Millions of us take our cars on holiday every year to save the hassle and expense of flying, but will your insurance cover you?
These days it seems we don’t only enjoy holidaying in Europe with family and friends; an increasing number of us choose to drive there as well. It’s estimated that around three million people take their car to the Continent each year and the trend is definitely upwards. Remembering to drive on the right side of the road is important, but so is having the correct insurance.
Car insurance renewal premiums have a habit of increasing every year, even if you haven’t made a claim. Compare car insurance quotes from more than 110 UK providers.
What the law says
Whatever the level of car insurance you have in the UK; all insurers have to provide the legal minimum insurance – which is normally only third party cover – if you take your car to a country that’s a member of the European Union.
The same applies to a limited number of other European countries that the UK has an agreement with (such as Iceland, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland). However, you still need to take the correct documents as evidence that your car is insured.
Comprehensive cover
If you have a comprehensive car insurance policy and are travelling in Europe, don’t assume that your insurer will automatically give you the same level of cover once you leave the UK: many will not.
That said, some policies will give comprehensive cover free of charge within most EU countries (and sometimes a limited number of non-EU ones as well), as long as you tell the insurance company before you travel.
With these companies, cover is normally free for between 30 and 45 days, but you should check with your provider. Other policies may only insure your car on a comprehensive basis free of charge for two or three days and charge extra if your holiday is longer.
Some insurers, however, charge a premium for all comprehensive cover outside the UK. The amount you pay may be a flat fee or linked to the length of your stay, the type of car you own and the country you are visiting, so make sure you read the small print carefully.
Do I need a Green Card?
In the past you had to take a Green Card (a special form provided by insurers) if you took your car abroad as evidence that it was insured, but these days your insurance certificate is all you need if you are travelling within the EU.
Some other countries, including Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, will also accept your car insurance certificate alone.
However, if you are travelling around Eastern Europe and visiting non-EU countries, you may find a Green Card is compulsory. If you need one, contact your insurer. They’ll either send you a Green Card, which usually takes up to 6 weeks to arrive, or they’ll let you know how to download a Green Card to print off yourself.
Breakdown cover
If you look carefully, you can get car insurance policies that include breakdown cover while you’re driving abroad – but they are in the minority. If yours doesn’t, you can upgrade your existing breakdown policy or buy a standalone one.
As with car insurance, the level of cover you get will vary. Some policies have lower claim limits than others; some will arrange for your car to be transported home if it cannot be repaired while you’re away, others will only pay for you to go back and pick it up.
It’s a good idea to make sure your car has been serviced regularly as you may be asked for evidence of this if you have to make a claim.
Car insurance renewal premiums have a habit of increasing every year, even if you haven’t made a claim. Compare car insurance quotes from more than 110 UK providers.
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