Ben Rawson-Jones, Wednesday July 16, 2008
A car crash is a horrible experience for anyone, but an increasing number of motorists are stunned to discover that their level of cover isn't as high as they expected – particularly abroad. With the summer holiday season upon us, find out how to ensure that you are fully protected across the Continent
Thousands of motorists will take their cars over to mainland Europe this summer, but many are totally unaware that they won’t have the same level of insurance cover on foreign tarmac.
A number of insurers have changed the terms and conditions of their motor insurance policies meaning that fully comprehensive cover isn’t as comprehensive as it used to be. When searching for car insurance you need to compare more than just price. As well as understanding what you are covered for, it is important to know what is excluded.
Taking your car abroad
Many insurers will automatically downgrade your insurance if you take your car over to Europe, but 39% of drivers aren’t aware of this according to a survey by moneysupermarket.com. Regulations state that insurers must only provide the minimum level of third party cover in all EU countries, which means that drivers must pay for any damage to their own car.
Get a cheap car insurance quote – fast
Drivers with motor insurance from Barclays, Direct Line, Churchill and Esure are most at risk from their policies being automatically reduced to a third party cover in Europe.
There are several insurers who do automatically provide the same level of cover throughout the EU, which would be hugely beneficial to those who regularly drive in Europe. Endsleigh, Marks & Spencer, The Post Office and The AA are among those that will retain your existing level of cover if you take your car abroad.
However, the length of time you are insured for is usually capped for 60 or 90 days, so you will need extended cover if your stay abroad is longer.
