Multi-trip travel insurance in Ireland: annual cover explained

Single trip or annual multi-trip

A single trip policy covers one trip, from the start date to the end date you choose. An annual multi-trip policy covers all your trips within the policy year. The CCPC lists both, and says the first step is to decide if you need cover for one trip or several.

The CCPC also says you may get better value buying travel insurance from a provider other than your travel agent, "especially if you need cover again later in the year". European Consumer Centre Ireland gives similar advice: buy cover as soon as you book, or consider an annual policy.

AA Ireland says its multi-trip policy is valid for 12 months (365 days) from the start date you pick. Multitrip.com also sells a 2-year policy, which it says costs 10% less than two 1-year policies (both checked 9 November 2026).

When a single trip policy fits better

If you travel once a year, a single trip policy may cost less. It is also the answer for a long trip. Multitrip.com says its annual trip limits cannot be extended, and that you may need a single trip policy to cover a longer stay. AA Ireland says that if a trip runs past its annual limit, only incidents within the covered length are covered.

Single trip limits are longer. AA Ireland's single trip cover runs for up to 60 days in a row. Multitrip.com and Blue Insurance both offer single trips of up to 365 days for people aged 69 and under (checked 9 November 2026).

Trip length limits, as insurers publish them

Every annual policy sets a maximum length for any one trip, and it usually falls with age. These are the published limits we found on 9 November 2026:

Some policies also cap the total. Vhi says MultiTrip covers as many trips as you take up to a maximum of 180 days in the year. Vhi also sells add-ons that extend the trip limit.

Winter sports have their own limit. AA Ireland caps winter sports at 17 days in total in each policy period. Multitrip.com and Blue Insurance cover up to 31 days of winter sports, if you pay the extra premium.

Annual policies have an age limit too. Multitrip.com and Blue Insurance both give 75 as the maximum age on an annual multi-trip policy. Our guide to travel insurance over 65 covers age limits in more detail.

Europe or worldwide

You choose an area of cover when you buy. It should match the furthest place you expect to go during the year.

• Multitrip.com offers Europe, worldwide excluding the USA, Canada and Cuba, and worldwide including the USA and Canada but excluding Cuba. Its Europe area includes the Canary Islands, Madeira, the Azores, Iceland and non-European countries bordering the Mediterranean, except Algeria, Israel, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon and Syria.
• AA Ireland lists areas including Europe, worldwide excluding the USA, Canada and the Caribbean, and worldwide including them.
• Vhi uses zones: Zone 1 for Europe, Zone 2 for worldwide excluding the USA, Canada and the Caribbean, and Zone 3 for worldwide.

Multitrip.com says you can spend up to 20% of a trip, or 31 days if that is less, in another area, but not in the USA or Canada, which need their own cover.

Destination also depends on travel advice. The CCPC says you will generally not be covered if you travel against the advice of the Department of Foreign Affairs. AA Ireland's booklet excludes trips to places where the DFA has advised against all travel. Check the DFA travel advice for your destination before you book.

The health insurance link

Many annual policies are built around Irish private health insurance. The lowest published prices assume you hold it, and some policies require it. Read the wording, because each insurer sets its own minimum.

• Vhi MultiTrip requires a private health insurance plan with at least €65,000 cover for overseas medical emergencies, Vhi says.
• AA Ireland gives a discount if your health insurance covers overseas in-patient treatment for at least €55,000. If you are admitted to hospital abroad, you claim from your health insurer first. The travel policy pays nothing for in-patient care until you reach your health plan's limit or €55,000, whichever is higher, and your health insurance must stay in place for the whole policy period.
• Multitrip.com gives lower rates to health insurance members whose plan provides at least €55,000 for in-patient cover abroad. If your health plan does not cover the full length of your trip, you cannot get the lower rate.
• Blue Insurance requires people aged 70 to 75 on an annual policy to hold private health insurance with at least €55,000 in-patient cover abroad.

Before you tick the health insurance box, check your health plan's overseas limit and trip length limit. Vhi warns that if your health plan has a lower trip limit, hospital claims are only paid if you also have a valid claim under that plan. If you cancel your health insurance during the year, tell your travel insurer.

An EHIC still matters on European trips. AA Ireland's booklet excludes costs in Europe that an EHIC would have covered if you failed to get one before you travelled. Our EHIC guide explains how to apply or renew.

What to check before you buy

The CCPC's checklist applies to annual policies too:

• Medical cover. AA Ireland's Essential cover pays up to €5,000,000 for emergency medical expenses and its Extra cover up to €10,000,000.
• Cancellation and delays. AA Ireland's cancellation limit is €3,500 on Essential and €6,000 on Extra.
• Exclusions. The CCPC says that if something is not specified, it is generally not covered.
• The excess. This is the first part of a claim you pay. AA Ireland charges €75 per person per incident on Essential and €50 on Extra. Vhi charges €95 per person per claim.
• Medical conditions. AA Ireland says you must declare changes in your health or medication before booking or leaving on any trip.
• Specialist cover. The CCPC says skiing or diving usually needs extra cover.
• Cover you already have. The CCPC says some credit cards and other products include travel insurance.

If you change your mind, AA Ireland and Multitrip.com both allow you to cancel within 14 days of receiving your documents, subject to their conditions.

When annual cover may not be worth it

An annual policy is not always the right spend. If you take one short trip a year, or your main trip is longer than the annual limit for your age, single trip cover may suit better. If your credit card already includes travel cover, check what it pays first.

If you held an AIG annual policy, check your renewal date. AIG says it stopped selling new travel insurance through its direct channels from 1 August 2026 and stopped renewing direct annual multi-trip policies from 1 September 2026. Existing policies stay in force until they expire.

For example prices and what moves them, see how much travel insurance costs. Our travel insurance guide has an overview.

Sources

• CCPC: Travel insurance, what do you need to know before you go? (accessed 9 November 2026)
• European Consumer Centre Ireland: Booking a foreign holiday in 2024, dos and don'ts (accessed 9 November 2026)
• AA Ireland: Multi trip travel insurance page, single trip travel insurance page and Essential and Extra policy booklet, October 2026 (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Multitrip.com Ireland: Multitrip travel insurance page, FAQ and private health insurance page (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Blue Insurance: Travel insurance FAQ (accessed 9 November 2026)
• Vhi: MultiTrip travel insurance page and FAQ (accessed 9 November 2026)
• AIG Ireland: Travel notice (accessed 9 November 2026)