As the summer holiday season approaches, new research by Holiday Extras reveals that millions of UK travellers may be at risk due to simple travel insurance mistakes. The study shows that only four in ten people (44%) buy their policy with the correct start date. Most set it to begin on the day they travel not the day they book leaving them unprotected if plans change before departure.
Holiday Extras, the UK’s leading provider of add-ons like airport parking, hotels, lounges, and insurance, warns this oversight could lead to serious costs. Travel insurance is designed to protect against cancellations, illness, or other events that stop you from travelling. Just make sure your policy starts from the moment you book, otherwise cancellation cover won’t apply.
The problem doesn’t end there. Almost two-thirds (59%) of travellers admit they don’t read their policy documents. A quarter skim them, another quarter rely on the summary, and one in ten don’t read them at all.
Another recent study found that three-quarters (74%) wrongly believe travel insurance covers all situations. Many also misunderstand how an annual travel policy works, with one in ten thinking the cover ends at the calendar year, not 12 months from the policy start date. This confusion could mean people are either uninsured or overpaying.
Alice Lawson, Associate Director of Insurance at Holiday Extras, says:
“Most holidays go smoothly, and most people never have to claim. But if something goes wrong before you leave, and your insurance hasn’t started yet, you could be left out of pocket.
“An annual multi-trip policy is a simple way to stay protected throughout the year. If you’re planning two or more trips, buying an annual multi trip policy could save you up to 20% compared to buying a policy for each individual trip you take. “Holidays are for relaxing, not worrying. With an annual policy set to auto-renew, you don’t have to think about insurance every time you book.”
Holiday Extras has long championed smarter travel insurance choices. Last year, it launched SYD (Search Your Documents), an AI tool that helps travellers understand their cover more easily.
For more information or to choose the right travel insurance for your trip, visit www.holidayextras.com.
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