European Car Insurance: Here’s What You Need to Know?

Approximately twelve percent (12%) of UK motorists travel to european destinations every year and of these more than a third are unaware that they have too little european car insurance cover. They assume that they are fully insured to drive in europe but what actually happens is that many UK insurers will downgrade the level of insurance cover on any vehicles taken abroad. 

By law they have to provide a minimum level of cover for driving in european countries but this is usually third party only.

There are basically two types of european car insurance cover. Firstly, there is the temporary cover which is ideally suited to holiday makers and people going on short visits.  Then there is the more comprehensive cover which is specifically for people intending to stay in europe for extended periods of time.

Some insurers will offer automatic comprehensive cover for up to 90 days which is valid in all EC countries with no requirement that the motorist must inform the insurer the intended dates of travel, this is ideal for holiday travellers and perfect for short business trips. Other insurers will want to know beforehand the date of travel and the duration of the trip.  They will also inform you of the amount of free european car insurance cover you are entitled to and what additional cover is available.

Some companies will charge a little extra for comprehensive insurance including european breakdown cover. Something to be aware of,  the cost of recovering a vehicle outside of the UK especially when there are no suitably equipped garages nearby to service the car can be extremely expensive.  For instance, Auto parts in europe for cars with right hand drives are not commonly available and the cost of returning a car to the UK could run into several hundreds of pounds.

One important document you’ll need to take with you and your insurer will provide is the ‘Green Card’, although this is no longer a legal requirement when travelling in europe it can make life so much easier in the event of an accident.  The green card is internationally recognized and confirms that you have the minimum level of european car insurance coverage.

Finally if you do intend to spend more time in mainland europe and require a longer term insurance cover it may be worth considering an international car insurance policy.  Speak to your insurer, they will be able to advise you which policy would be best suited to your needs.

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