How do You Drive Abroad
Your car insurance policy may not cover you if you decide to take your car outside the UK. Most fully comprehensive policies do not cover you for foreign travel, because for the insurance company dealing with foreign insurers or uninsured drivers can be a real problem.
The price for insurance to take your car abroad depends on which countries you are going to be driving in. The length of your trip, and the nature of your visit, i.e. business or leisure, will also have an impact on the premium.
Of course you need to have insurance to drive abroad, but it is also wise to get breakdown cover. If you cannot communicate well with foreign mechanics for example, then getting even simple repairs done can be very stressful, and your holiday or business trip could be ruined by the delay. The peace of mind that breakdown cover gives you is reassuring, knowing that if your car does breakdown, you will still be able to get on with your trip and get home at the end of it.
Many European insurance and breakdown cover policies can be limited to the exact period you are away. Getting cover for the whole year if you do not need it can be costly. The least expensive breakdown cover will get you roadside assistance if your car breaks down, but for a little more your policy could include hire car cover, repair costs and the costs of getting you back home to the UK.
It is therefore important to carefully read the terms and conditions before you buy insurance to drive your car abroad, and make sure that breakdown cover is included. It is worth shopping around as you will find the prices and different levels of cover vary considerably.
Double check that your medical expenses will be covered if you are injured, or if you injure someone else. Not every country has a national health service like in the UK, and medical bills can be extremely expensive.
Remember that really cheap policies may not include everything you need, and that the complications of dealing with an accident, arranging hire cars, repairs and so on are multiplied by unfamiliar systems and practices abroad.
Do a little bit of homework to make sure you know the local traffic regulations, speed restrictions and that you are driving on the correct side of the road! For example, in France drivers on the main carriageway give way to oncoming traffice, the opposite of the British Highway Code. By failing to learn about these key differences you could be a danger to yourself and others.
Ensure that you inform your insurance company before you go abroad with your car, make sure you take copies of your insurance documents with you. Remember you need to have your driving licence on you, and in some countries you have to get a Green Card which you should have with you at all times.
The price for insurance to take your car abroad depends on which countries you are going to be driving in. The length of your trip, and the nature of your visit, i.e. business or leisure, will also have an impact on the premium.
Of course you need to have insurance to drive abroad, but it is also wise to get breakdown cover. If you cannot communicate well with foreign mechanics for example, then getting even simple repairs done can be very stressful, and your holiday or business trip could be ruined by the delay. The peace of mind that breakdown cover gives you is reassuring, knowing that if your car does breakdown, you will still be able to get on with your trip and get home at the end of it.
Many European insurance and breakdown cover policies can be limited to the exact period you are away. Getting cover for the whole year if you do not need it can be costly. The least expensive breakdown cover will get you roadside assistance if your car breaks down, but for a little more your policy could include hire car cover, repair costs and the costs of getting you back home to the UK.
It is therefore important to carefully read the terms and conditions before you buy insurance to drive your car abroad, and make sure that breakdown cover is included. It is worth shopping around as you will find the prices and different levels of cover vary considerably.
Double check that your medical expenses will be covered if you are injured, or if you injure someone else. Not every country has a national health service like in the UK, and medical bills can be extremely expensive.
Remember that really cheap policies may not include everything you need, and that the complications of dealing with an accident, arranging hire cars, repairs and so on are multiplied by unfamiliar systems and practices abroad.
Do a little bit of homework to make sure you know the local traffic regulations, speed restrictions and that you are driving on the correct side of the road! For example, in France drivers on the main carriageway give way to oncoming traffice, the opposite of the British Highway Code. By failing to learn about these key differences you could be a danger to yourself and others.
Ensure that you inform your insurance company before you go abroad with your car, make sure you take copies of your insurance documents with you. Remember you need to have your driving licence on you, and in some countries you have to get a Green Card which you should have with you at all times.
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