Where to Buy Travel Insurance in 2025

You can buy travel insurance online, through insurance companies, brokers, travel agents, and even credit card issuers.

Selecting the right travel policy is important because each has differences in coverage limits, price, customer service, and claims support. Not every policy type will make sense for you, so it’s important to understand the differences.

Here’s what you should know about where to buy travel insurance, policy costs, and coverages from the top travel insurance companies.

Where to buy travel insurance

You can buy travel insurance in a number of ways, including online-comparison marketplaces, directly from insurers, and through travel agents and brokers. Some credit card issuers even offer travel insurance perks that may be thorough enough that you don’t need separate travel insurance.

Some form of travel coverage is also often an optional add-on when buying flights. It’s convenient to add travel coverage while purchasing your flight, but this basic coverage isn’t very customizable.

Compare the pros and cons of purchasing add-on travel coverage while booking your flight below:

Comparison websites

Comparison sites, like InsureMyTrip, SquareMouth, and Insurify, let you compare travel insurance plans side by side in one place. These comparison tools make it easy to find deals and compare coverages.

Directly from travel insurers

You can also get travel insurance directly from a travel insurance company. Allianz, Travel Guard, and Travelex are a few of many options available to travelers. Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a few companies that fit your needs, call or go to the insurer’s website to get a quote directly.

Travel agents or insurance brokers

If you’re not feeling confident in your research abilities, you can use a travel agent or insurance broker to help you find travel insurance. Agents and brokers are experts in the industry and can help you choose the best plan for your needs.

Credit cards that include travel insurance

Many credit cards, such as American Express and Chase Sapphire, come with built-in travel insurance, or at least some travel perks. Depending on the type of trip you’re taking, these benefits may be enough, and you may not need to purchase separate travel insurance.

The best travel insurance companies

Everyone has unique travel needs. The best travel insurance company for you might be different from the best company for other travelers. Before buying a policy, consider your financial risk tolerance, any pre-existing conditions you or other travelers have, and what you’re looking for in terms of coverage and costs.

Here are some of the best travel insurance companies to consider as you start your search.

Best for pre-existing conditions: GeoBlue

Best for multiple trips: Battleface

Best for affordable rates: Travelex

What travel insurance covers

What travel insurance covers depends on your policy and insurer. But it typically covers the following:

• Trip cancellation: If you have to cancel your trip due to injury, emergency, or another covered reason, trip cancellation coverage can pay for non-refundable trip expenses.

• Medical emergencies: Medical emergency insurance covers medical expenses if you have an injury or illness on your trip.

• Emergency evacuation: This covers the cost of emergency transportation home or to a medical facility in the event of a medical emergency.

• Lost or delayed baggage: This coverage can reimburse you for lost, delayed, or stolen baggage.

• Trip interruption: If a covered emergency cuts your trip short, trip interruption coverage can pay for travel expenses.

• Travel delays: This can cover additional costs if a covered reason delays your trip.

• Accidental death and dismemberment: In the event of accidental death or severe injury while on your trip, this coverage kicks in.2

Common exclusions and limitations

Travel insurance won’t cover everything. Here’s what most plans exclude:

• Pre-existing conditions: Most policies, but not all, exclude coverage for pre-existing conditions.

• Extreme sports: If you take part in high-risk sports, like skydiving or scuba diving, your policy likely won’t cover any resulting injuries.

• War or terrorism: If you travel against government advice, like to a country deemed a Level 3 risk by the U.S. Department of State, your policy won’t cover any injuries or cancellations.

• Alcohol- or drug-related incidents: If you incur an injury under the influence of drugs or alcohol, your policy typically won’t cover any resulting expenses.

• Routine healthcare: Most policies won’t cover the cost of routine medical appointments, such as checkups or dental cleanings.

How much travel insurance costs

The price of travel insurance depends on a number of factors, but you’ll typically pay between 4% and 8% of your prepaid trip costs for a policy. So if your trip costs $2,000, a typical travel insurance policy would cost you between $80 and $160.

But this cost can vary quite a bit, depending on various factors like your age, your destination, the cost of your trip, your chosen coverage limits, and any add-ons. For example, if you add cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) coverage, your policy cost will go up.3

How to choose a travel insurance policy

Choosing a travel insurance policy isn’t too difficult, but it may take some research and time. It’s important to compare multiple policies from multiple companies before making a selection. Policies can vary widely in terms of cost, coverage, exclusions, and add-ons, making it crucial that you choose the right one for your trip.

Follow these steps to get the right plan:

Do you really need travel insurance for your upcoming trip?

Whether you really need travel insurance for your upcoming trip depends on several factors, particularly your risk tolerance. If you’re just going on a domestic road trip, travel insurance is probably overkill. But if you’re going on an expensive international trip, travel insurance is a good idea. Some credit cards may even have enough travel insurance perks to be sufficient.

In some cases, you may not have a choice, as certain countries require travelers to have travel insurance before visiting. The entire Schengen Area — which includes 29 European countries, such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal — requires travelers to have a visa that shows proof of travel insurance before visiting.

When it comes down to it, if you can’t afford to pay out of pocket for the costs of the worst-case scenario of your trip, then travel insurance is probably worth buying.

Where to buy travel insurance FAQs