At a glance: Travel insurance is typically bought by providing trip details, completing a medical screening where required, and selecting a policy level that reflects your travel plans. Policies can be purchased through comparison websites, banks or directly from specialist travel insurance providers.
If you’ve started looking around for travel insurance and found yourself unsure of which option to choose, you’re not alone. Between comparison websites, bank-provided policies, specialist insurance providers and add-ons, it’s not always obvious which option suits your trip. Knowing where to buy travel insurance, and what to look out for, can make all the difference.
How people usually buy travel insurance
Travellers typically choose one of four paths when buying travel insurance:
1. Comparison websites
Comparison sites can be a helpful starting point. They let you view prices and core features side by side, which can be useful if you want a quick, at-a-glance overview of what’s available. However, if you have specific requirements – such as pre-existing medical conditions, longer trips, or particular activities – it’s worth checking the full policy wording carefully, or speaking directly to an insurer, to make sure the cover fits your circumstances rather than just the headline price.
2. Banks with packaged accounts
Many travellers rely on policies offered through banks with packaged accounts. While this can be a convenient option, this type of cover is often limited and rarely personalised. Age limits are common, with many packaged accounts placing upper age thresholds that can restrict eligibility or reduce benefits as customers get older. Medical cover limits may also be lower than standalone policies, and ongoing cover often depends on keeping medical information up to date. If changes haven’t been reviewed carefully, there’s a risk the policy may not fully reflect your current situation.
3. General insurance providers
General insurance providers (like those offering car or home insurance) make it simple to add travel cover to an existing relationship, but the policies tend to be broad with fewer of the specialist features a dedicated travel insurance provider might offer.
4. Specialist travel insurance providers
Specialist travel insurance providers like Avanti, focus solely on travel insurance. This often means more detailed medical screening, clearer explanations of what’s included, and cover options designed around different ages, trip types, and health considerations.
For travellers with pre-existing medical conditions, or those who want reassurance that their personal circumstances have been properly taken into account, these policies can be a good option.
How to buy travel insurance
1. Share everything about your trip
When you get a quote with Avanti Travel Insurance, we’ll ask a few questions to better understand you and your trip. This includes things like:
- where you’re travelling
- how long you’ll be away
- whether you need single trip or annual multi-trip cover
Sharing these details upfront helps us determine the right region and policy type for your trip.
2. Share your health details
Next, we’ll ask a few questions about your health and medical history. We know this part can feel personal, but it’s an important step in making sure your cover properly reflects you – especially if you’re living with a medical condition, taking regular medication, or currently receiving treatment.
We’ll usually ask about things like:
- any treatment, medication or medical advice you’ve had in the last couple of years
- any ongoing investigations, tests or hospital appointments
- any previous issues with your heart or circulatory system – even if they happened some time ago
Once your health details have been accepted and your policy is confirmed, you’ll know exactly what you are covered for before you travel.
3. Get your quote
Once we’ve got the details we need, we’ll show you your quote – either online, or by talking it through with you over the phone if you’d prefer.
At this point, you can look through the different levels of cover available and choose the one that best fits your trip and circumstances. If you want extra protection for how you’re travelling, you may also be able to add options such as:
- cruise cover
- gadget protection
- winter sports cover
If you’re not ready to go ahead immediately, your personalised quote can be emailed to you for review. Once you buy your travel insurance, your policy documents will be sent directly to your email – or by post if you’ve selected postal documents. These documents include everything you need to travel with confidence, detailing what is covered, what to do in an emergency, and the steps for making a claim.
Ways to pay for travel insurance
Once you’re happy with your quote from Avanti Travel Insurance, you can choose how to pay. We offer a couple of straightforward payment options to help make cover manageable.
Typically, you can pay for your policy:
- by debit or credit card, paying the full amount upfront in one payment
- via monthly installments, where available, allowing you to spread the cost over time
- using discounts or promotional codes, if offered at the time of purchase
For annual multi-trip policies, Avanti allows you to spread the cost into monthly instalments when the total premium is £80 or more*.
Before completing your payment option, it’s always worth checking:
- whether paying monthly affects the overall cost
- if any eligibility criteria apply to installment plans
- whether any discounts, offers or voucher codes are available
Understanding your payment options upfront ensures there are no surprises and helps you choose a policy that fits both your travel plans and your budget.
*Avanti is a credit broker, not a lender.
Why choose Avanti travel insurance
When travelling, especially where medical needs are concerned, certainty matters. With Avanti, you can expect:
✔ cover for more than 1,300 medical conditions** and all ages
✔ unlimited medical expenses on Deluxe cover
✔ cancellation and baggage cover
✔ flexible trip lengths on annual multi-trip policies
✔ 24/7 emergency medical helpline
Get a quote today and protect your holiday with cover you can count on.
*Premium Finance is arranged by Howserv Limited. Howserv Limited use Premium Credit Limited (PCL) to provide premium finance. Howserv Limited is acting as a credit broker not a lender and receives a commission for introducing customers to PCL. On acceptance, a credit agreement will be set up. Representative example based on a £200 policy (net of the paid deposit of £18.61). An Annual Percentage Rate of 24.9% will be charged with a fixed interest rate of 12.55%. Amount of interest over 11 months = £22.77. Monthly repayments of £18.56. Total amount payable £222.77. Correct at the time of upload.
**Subject to screening and acceptance, see policy docs for full details.
