When to Purchase Travel Insurance: 2025 Guide

Getting travel insurance is one of the best things that you can do before heading on a trip, whether it's for vacation, visiting family, or work.

There are a lot of things you need to think about when it comes to travel insurance - what it covers, exclusions, and how to file a claim. One important, sometimes overlooked thing you need to know is when you should buy it.

In this guide, we're going to talk about the best time to purchase your travel insurance, as well as the reasoning behind it, so you can feel confident knowing you're making the most educated decision for you.

When to buy travel insurance

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when it comes to when you should buy your travel insurance.

In short, you should always purchase travel insurance before you leave for your trip, even if it's the day before.

Thanks to modern insurance companies like Insurte, you can buy travel insurance 100% online, any time of day (or night!).

That said, two really important factors go into when you should purchase.

• Mandatory waiting periods.
• Visa/entry requirements.

Let's talk about each of them in more detail.

Mandatory waiting periods

Most travel insurance companies will allow you to purchase travel insurance any time before you leave, even if it's the day before your trip.

However, one thing you need to double-check is mandatory waiting periods. Every insurer is different, but some insurance policies can have them.

For example, you could buy a travel insurance policy the day before you leave, but it might have a mandatory 7-day waiting period before it kicks in, for example.

This means that even though you've purchased the policy for specific travel dates, you won't actually be covered until the waiting period is over, even if you've already started your trip.

As you can see, this can be a big problem. You could think you're covered when you're not,

The good news: Not all travel insurance policies have mandatory waiting periods. You can check whether or not the policy you're looking at has one by reviewing the terms and conditions.

It's important to check whether or not there's a waiting period before you purchase, especially if you're getting your travel insurance last minute.

Visa/entry requirements

Some countries require travelers to have travel insurance before visiting, whether for the visa application process or as a general entry requirement.

If you are applying for a visa, travel insurance might be a mandatory requirement. Take a look at Schengen visas for example. Schengen visas allow travelers to go to the Schengen area (29 countries in Europe), and travel insurance is mandatory for all applicants.

Not just any travel insurance will do, either. For a Schengen visa application, the policy you choose needs to meet specific requirements.

If you're buying travel insurance for a Schengen visa, you need to purchase your policy before your in-person Schengen visa appointment. Failure to show proof of valid insurance will result in your visa being rejected.

Whether or not you need a Schengen visa is a different story, and you can learn more about that here.

That's just one example. Other visas may have other requirements related to travel, or even health insurance.

Make sure you know the visa/entry requirements for your destination(s) well ahead of your trip so you can plan accordingly.

In most cases, if the policy you choose doesn't have a mandatory waiting period, and you don't have visa/entry requirements relating to travel insurance, you can purchase your travel insurance at any time, as long as it's before your trip.

When is it cheapest to buy travel insurance?

While some travel costs are fluid and change regularly, such as airline tickets or hotel prices, travel insurance doesn't.

The travel insurance prices you see 3 months before your trip should be the same as they are 3 days before your trip (provided you're looking at the same exact policy and your details haven't changed).

Because of that, there isn't a period where it's more cost effective to buy your travel insurance. When you should buy it depends entirely on mandatory waiting periods and visa/entry requirements.

In short...

You can purchase your travel insurance any time before you leave (even the day before).

Just pay attention to mandatory waiting periods.

There is one exception: If you need travel insurance for a visa application, you may be required to purchase it before you apply for your visa. In this case, refer to your visa requirements for the best time to purchase.

FAQs: The best time to purchase travel insurance