Considering there is an estimated three million UK motorists set to take their cars abroad this year, its pretty shocking to hear that 17.2 million Brits have admitted to not knowing if their car insurance will cover them whilst they are there.
When travelling throughout Europe you can be happy in the knowledge that you have at least the most basic of cover – third party cover. This is because of EU law, which states that all insurance providers are required to provide this level of cover throughout Europe.
Of course, this cover only protects damage or injury caused to another person’s car or self, you will not be protected against accidental damage, theft or injury.
As with any insurance policy, the level of cover and small print will differ tremendously, in this case the number of “free days” and any restrictions are factors you should be looking for.
For instance, some insurers have a set number of days for which you will be fully covered abroad, whereas others will charge considerably more if you exceed their set number of days.
Also entirely dependant on the insurance company is how the extra cover will be paid. Some for example, make it relatively easy by charging a one-off flat sum for an extension of a set number of days on top of their “free days”. Others though, employ charging bands, charging you a specific amount based on how many days you intend to be driving abroad.
To ensure you don’t get any nasty surprises then it’s important to take a few precautionary steps before driving abroad. Firstly, check your policy to ensure you are going to have adequate cover while on holiday.
If you are unsure about any aspect of your policy then it’s advised you talk with your insurer before setting off – don’t forget to ask about roadside cover, as this may be something extra you have to pay for.
As you can see,
car insurance cover abroad is not something that is in place by default. It is for this reason that you need to check with your
car insurance company before driving abroad. If you are not happy with your premiums, then having a look online is the best way to find
cheap car insurance quotes.
