What's the Difference? Single and Annual Travel Insurance

Have you ever wondered what the difference between single and annual travel insurance is?

Do you want to find out which insurance will suit your travel plans best?

You will find all the answers you need right here.

Table of Contents

Buying Single Trip and Annual Travel Insurance

What’s the Difference Between Single and Annual Travel Insurance?

The main difference is the way the insurance works. Annual insurance covers unlimited trips for one year, single trip covers just one trip. There are differences in the types and amounts of cover, including cancellation cover too.

When it comes to purchasing a travel insurance policy you will need to complete the same information no matter what type of insurance you are buying;

Who is travelling and their ages
Where they are travelling to
What type of insurance they need (do they need winter sports cover for example)
Medical information for each traveller

Depending on the answers to the medical questions you may have to complete a more detailed explanation of any health conditions

You will then be given a quote with an option to choose the level of cover that you want.

Single and Annual Travel Insurance

Buying Single Trip Travel Insurance

When you buy single trip travel insurance you have to enter the dates you want to be covered for which are generally the dates you plan to travel.

Most single trip travel insurance policies will have a limit on the number of days that you can travel on any one trip.

Single and Annual Travel Insurance

Buying Annual Travel Insurance

When you buy annual travel insurance you also need to select a start date for the travel insurance policy.

The travel insurance will then run for 1 year from that start date and will cover you for unlimited trips during that time.

There will generally be a limit on the number of days per trip.

Differences Between Single Trip and Annual Travel Insurance

Single and Annual Travel Insurance

Single Trip Insurance Cover

Generally single trip insurance cover will not have much cancellation coverage because most people only buy cover for the dates they are travelling.

This means that they have no insurance coverage at the time they book their travel.

In terms of actual coverage a single trip insurance policy will cover the same things that an annual travel insurance policy will. Cover varies from provider to provider but will likely cover things like;

Medical cover
Repatriation to home country
Luggage cover
Delays

The main difference is that with a single trip policy, the insurance is only provided for one trip.

If you plan to travel again you will need to take out another policy.

Single and Annual Travel Insurance

Annual Travel Insurance

Annual travel insurance covers all the same things as single trip insurance cover will but this coverage is provided per trip.

For example, if you have Â£3 million pounds of medical cover you have this cover for each trip you take during the year that you have your annual travel insurance policy.

Single Trip and Annual Travel Insurance Costs

You may assume that it would be – but that could be a wrong assumption.

There are as many costs in setting up a single trip travel insurance policy as an annual policy.

Check out this video for a quick comparison of my recommended travel insurance provider, Coverwise.

Single and Annual Travel Insurance Summary

Single trip travel insurance just covers one trip and you will need to buy another policy if you travel again.
Annual travel insurance covers unlimited trips in one year (with a limit on the number of days per trip).
Coverage is similar for both types of insurance with annual travel insurance likely to have more cancellation coverage.
As with anything with insurance related it is essential to check the details.