By Michael Challiner
Around three million British drivers head off abroad each summer to experience first hand the beautiful countries in Europe but regularly mistakenly assume that because they have fully comprehensive at home that they will outside the UK too.
Car insurance providers in the UK offer the minimal protection required by law in some EU countries, and that is road traffic accident cover. You may have fully comprehensive cover at home with top insurers like Admiral, Swiftcover, Direct Line, Barclays or Esure but your cover abroad is only third party, therefore any accidents costs will cover the third party not yours.
Head of insurance at Moneysupermarket.com, Peter Gerrard says that British motorists just presume they are covered. "Never assume you are covered abroad – always check your policy. It's very easy to think that because you have paid your premium, your insurance will be valid overseas."
All that is needed is a simple policy upgrade so that you have the same UK coverage whilst abroad. To cover a year, for all trips less than 90 days, Norwich Union charge £25, and Direct Line charge £19 for a 36 year old driving a Ford Fiesta. The RAC also charge £25 to increase cover per year.
Supermarket giant, Tesco, also do comprehensive add-on’s to UK insurance and also include legal advice and expenses, delivery of replacement parts, roadside assistance and recovery, a replacement vehicle while the car is off the road and help if the driver is ill. This costs £45 for up to 8 days, rising to £65 for up to 22 days. The larger insurers Barclays, Swiftcover, Direct Line and Esure will cover for up to 90 days for up to £23 and Admiral will do it for 30 days.
Other insurers, the AA, Churchill, Marks & Spencer, Endsleigh and the Post Office will all automatically upgrade your cover when you drive in Europe.
When you go on holiday you must always take your insurers details with you just in case you have an emergency and need to contact them.
You will need a green card from your insurer if your travels take you outside the EU. This is an internationally recognised document that proves that you are covered to comply with local legislation. There may be a nominal fee for issuing this card.
If you hire a car whilst abroad the cost will include fully comprehensive insurance cover but check the excess charge – it varies in all countries and can be as high as £1000. Insurance-4hire.com, specialists in this field, says that 4 out of 10 holidaymakers do not realise that they could be liable for these costs should they have an accident.
"If you rent a car you will automatically get insurance, but you should be wary of excesses. You might want to buy an excess waiver policy, where you pay a bit extra but then will not face an excess if you make a claim," says Mr Gerrard at Moneysupermarket.com.
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