Sell Travel Money Compare
Posted by: Ian Stainton • 16 Jun 2026
To sell travel money properly, especially if you've got coins, mixed change, or old notes, compare specialist online services rather than relying on banks or standard bureaux. In the UK, around £120 million in leftover foreign currency is discarded each year, and 68% of that is coins and small notes that traditional exchanges reject (ONS).
That's the frustration behind most leftover holiday money. The easy part is coming home. The annoying part is finding a service that wants what's sitting in your kitchen drawer, travel wallet, or spare change jar.
A lot of people start by checking a bank, an airport desk, or the Post Office. That works sometimes for clean, current banknotes in common currencies. It breaks down fast if you have coins, mixed bags, pre-euro money, withdrawn notes, or odd leftovers from more than one trip. If you want to sell travel money compare results in a way that helps, you need to look beyond the headline rate and compare what each service will really accept, what it charges, and how simple the process is.
Your Guide to Selling Leftover Travel Money
You know the situation. You come back from holiday with a few euro coins, some dollars, a note from a country you visited years ago, and maybe a handful of change that never made it back into your hand luggage. It all ends up in one place and stays there.
For many, the question isn't “can I sell foreign currency?” It's “who will take all of it without making this a chore?” That's where comparison matters. A good comparison doesn't just ask who has the nicest advertised rate. It asks who accepts the awkward stuff and who makes the process feel manageable.
If you want the simplest route, compare services on three things first: what they accept, the total pounds you receive, and how easy it is to get paid.
What to compare first
When exchanging leftover foreign currency, individuals usually care about a small set of practical issues:
- Accepted currency types: Can the service handle coins, notes, withdrawn currency, and mixed collections?
- All-in value: Will fees, handling charges, or poor pricing cut down what you receive?
- Convenience: Do you need to visit a branch, book an appointment, or can you send it directly?
If your leftover money includes anything beyond standard banknotes, specialist services are usually the right place to start. They're built for the money that ordinary routes tend to refuse.
What usually works
The smoothest option is often a postal service that lets you send mixed currency without sorting every item. That matters more than many people expect. The effort of separating coins by country, counting tiny amounts, and checking whether old notes are still valid is often what stops people from doing anything at all.
If your goal is to exchange foreign coins and notes, not just a bundle of recent notes, that wider acceptance matters more than a glossy branch network.
Why Banks and Bureaus Fall Short for Leftover Currency
The first instinct is usually the high street. That's understandable. Banks and bureaux look official, familiar, and immediate. But for leftover travel money, they often aren't designed for the messy reality of what people bring home.
The biggest gap is coins
The clearest example is the Post Office. In the UK, over 2,500 Post Office branches offered a currency buy-back service as of 2024, but that buy-back service is explicitly for over 50 currencies in note form only, which leaves travellers with leftover coins needing another option (Post Office sell back unused currency).
That tells you something important. Even one of the country's largest and most accessible travel money networks doesn't solve the whole problem.
Why standard providers reject awkward currency
Banks and bureaux usually work best when the transaction is simple:
- Current notes only: They prefer currencies they can process and resell easily.
- Recognisable demand: Common tourist currencies are easier to handle than niche or older issues.
- Low-friction transactions: They want quick counter service, not time spent checking mixed bags of coins.
Coins create extra work. So do obsolete notes, damaged notes, and unusual currency combinations. A branch-based model isn't built for that kind of handling. Staff time, verification, storage, and resale all become harder.
A service can be convenient for buying travel money and still be inconvenient for selling it back.
Why this matters when you compare
If you only compare providers that accept standard notes, you're comparing the wrong market. You're not comparing solutions for leftover currency. You're comparing solutions for a narrow slice of it.
That's why so many people assume their coins are worthless. They aren't always worthless. They're often just unwanted by mainstream exchange channels.
For anyone trying to exchange leftover currency from several trips, or convert foreign coins and banknotes in one go, the key comparison starts with specialist acceptance. The rate matters, but only after the provider confirms it will take what you have.
Your 7 Point Checklist to Compare Travel Money Services
Individuals often compare the wrong thing first. They look at the rate printed in large text. That's understandable, but it's not how you get the best return.
Leading comparison tools such as MoneySuperMarket make the key point clearly: the benchmark that matters is total cost, not the headline exchange rate, because extra charges can reduce the final GBP you receive (MoneySuperMarket travel money comparison).
Comparison of currency exchange options
| Feature | High Street Banks | Airport Bureaus | Specialist Online Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coins accepted | Usually limited or unavailable | Usually limited or unavailable | Often the most practical option |
| Current banknotes | Sometimes accepted | Commonly accepted | Commonly accepted |
| Old or withdrawn currency | Often limited | Often limited | More likely to be considered |
| Mixed unsorted currency | Usually awkward | Usually awkward | Often easier to handle |
| Need to visit in person | Usually yes | Yes | Often no |
| Headline rate vs real return | Must check carefully | Must check carefully | Must check carefully |
| Best fit for difficult leftovers | Rarely | Rarely | Usually yes |
1. Compare total value, not just rate
A strong advertised rate can still lead to a weak outcome if charges appear later. Handling fees, delivery costs, or minimum transaction issues can change the result.
If you're trying to sell travel money compare pages properly, ask one question first: “How many pounds will I receive?”
2. Check what the service accepts
Many comparisons often fall short. Some providers buy back only notes. Others only want current notes. Others won't touch old series, coins, or mixed bags.
Look for clarity on whether the provider can:
- Exchange foreign coins
- Exchange foreign coins and notes
- Handle withdrawn or obsolete currency
- Accept mixed, unsorted collections
3. Watch for limits and small-print rules
Some services work well only within certain ranges. Small amounts can be poor value if a provider builds in fixed costs. Larger amounts may need extra checks.
Read the rules around minimums, maximums, and whether certain currencies must be separated before sending.
4. Look at delivery and collection effort
A branch collection model may suit some people. For others, it creates extra work. If you have awkward currency, a postal process can be more practical than visiting a counter only to be told part of your bundle isn't accepted.
For a broader view of currency buy back comparisons in the UK, it helps to review providers side by side before you commit.
5. Check how payment works
Some people want bank transfer. Others prefer digital payment options. What matters is that the provider explains the route clearly and doesn't make settlement feel uncertain.
6. Review speed in real terms
“Fast” means different things to different providers. Check when the rate is set, when your package is assessed, and when payment is issued.
7. Trust clarity over marketing
A simple service page that states accepted currencies, explains fees plainly, and sets out the process usually tells you more than glossy claims. The best comparisons reward transparency.
Practical rule: If a provider doesn't clearly tell you what it accepts and how you get paid, keep looking.
A Simple Guide to Exchanging Foreign Coins and Notes
Once you've chosen the right type of provider, the actual process is usually easier than people expect. The simplest method is postal. You prepare the currency, send it securely, and receive payment after verification.
Pack
Start by gathering everything in one place. That includes notes, coins, older series, and any leftover holiday money you've forgotten about. If the provider accepts mixed currency, you usually don't need to spend your evening separating every item by country.
Use secure packaging. Coins are heavy, so choose something sturdy enough to handle the weight. If there are notes as well, keep them flat and protected.
Post
Use a tracked postal method so you can follow the package. That gives you a record and avoids the uncertainty that comes with standard post.
The most convenient services are the ones built for mixed leftovers rather than neat tourist-wallet returns. If you're looking for places to exchange foreign coins and notes, focus on providers that explain the postal process clearly and don't expect you to sort every denomination first.
Get paid
After the currency arrives, the provider verifies what was sent and issues payment through the method you selected. The important thing here is transparency. You want to know when valuation happens, what happens if there's a problem, and whether the provider explains its rates up front.
A few practical habits help
- Check acceptance first: Make sure the currencies in your package are listed or described as eligible.
- Use solid packaging: Coins can split weak envelopes.
- Keep a record: A quick list or photo of what you sent can be useful.
- Read the return policy: If the quote changes or something isn't accepted, you should know your options.
Sending mixed travel money by post is usually simpler than trying to visit multiple counters and negotiate what each one will or won't take.
For many travellers, the biggest relief is this: you don't need to treat leftover currency like a mini admin project. With the right service, you can convert foreign coins and banknotes without turning the kitchen table into a sorting desk.
Real Examples of Converting Foreign Currency
A lot of people only realise there is a problem when they tip a drawer of leftover travel money onto the table. There are a few euros from Spain, some US coins, an old note from a stopover, and perhaps a currency that no high street counter wants to touch. That is a true test of any sell travel money compare guide. It has to work for awkward leftovers, not just clean bundles of current banknotes.
A family back from a multi-country trip
A family comes home with euros, dollars, and small amounts from airport stopovers. The total may be worth recovering, but only if one service will take the lot.
A bank or bureau often turns this into several small problems. It may accept some notes, refuse the coins, and ignore anything old or unfamiliar. A specialist service is more useful here because it deals with the mixed bag as it is. That saves time and usually recovers more value than trying to split everything into "acceptable" and "not accepted" piles.
A charity with a collection tin
Charities often end up with exactly the kind of foreign money other buyers avoid. Collection tins can contain coins, notes, older series, pre-euro currencies, and miscellaneous cash donated in good faith by supporters.
As mentioned earlier, UK travellers throw away or sideline a large amount of leftover foreign currency each year, much of it made up of coins and low-value notes. For a charity, that changes the comparison completely. The question is not who offers the prettiest rate board. The question is who will accept the money and turn it into usable funds.
A business with occasional foreign cash
Visitor attractions, hotels, community groups, and small retailers sometimes receive foreign cash by mistake or through customer goodwill. The amounts are usually too irregular to justify a complicated process, but still too valuable to leave sitting in a till drawer.
In that situation, convenience matters as much as rate. A service that accepts mixed denominations, processes them by post, and pays out clearly is often the sensible option. The alternative is usually staff time, branch visits, and partial refusals.
A drawer full of old holiday leftovers
This is the category many people write off too early.
Old notes, withdrawn issues, and obscure currencies are often treated as worthless because the first place asked said no. That does not always mean the money has no value. It usually means the service only handles easy-to-resell currency. A proper comparison should include buyers that accept the difficult stuff too, especially if the pile includes coins, mixed notes, or older issues from several trips.
That is what makes this kind of comparison useful. It helps you judge services by what they will take, not by how good they look when the currency is neat, current, and simple.
Common Mistakes When You Sell Travel Money Online
Most bad outcomes come from a few predictable mistakes. They're easy to make because the sell-back market is full of partial solutions.
Chasing the headline rate
A provider can advertise an attractive rate and still leave you with less than expected once the full process is done. The smarter move is to compare final return, not the first number you see.
Do this instead: look for clear all-in pricing and a plain explanation of how the value is calculated.
Assuming coins are worthless
People throw away foreign coins or leave them untouched for years because they've already been told “nobody takes coins”. What that usually means is mainstream exchange counters don't want them.
Do this instead: check specialist routes before you donate, discard, or forget about them. If you want to exchange foreign coins, compare acceptance rules first, not just rates.
Throwing out old notes
Old, pre-euro, withdrawn, or obscure notes often get written off too early. That usually happens because the first place someone asked couldn't process them.
Do this instead: treat older currency as something to investigate, not something to bin. A specialist may still accept it even when a bank won't.
Paying with time instead of money
A lot of people spend too long sorting every coin, counting every mixed bag, or visiting several locations in person. That effort has a cost too.
Do this instead: choose a service that can handle mixed or unsorted currency if that's what you have. Convenience matters when the alternative is doing nothing for another year.
Using weak packaging
This is one of the least glamorous mistakes, but it matters. Coins are heavy, and a poor envelope can split.
Do this instead: pack securely, use tracked post, and keep a basic record of what you sent.
The cheapest-looking option often becomes the most expensive if it rejects half your currency or adds friction at every step.
Ignoring charity options
Some people don't need the payout themselves. They just want the money to do something useful. In that case, “donate foreign coins to charity” can be a practical alternative to leaving them unused.
Do this instead: check whether the service lets you direct proceeds to a UK charity if that suits your goal better than personal payment.
Why We Buy All Currency is the Smart Choice
A good comparison should lead to a service that matches the awkward reality of leftover travel money. That means accepting more than neat bundles of current banknotes and offering a process that doesn't depend on branch visits.
One option in that category is We Buy All Currency. It accepts foreign coins and banknotes, including current, withdrawn, and obsolete currency, and it also supports mixed collections through an online, weight-based wizard. Customers can choose payment by bank transfer or PayPal, send currency by post, and payment is issued within five working days after verification, according to the publisher information provided for this article.
Why the model is practical
The main advantage is simplicity. Instead of forcing the customer into a narrow notes-only workflow, the service is built around the kind of leftovers people have. That includes coins, old notes, and mixed bags that many mainstream providers decline.
It also avoids one common point of friction in the market. Some services, such as M&S Travel Money, require customers to lock an online sell-back rate for four days and then visit a physical bureau for cash settlement, which is a less direct process than a postal model for many users (M&S Travel Money sell currency).
Where it fits best
This type of service is especially useful for:
- Travellers with mixed leftovers: not just one stack of common notes
- People holding old or withdrawn currency: including items others may reject
- Charities and organisations: where unsorted foreign cash arrives in batches
- Anyone who values a no-branch process: pack, post, and receive payment
There's also a clear trust signal in the structure. Rates are shown before sending, there are no hidden charges described in the publisher details, and dissatisfied customers can have currency returned free of charge under a happiness guarantee.
For difficult leftovers, that combination matters more than a polished shopfront. It's a practical solution for money that other providers often treat as out of scope.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Travel Money
Can I sell travel money in the UK if I only have coins?
Yes, but not every provider will accept them. This is the main reason to compare specialist services rather than relying only on banks or bureaux. If you want to exchange foreign coins, check acceptance rules before sending anything.
Do UK banks accept leftover foreign currency?
Sometimes, but usually with limits. Banks are often more comfortable with current banknotes than coins, mixed currency, or older issues. If your money is awkward or unsorted, a specialist option is usually more suitable.
Can I exchange foreign coins and notes together?
Yes, with the right provider. Some specialist services are set up specifically to handle mixed collections. That's often the easiest route if you've got leftover foreign currency from several trips.
What about old, withdrawn, or pre-euro currency?
It can still have value, depending on the provider. Standard bureaux often reject older issues, but specialist services may accept obsolete or withdrawn currency. It's worth checking before assuming it's useless.
How does a postal currency exchange service work?
The process is usually straightforward. You check what the provider accepts, package the currency securely, send it by post, and receive payment after verification. Tracked post is the sensible option because it gives you a delivery record.
Do I need to sort all my coins first?
Not always. Some specialist services accept mixed and unsorted currency, which is a major advantage if you've got a bag of leftovers rather than neat bundles. Always read the provider's instructions first.
Is it better to compare rates or fees?
Compare both together. In practice, what matters is the final amount you receive in pounds. A service with a better-looking rate can still produce a worse result if the process adds charges or rejects part of your currency.
Can I donate foreign coins to charity instead of taking payment?
Yes, some services allow that. If your goal is to put unused travel money to good use, choosing a provider that supports charity donations can be a practical option.
How long does payment take?
It depends on the service and when valuation happens. Some providers pay after they receive and verify the currency. Always check the stated process before sending your package so you know what to expect.
If you've got coins, notes, old holiday money, or currency that other providers won't touch, We Buy All Currency offers a straightforward way to exchange leftover currency without sorting everything by hand. It's a practical option if you want to convert foreign coins and banknotes, or turn forgotten travel money into cash or a charity donation.