Under 18 Travel Insurance
Start your adventure with our award-winning under 18s travel insurance
Whether you're heading off on a school trip, holidaying with friends, or travelling alone or with another family, it's important to have the right cover in place. Our under 18s travel insurance provides flexible cover for younger travellers, offering protection that fits a wide range of trips and adventures.
Build a policy that fits your plans and needs. Choose from single trip or annual multi-trip policies with optional extras like gadget cover and sports activities, so you can feel reassured every step of the way.
Can you get travel insurance for under 18s?
Yes! Under 18s are eligible for travel insurance - whether you're travelling alone, travelling with another family, or joining a group trip. From medical emergencies and trip cancellations to lost baggage or travel delays, having the right protection in place allows you to focus on enjoying the adventure.
Top Tip: Under 18s can be covered by travel insurance, but only a legal guardian or parent can purchase the policy on their behalf.
Can you travel alone if you are under 18?
Travelling alone when you're under 18 is possible, but there are a few important things to know when booking your trip. Most airlines will consider travellers between the ages of 5-12 years old as "unaccompanied minors" and sometimes requires a small fee for mandatory supervision, as well as a letter of consent from the parent or responsible adult. Above the age of 12 this is usually unnecessary, unless the parent specifically requests the service.
At 17 years of age, many airlines will allow you to travel alone without supervision, but this can vary depending on the destination, airline policy and whether it's an international or domestic flight. Some carriers may still ask for written permission or extra documentation before letting you board.
For further information, check out our Can you fly alone under 18 years of age? page.
Travelling with another family when you are under 18
If you're travelling with another family under the age of 18 - for a holiday, school break or group trip - it's important to make sure you're properly covered and have the right documents in place. Under 18 travel insurance can cover you for things like medical emergencies, cancellations, and lost belongings, even when you're not travelling with your own parents or guardians.
In many cases, you may need a signed letter of consent from your parent or legal guardian confirming that you're allowed to travel with another family. Some countries or airlines may also ask for supporting documents at the airport or border, so it's a good idea to check in advance.
More information can be found on our dedicated travel insurance consent form page.
Things to consider when booking under 18 holiday insurance
To book online, or to get a quote simply click 'get a quote'. When looking at travel insurance for under 18s, it's a good idea to bear in mind the following bits of information:
Location
Where are you going?
Is your trip in the UK, Europe or somewhere further afield? The destination can affect the type of cover you need - especially if you're travelling outside your home country or heading somewhere with higher medical costs.
Dates
When are you going, and for how long?
Think about your departure and return dates - even if you're just going for a few days. The length of your trip helps determine your premium and makes sure you're covered from the moment you set off until you're safely home.
Money
How much is your trip costing overall?
This includes travel, accommodation, activities and anything you've already paid for. Travel insurance can help protect these costs in case you need to cancel or change your plans unexpectedly.
Health
Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions?
If you have any existing health conditions, make sure to declare them during the booking process. That way, your cover stays valid and you'll be protected if anything health-related crops up while you're away.
Activities
Planning activities while away?
Make sure to check your policy includes cover for all planned activities - especially sports, excursions or anything adventurous. Use our activity checker to see if you're covered, as some activities may require a policy add-on.
Eligibility
Who can buy this policy?
While we offer travel insurance that covers under 18s, the policy must be purchased by a parent or legal guardian. Under 18s cannot buy cover independently.
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What's the maximum trip duration for under 18 travel insurance?
All of our travel insurance policies – including annual and single trip – come with with standard set trip duration limits:
| Policy Type | Cover Level | Max Trip Duration (per individual trip) |
|---|---|---|
| Single Trip Policy | Bronze, Silver, Gold | 365 days |
| Annual Multi-Trip Policy | Bronze | 22 days |
| Silver | 31 days | |
| Gold |
45 days |
Compare travel insurance cover levels
Choose from three different levels of cover, each with its own cover limits. Ranging from a simpler 'Bronze' plan to a higher level 'Gold' plan, you can tailor your policy to suit your needs. Browse the key benefits below, or see the full breakdown in our cover-level table and Policy Documents.
Bronze
| £15,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £1,000 | Cancellation & Cutting your trip short |
| £2,000 | Personal belongings |
| £500 | Personal money |
| £500 | Gadget Cover |
Silver
| £20,000,000 | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £2,500 | Cancellation & Cutting your trip short |
| £3,000 | Personal belongings |
| £750 | Personal money |
| £500 | Gadget Cover |
Gold
| Unlimited | Emergency medical and repatriation expenses |
| £5,000* | Cancellation & Cutting your trip short |
| £5,000 | Personal belongings |
| £1,000 | Personal money |
| £750 | Gadget Cover |
*Or as specified on your schedule
Tips for travelling alone under 18
- Check the law - Laws and customs for people travelling under the age 18 without their parents differ between countries, so be sure to do your research in advance. You'll also have to check the policy of your airline, as many require under 18s to check in with an adult.
- Declare all pre-existing medical conditions - To ensure you're fully covered, it's important that any pre-existing medical conditions are declared when purchasing the policy. Undeclared conditions could result in denied claims.
- Plan your journey carefully - When you're travelling solo, it's especially important to know your full route in advance. Keep a copy of your itinerary on your phone and let someone you trust know where you'll be and when.
- Make copies of all important documents - Having both physical and digital copies of all necessary travel documents from your passport to your contacts list can prevent stress and save time and money if you lose anything.
- Stay connected and know who to contact - Before you travel, make sure your phone is fully charged and consider bringing a portable charger. Save key emergency contacts like your travel insurance provider, airline, and a trusted adult back home in your phone – and write them down somewhere safe too, just in case you lose access to your device.
- Budget well in advance - By researching the currency and general costs of the country you visit, you'll be able to estimate how much you are likely to spend. You can then ensure that you have extra funds available in case any problems occur. Check out our How To Save For Your Trip as an Under-18 solo traveller page for more details.
How to save money for travel as a student
As a young person, it's unlikely that you'll have a huge amount of cash coming in each month. Unless you have savings or have had some help funding your trip, you're going to need to be a bit smart about saving your cash. Here are some top tips for getting together enough funds for that trip of a lifetime.
Get the right mindset
If you want to realise your saving goals and make your trip happen, then you'll need to have the right attitude. Saving up to travel will mean having to go without some things in the present. Before you splurge on those expensive trainers or a new bag, think about how you could use that same money for something awesome on your trip. Try visualising how you'll use your money in the future; perhaps to get into a famous gallery in Europe, or to taste some incredible street food in Asia? This can really help you stay motivated to save.
Cut out unnecessary expenses
As a young person under 18, you're most likely to be living at home with your parents with minimal outgoings. Realise that you're in a unique situation to do some serious saving. Take a look at how you typically spend your money over the course of a month. Where does most of your pay-check go? Could you maybe cut down on the takeaway pizza or the weekly cinema trips? Are there some subscription music or TV streaming services, you could temporarily cancel to save a few pounds each month? Changing your spending habits in small ways will really boost your ability to save money, and reach your goals faster.
Prospect for extra work
After cutting down your spending, it's worth looking into easy ways to increase your income and super-charge your saving efforts. Of course, being under 18 means you have school or college to think about, so picking up an extra shift at the part-time job might not be a sensible option. However if you're smart there could be opportunities for making some extra dough all around you. Could you baby-sit for a relative? Walk the neighbours' dogs? Picking up easy jobs like these here and there could mean an extra tenner or two in the kitty, with very little effort spent.
Make your money go further
Unless you truly have your heart set on a particular destination, it's worth considering countries where your home currency is particularly powerful. Places in Asia like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand may be expensive to get to at first, but once you're there you'll find that food and accommodation prices are incredibly cheap. What's more, these are some of the most beautiful and vibrant cultures in the world. It's a win-win, right?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'unaccompanied minor' mean?
An unaccompanied minor is someone under 18 travelling without a parent or guardian. Airlines usually apply this term to travellers between 5 and 12 years old. Some offer a supervision service, while others only allow solo travel from age 13+. Always check your airline's policy in advance.
Can I get travel insurance if I'm under 18?
Yes - under 18s can get travel insurance. Whether you're travelling alone, with a group, or another family, a policy can be tailored to your trip. You may need a parent or guardian to help set it up or provide consent.
Follow the below steps to get under 18 travel insurance quotes and book your policy.
1) Click the purple 'get a quote' button at the top of the page.
2) Fill out your trip and traveller details on the form.
3) Continue to fill out your details and declare any pre-existing medical conditions.
4) Follow the on-screen instructions to buy your under 18 travel insurance policy.
Do I need a consent letter if I'm travelling with another family?
If you're under 18 and travelling with another family, a signed letter of consent from your parent or guardian is often required - especially when flying or crossing borders. Some destinations may also request additional documentation.
More information can be found on our travel insurance consent form page.
Can I travel alone if I'm 17?
In most cases, yes - many airlines allow 16 and 17 year olds to travel independently. However, requirements vary, and you might still need parental permission or a completed consent form. Always check the rules before booking.
What does under 18 travel insurance cover?
Typically, under 18 travel insurance includes medical cover, trip cancellation, lost luggage, and missed departures. You can also add extras like gadget or activity cover depending on your plans. Just make sure it matches the kind of trip you're taking.
Take a look at our cover-level table to see what's covered
Can someone under 18 buy travel insurance themselves?
No - under 18s can't buy travel insurance on their own. A parent or legal guardian must purchase the policy for them.
Young travellers can still be fully covered, but an adult needs to arrange the policy, declare any medical conditions, and make sure it suits the trip and planned activities.
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Holiday Extras Travel Insurance is sold and administered by Holiday Extras Cover Limited, registered office address: Ashford Road, Newingreen, Hythe, Kent CT21 4JF.
Holiday Extras Cover Limited is an insurance intermediary authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, registration number 828848. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk
Holiday Extras™ is a Trading Name of Holiday Extras Cover Limited. The insurance is underwritten by Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited. Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 13436330 and whose registered office address is 1 Fen Court, London, United Kingdom, EC3M 5BN.
Great Lakes Insurance UK Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm Reference Number 955859. You can check this on the Financial Services Register by visiting: http://register.fca.org.uk