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Millions risk costly travel insurance mistakes before summer holidays
Only four in ten UK travellers buy the right policy. Misunderstandings could leave many holidaymakers without cover. Insurance expert Alice Lawson helps travellers avoid common pitfalls.
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A recent Holiday Extras survey found that many UK travellers make critical travel insurance errors before the summer season – only 44% set their policy's start date to the booking date instead of the travel date, leaving them unprotected if plans change pre-departure. Worryingly, 59% don't fully read their policy documents. Most rely on summaries or ignore them entirely. Additionally, 74% wrongly assume insurance covers all scenarios, and 10% misunderstand how annual policies work, believing coverage ends at the calendar year rather than 12 months from the start date. These oversights could result in uncovered cancellation, medical or travel disruptions, but choosing an annual multi-trip policy offers broader protection and savings—especially for frequent travellers.
August 2025 – 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, one in ten think 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:
"We're only at the start of summer and have already seen tensions in the Middle East, anti-tourist demonstrations across Europe, and the policies of Donald Trump hit the headlines – and the impact this is having on holiday plans is clear.
"Holidaymakers are less concerned about the economy, their finances, and extreme weather, all things that have weighed heavily on their minds the past two years. Instead they're considering how politics and conflict will impact their break.
"While holidaymakers will still be looking for destinations where they can get more for their money and can experience warm weather without the extreme highs and events that could happen in peak season, these concerns might see them seek locations far from these tensions, where they can rest assured knowing their holiday won't be affected."
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