you buy your last minute travel insurance. Because generally you're buying your travel insurance at the last minute, you probably won't be covered for anything in the lead up to your trip. For example, if you need to cancel your holiday due to illness or bereavement.

But you should be covered for some things once your last minute travel insurance activates. This includes:

  • Medical treatment abroad. If you need medical care during your trip, travel insurance can cover your bills.
  • Repatriation cover. If you need to be transported home for things like medical care, your insurance can cover the costs.
  • Baggage cover. If your bags are lost, damaged or stolen, your travel insurance can cover the cost of replacement items.
  • Third party liability. If you injure a third party or damage their property and incur legal fees as a result, your travel insurance can cover them.
  • Curtailment cover. If you need to cut your trip short, travel insurance can cover the costs. The event that causes the curtailment must have occurred after you purchased a travel insurance policy and it was activated.

What isn't covered by travel insurance?

There are a few common exclusions to look out for with travel insurance. It's important to carefully read your policy documents to ensure you understand what isn't covered. Here are some typical exclusions:

  • Cancellation cover. You won’t be covered if you need to cancel your holiday before you’ve purchased a travel insurance policy.
  • Incidents that occur under the influence. Your insurer won’t cover anything that happened while you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Undeclared medical conditions. If you don’t tell your insurer about a medical condition and then require medical care because of it, it’s unlikely that your medical bills will be covered.
  • Travelling against FCDO advice. If you decide to travel to a country that the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises against, your insurance won’t cover you.
  • Certain sports or activities. Higher-risk activities like skiing or scuba diving are unlikely to be covered on a standard travel insurance policy.

When will my travel insurance cover begin?

If you buy last minute travel insurance, your insurer might delay the start of your cover for a day or 2. This is so that they can run fraud checks.

When is the best time to buy travel insurance?

You should aim to buy your travel insurance as soon as you've booked your holiday. That way, you're covered if anything happens in the run-up to your trip that means you have to cancel.

For example, if you fall ill or lose your job, or if something happens in your destination causing you to be unable to travel.

What our travel insurance expert says

"So you've forgotten to buy your travel insurance. We understand, not everyone thinks about insurance as much as we do. Luckily, you can buy travel insurance on the day you travel. You can even buy it at the airport as long as you haven't been through customs or left the UK."
Alvaro Iturmendi - Confused.com travel insurance expert
Travel insurance expert Confused.com logo

Frequently asked questions

Can I make last minute changes to my travel insurance policy?

This depends on a couple of things. Firstly, it'll depend on your insurer. Some insurers will let you make amendments to your policy. Secondly, it'll depend on what the changes are. For example, if you decide you want to go skiing, your insurer might let you add winter sports insurance to your policy.

The best way to check is to contact them directly. Just bear in mind that you'll probably have to pay for any cover you add.

Can I buy travel insurance if I'm already abroad?

'Post departure' or 'already travelling' insurance exists, but it can be difficult to find. It's also often much more expensive.

You might also have to wait a few days for the insurance policy to activate. That's so the insurance company can run fraud checks.

Can I extend my travel insurance policy while I'm travelling?

This depends on your insurer, so we'd advise speaking to them. But many insurers will let you extend an existing policy as long as you contact them before it expires.

Keep in mind that if something has happened during your trip, your insurer might not cover it for the extension.

We compare 43 trusted travel insurance companies1 to find you our best deals

Related travel insurance guides

Looking for something else?

Confused.com’s Travel Insurance solution is provided by theIdol.com. theidol.com is a trading style of Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered office; Investment Discounts On-Line Ltd, One Coleman Street, London, EC2R 5AA. Registered in England no: 04231834. theidol.com is part of the Legal & General group.

Our service is free and compares a wide range of trusted household names. Confused.com is an intermediary and receives commission from theidol.com if you decide to buy through our website which is based on a percentage of the total annual premium. We pride ourselves on impartiality and independence – therefore we don't promote any one insurance provider over another.