Despite data showing 30% of RAA Travel insurance claims are for pre-holiday cancellations due to illness or other personal reasons, less than a third of customers (32%) book insurance on the same day they book travel.

Close to half took up to a month to take out insurance, while 21% waited more than a month before getting insurance cover.

RAA Travel spokeswoman Mandy Nasuti said while the price of insurance premiums was  rarely dependent on timing, booking travel insurance early could mean the difference between getting money back for your flights and losing the money altogether.

“Based on the experiences of more than 2500 RAA Travel Insurance customers, we’ve found a surprising percentage of them are risking the cost of their flights and accommodation by waiting until the last moment to insure themselves,” she said.

Ms Nasuti advised travellers to take out travel insurance at the same time they booked their holidays, and to check the cover included cancellations.

“If you’re going to buy it anyway, you might as well do it when you book flights,” she said.

“It’s the same principle as insuring your car as soon as you buy it, to make sure you are covered for any unforeseen circumstances.

“The last thing you would want is to cancel your holiday but still have to pay for it.’’

RAA Travel Insurance tips

• If you’re going on a cruise in Australian waters, you’ll need to tell your insurer as Medicare generally will not cover your shipboard medical expenses.
• It’s very important to inform your insurer if you have any kind of pre-existing medical condition.
• If you’re hiring a car, you can save money by using travel insurance to cover the collision damage excess rather than paying the car hire company’s extra charge.