Shopping for travel insurance in the UK in 2025 means navigating a crowded field of comparison sites, each promising the cheapest deal. Compare the Market, one of the most recognised names, offers quotes from up to 44 providers. But price is only one part of the equation. Cover limits, age restrictions, and how medical conditions are handled vary significantly between policies, and the lowest upfront cost does not always translate into the best protection.
The UK travel insurance market has become more competitive over the past decade, driven by aggregators that let users compare dozens of policies side by side. Yet as premiums rise in 2025 due to medical inflation and an increase in weather-related claims, understanding exactly what you are buying matters more than ever. This article examines how Compare the Market works, what it offers for different traveller profiles, and where it stands relative to its main competitors.
How do I compare travel insurance quotes with Compare the Market?
The process on Compare the Market is straightforward. You enter your destination, trip dates, age of travellers, and any pre-existing medical conditions. The platform then returns quotes from its panel of 44 providers, sorted by price. Results can be filtered by cover level, excess amount, and specific add-ons such as cruise or winter sports cover.
Price Range: From £0.88/day (Go Compare) to £1.03 (Compare the Market). Providers Compared: 44 on Compare the Market, 40+ on MoneySuperMarket. Best For: Single trip, annual multi-trip, and specialist cover including cruise and winter sports. Trust Score: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot (Go Compare).
Key insights from the comparison process
- Compare the Market quotes from up to 44 providers, but cheaper quotes can come with fewer medical cover options.
- Adding pre-existing conditions can increase the premium by more than 50 percent, but some providers such as Aviva and LV= specialise in this area.
- Annual multi-trip cover is typically cheaper than buying three or more single-trip policies per year.
- Post Office and Tesco travel insurance often appear among the five cheapest quotes on comparison platforms.
- Cruise and winter sports policies are niche products; not all 44 providers offer them, so the number of relevant quotes drops to around 8 to 15.
Key facts at a glance
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total providers (Compare the Market) | 44 |
| Total providers (MoneySuperMarket) | 40+ |
| Advertised minimum price (Go Compare) | £0.88 per day |
| Advertised minimum price (Compare the Market) | £1.03 per day |
| Common medical cover limit | £1 million to £10 million |
| Common baggage cover limit | £1,500 to £3,000 |
| UK trip cover available | Yes, on most annual policies |
| Pre-existing condition filter | Yes, 5 to 15 providers will quote based on declaration |
Compare the Market earns commission from insurers each time a policy is sold through its platform. This commission model means the site has an incentive to feature a broad range of providers, but it does not necessarily push the cheapest or most suitable policy to the top for every user. Discount codes occasionally appear through the meerkat rewards programme or partner cashback sites such as TopCashback and Quidco, but these are not always available.
What is the cheapest travel insurance on Compare the Market?
The cheapest travel insurance on Compare the Market depends heavily on your age, destination, and health status. For a 20-year-old with no pre-existing conditions taking out annual multi-trip cover, Compare the Market shows example prices of about £9.25 for Europe and £31.55 for worldwide cover, based on data from April 2026. These figures are promotional examples rather than guaranteed market averages, but they illustrate the pricing floor for low-risk travellers.
Single trip versus annual multi-trip
Single-trip cover is usually the better choice for one holiday and often provides more robust coverage for that specific journey. Annual multi-trip cover makes financial sense if you travel two or three times a year or more, since one policy lasts 12 months and the cost per trip is lower. Compare the Market confirms that annual cover is designed to protect multiple trips within a year and can include UK, European, or worldwide options.
Europe versus worldwide cover
Travel insurance for Europe is almost always cheaper than worldwide cover. The risk profile is lower, medical costs within the EU are partially covered by the GHIC scheme for UK travellers, and policy limits do not need to account for expensive destinations such as the United States. Which? data shows that single-trip European policies for travellers aged 25 to 34 without pre-existing conditions start from around £21, while worldwide cover for the same profile costs more.
Which? compared 47 UK travel insurance companies and found that single-trip cover for ages 25-34 without pre-existing conditions averaged £21, rising to £49 for ages 65-79. With pre-existing conditions, the range went from £31 to £105 across the same age bands. For multi-trip cover, prices ranged from £40 (ages 25-34, no conditions) to £232 (ages 65-79, with conditions).
Does Compare the Market travel insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Pre-existing medical conditions must be declared when you request a quote on Compare the Market. The platform will only show policies from insurers that agree to cover those conditions without exclusions after reviewing the information provided. For more serious or complex conditions, Compare the Market directs users to the MoneyHelper provider directory, which lists specialist insurers that may offer appropriate cover.
Which? data confirms that pre-existing conditions are one of the biggest price drivers in travel insurance. A traveller aged 65 to 79 with a pre-existing condition can expect to pay roughly double the premium of someone in the same age bracket without one. Post Office also states that it considers all health issues disclosed at the quote stage and notes that long-term illness may still be covered for related medical issues abroad.
Over-65s and older travellers
Age limits and trip-length restrictions become more pronounced as travellers get older. MoneySuperMarket shows that travel insurance becomes more expensive from age 65 onward, but quotes are still available. Its example for over-65s lists Coverwise Bronze at £7.50 with £1,500 cancellation and £1,750 baggage cover, based on pricing data for age 85 and above from April 2026.
Post Office provides detailed guidance on age caps. On its single-trip policies, the maximum insured trip length drops from 365 days for travellers up to age 70, to 90 days for ages 71 to 75, and 31 days for those aged 76 and above. For multi-trip policies, Post Office sets a maximum entry age of 75 across its Economy, Standard, and Premier tiers, with each trip normally limited to 31 days unless extended for an extra premium.
Some insurers stop offering cover at older ages. Post Office single-trip policies reduce the maximum trip length from 365 days (up to age 70) to just 31 days for travellers aged 76 and over. Always check the policy wording for age-related restrictions before buying.
Specialist provider Good To Go says it has no upper age limit and is designed for travellers with medical conditions as well as those over 65. This makes it a relevant option for travellers who may not receive competitive offers from mainstream comparison platforms.
Is Compare the Market or MoneySuperMarket better for travel insurance?
Both platforms offer broad comparison panels, but they differ in focus. Compare the Market is strong for its clear annual multi-trip information and guidance on declaring medical conditions. MoneySuperMarket is more explicit about over-65 pricing and shows concrete examples for older age bands, including prices for travellers aged 85 and above.
Go Compare and Confused.com are also widely used, but detailed price tables for these two platforms are not available in the sourced data. Based on how comparison sites operate, they are most useful for side-by-side shopping rather than guaranteeing the cheapest insurer for complex medical or age-related cases. That is consistent with how both Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket present their quotes.
Post Office is a direct provider rather than a pure comparison site, but its senior travel insurance guide makes it relevant for older travellers because it explains age caps, trip-length limits, and medical disclosure requirements. The Tesco Bank Car Insurance Review 2025 offers a related look at how another major brand structures its insurance products.
Best choice by traveller profile
- Cheapest single-trip: MoneySuperMarket or Compare the Market for broad quote comparison; Which? data shows the cheapest no-frills over-65 single-trip policies starting from about £19 per week.
- Cheapest annual multi-trip: Compare the Market or MoneySuperMarket if you travel several times a year; Which? shows over-65 annual prices starting from around £32 per year.
- Pre-existing medical conditions: Compare the Market if the condition is declared and accepted; Post Office also considers all health issues disclosed at quote stage.
- Over 65s: MoneySuperMarket, Which?, Post Office, and specialist providers such as Good To Go are more relevant because age affects both price and eligibility.
- Complex medical conditions: Good To Go specialises in this area and has no upper age limit.
When should I buy travel insurance before my trip?
- Immediate (today to 3 days): Get three to five quotes on Compare the Market, MoneySuperMarket, and Go Compare. The process takes about five minutes per platform.
- Within 7 days: Check specialty cover if needed, such as cruise or condition-specific policies. Specialist providers can be reached via aggregators or approached directly.
- 14 days before travel: Lock in either a single-trip or annual multi-trip policy. Buying earlier tends to secure a lower premium, though purchasing from 24 hours before departure is still permitted by most insurers.
- Day of travel: Carry a digital copy of the policy ID and the emergency contact number. All major providers offer PDF downloads of policy documents.
What is certain and what remains unclear when comparing travel insurance?
| Established information | Information that remains unclear |
|---|---|
| Comparing between at least two platforms yields price differences of 15 to 25 percent for identical coverage. | The cheapest quote shown on Compare the Market may not come from the fastest-claim-paying provider. |
| Pre-existing medical conditions must be declared; failure to do so risks claim denial. | Gadget and cancellation limits vary significantly even at the same price band; the policy wording must be read carefully. |
| Annual multi-trip policies cover unlimited trips within a 45 to 60 day limit per trip. | Brexit-changed EHIC and GHIC arrangements affect local medical cover, and not all comparison sites filter this clearly. |
How does the UK travel insurance market work in 2025?
Comparison sites such as Compare the Market earn commission per sale, which influences which policies they feature more prominently. The cheapest options are often from smaller underwriters that may have higher claim-time friction. Users should weigh cancellation and medical limits equally with price, especially for expensive trips or those with higher health risks.
The UK travel insurance market is highly competitive, with prices driven down by aggregators. However, 2025 sees rising premiums as medical inflation and climate events such as floods and heatwaves increase claim volumes. This means the cheapest quote today may be about 20 percent more expensive than it was in 2023. The FCA Consumer Duty regulation requires firms to deliver fair outcomes for customers, which has pushed some providers to improve policy clarity, but variations in cover wording remain common.
What do the comparison sites say about their own services?
“We look at travel insurance policies from 44 trusted insurance providers.”
Compare the Market
“Get up-to-date travel insurance quotes from the UK’s most trusted insurers.”
MoneySuperMarket
“Compare travel insurance from 44 UK providers with cover starting from £0.88 a day.”
Go Compare
These statements reflect the breadth of choice each platform offers. The actual experience depends on individual circumstances, particularly age and health status. For more context on how financial products compare across the market, the Sainsbury’s Foreign Exchange Rates 2025: Compare & Save guide provides a useful parallel on rate shopping.
What is the best way to compare travel insurance in 2025?
For healthy travellers under 65, comparison sites are usually the fastest route to a cheap single-trip or annual multi-trip policy. Those over 65 or with pre-existing medical conditions should use comparison sites to get an initial view, then check specialist providers such as Good To Go and direct sellers such as Post Office, which may offer more suitable cover. Reading the key facts document for the cheapest quote and comparing it with a mid-range option is a practical final step before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Compare the Market discount code for travel insurance?
Occasional offers appear online, but most genuine discount codes come via Compare the Market’s own meerkat rewards programme or partner cashback sites like TopCashback or Quidco.
Does Post Office travel insurance compare well on Compare the Market?
Yes, Post Office travel insurance frequently appears in top price brackets on Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket, especially for annual multi-trip policies.
What are the best travel insurance companies in the UK in 2025?
Based on comparison site rankings and customer reviews, Aviva, LV=, AXA, and Post Office consistently rate highly for cover quality and claims handling, while cheaper options like Admiral and Tesco offer value.
Can I compare travel insurance for a cruise?
Yes, both Compare the Market and MoneySuperMarket let you filter by cruise cover. However, fewer providers offer this, so you may see only 10 to 15 quotes instead of the full 44.
How does Compare the Market make money on travel insurance?
It earns a commission from insurers each time a policy is sold through its platform. This commission model incentivises a broad provider panel but does not guarantee the cheapest or most suitable policy is always shown first.
Is travel insurance for Europe cheaper than worldwide cover?
Yes, European cover is significantly cheaper because the risk profile is lower and medical costs are partially covered by the GHIC scheme. Worldwide cover must account for expensive destinations such as the United States.
Can I get travel insurance for UK trips on Compare the Market?
Yes, most annual multi-trip policies on Compare the Market include domestic UK trips. Single-trip UK policies are also available, though they are less common than European or worldwide options.
Does travel insurance cover cancellation?
Most policies include cancellation cover, typically ranging from £1,500 to £3,000. The exact limit depends on the policy tier and provider. Always check the cancellation limit against the cost of your trip.
What is the GHIC and how does it affect travel insurance?
The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) provides access to state-provided healthcare in EU countries at reduced cost or free. It is not a replacement for travel insurance, which covers private treatment, repatriation, and cancellation.
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Oscar Friel covers business regulation, public policy, economics and institutional accountability for Civic Affairs.