Compare our best gap year travel insurance

What is gap year travel insurance?

Gap year travel insurance provides cover during an extended period of travel after you finish your studies or during a career break.

There’s no legal requirement for gap year insurance, but it offers peace of mind and financial security if you encounter specific problems while you are away.

What does gap year travel insurance cover?

Gap year travel insurance includes some common types of cover, such as:

Can I use regular travel insurance or do I need gap year insurance?

If you plan to travel for an extended period of time and visit different countries, gap year insurance is a better solution. Compared to standard travel insurance, gap year insurance may:

Do you need gap year health insurance even if you have an EHIC card?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows EU citizens to access necessary state-provided healthcare anywhere in the bloc in the same way as a local resident. This could mean it’s free or costs less.

Nonetheless, we recommend having gap year health insurance too.

While Brexit negotiations are ongoing, UK residents can still use their EHICs when travelling to Europe. It is unknown what the situation will be once the UK leaves the European Union.

Even if you can still use an EHIC, there are things it won’t cover– such as private hospital treatment, repatriation and mountain rescues. The best gap year health insurance offers extra protection so you won’t have to pay more than your excess even if the worst happens.

How can I find the best gap year travel insurance?

You can do a few things to help find the best gap year travel insurance. Before you take out a policy, you need to:

1. Decide what you need to cover

Choose what you want to be insured for – lost baggage, medical expenses, personal liability, repatriation, cancellations or delays. Go for the highest level of cover you can get for gap year health insurance – often around £10 million.

2. Work out how long you will be abroad

Calculate how many days you’ll be abroad, then check which policies will cover you for that time. Most insurers will cover you for 365 days, but others can cover more extended periods.

3. Compare quotes for gap year travel insurance from different insurers

Check the quotes you get to ensure the cover you need is included and the amounts are adequate. If you don’t get the insurance you need, you may find yourself in financial difficulty if there’s a problem during your travels.

4. Check the small print

Look out for any policy exclusions before you purchase your insurance, including:

When getting quotes, make sure you choose an excess you can afford, as you need to pay this if you make a claim. The higher the excess, the cheaper the policy will be, but if you can’t afford to pay it, your claim is likely to be rejected.

Some insurers have a compulsory excess that you need to pay in addition to the voluntary excess you choose. Compare several quotes to find the right policy for your circumstances.