Travel insurance comparison sites work a lot like Expedia.com or Orbitz.com. They allow travelers to enter some basic information and compare several prices side-by-side.

At Expedia.com you might make a decision based on departure/arrival times, number of connections, airline preferences, and ticket price. It’s the same at travel insurance comparison sites; travelers base their decision on different factors such as coverage types, coverage amounts, company reputation, and policy price.

Comparison sites allow travelers to shop from major travel insurance companies in one place, without visiting several different websites. They are agents for several different companies that sell travel insurance, and they make commissions based on sales, just like Expedia.com or Kayak.com. The policy premium (price) is the same whether you purchase from a comparison site or directly from the insurance company.

Here is a roundup of the major travel insurance comparison sites:

Squaremouth.com is easy-to-use and provides plenty of selection. The quote forms are especially helpful because they define any insurance terms and explain why they need to ask certain questions. Their side-by-side comparison is also above average, allowing travelers to compare different policies and their benefits next to each other. If you’re a first-time buyer, go to squaremouth.com.

Insuremytrip.com has the most traffic of the comparison engines by far, and are mentioned in countless newspapers, etc. They offer over 100 plans from 16 different companies. Their site is pretty bare-bones, without many graphics and so forth. They are a good choice for travelers who have purchased insurance in the past and do not need the “first-time buyer” on-screen help. If you like shopping with the biggest player in the business, go to insuremytrip.com

Quotewright.com offers a large selection of products from 13 different companies. Their landing page is smart because it has a quote form in the web “sweet-spot”, which is the top left corner of any pages, according to eye-tracking and click-tracking studies. The next page, however, is a little confusing as it asks for additional traveler information. It carries over information previously entered, but it is hard to see what new info is needed. Quotewright.com did win an award from the Connecticut Better Business Bureau for their website.

travelinsurancecenter.com, re-branded from WorldTravelCenter.com, is another site presenting a quote form right on the landing page. They offer plans from 10 different companies, and is an overall informative site. Their comparison page just lists the plan name and price down the left column, and some content in the center. If you want more information you can select a few policies and compare more.

Totaltravelinsurance.com has several companies to choose from at 15, and their landing page features a quote from in the right column. The rest of the landing page is a little busy, but offers a lot of content and information. The comparison pages are very busy as well, with small text and confusing organization, and the quote form switches to the left column.

Tripinsurancestore.com appears as the “mom & pop” of the travel insurance comparison sites, with casual graphics and plenty of text, content, navigation, and page scrolling. They do have 688 testimonials on 28 pages, so many travelers obviously respond to their site, and they list the first names of call center employees, adding to the “mom & pop” feel.

Read our Travel Insurance 101: The Complete Guide to Travel Insurance

How to buy travel insurance

1. Use a travel insurance comparison site- The best way to buy travel insurance is to use a travel insurance comparison site. Compare quotes and plas side-by-side, and buy instantly online.
2. Check reviews and buy direct- If you want a quote from a specific travel insurance company, visit our reviews pages. You will see links to purchase insurance directly from the company.