When should my travel insurance start?

  • Updated

Travel insurance must cover the entire trip from leaving the UK to returning. Policies must start before the trip begins and trips must start and end in the UK. Single Trip policies start on the trip date and cover the whole trip, with cancellation cover starting upon purchase or policy commencement. Annual Multi-Trip policies cover trips starting after the policy start date, with cancellation cover starting from booking or policy start date. Coverage cannot begin after a trip has started.

Your travel insurance must cover your whole trip, from the date you leave the UK until the date you return to the UK.

We do not offer partial trip cover. Your policy must start before your trip begins, and your trip must start and end in the UK. Cover cannot begin after you have already left the UK.


Single Trip policies

Your Single Trip policy should start on the date your trip begins.

The policy must cover the whole trip. There is no cover if your trip starts before your insurance starts.

If your Single Trip policy includes Cancellation cover, cancellation cover starts as soon as you buy the policy, or from the commencement date shown on your policy schedule.

You can buy a Single Trip policy up to 365 days before your trip start date.


Annual Multi-Trip policies

Your Annual Multi-Trip policy should start before any trip you want covered begins.

The policy must cover each whole trip. If a trip starts before your policy start date, that trip is not covered.

You can choose a start date for your 12-month period of cover up to 60 days in advance.

For each trip, if your policy includes Cancellation cover, cancellation cover starts from the later of:
  • the date you book the trip; or
  • the start date shown on your policy schedule.

Important

You cannot buy cover for a trip that has already begun.

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