European car insurance guides

Britain is well integrated with Europe these days, but that doesn’t mean driving on the continent is as straightforward as booking your car on the next cross-channel ferry. You probably need to do a bit of preparation to make sure you’re fully insured for your trip – and it’s also a good idea to get to grips with foreign rules of the road to make sure you don’t fall foul of any differences in the law.

Check that your insurance covers you in the EU, you may have to speak to you insurance compant directly should you need to change or cancel your insurance policy.  

Extending your insurance

Under European law, your insurer should automatically extend your cover when you’re driving anywhere in the EU. The bad news is that this cover is likely only to be the bare minimum, ie. third-party insurance. This covers other road users against damage you may cause to them or their vehicles, but it doesn’t insure your own car.

The only way you can make a claim with third-party cover is if an accident is someone else’s fault – and you can prove it. Otherwise, you’ll have to foot the bill for any repairs to your own vehicle, as well as your own medical treatment if necessary. Most people who have comprehensive policies in the UK will be keen to have this higher level of protection extended to any European trips. Most insurers will happily do this: some include continental cover in their policies as standard, while with other firms you’ll have to pay a fee, although this should not be very expensive.

Before you go

In either case, you should inform your insurer of your plans to travel and tell them how long you will be away. Policies which allow you to extend cover at no extra cost may have a limit for the number of days per year you can be fully insured while in Europe. They may also stipulate that you inform your provider every time you plan to travel. If you have to pay extra to extend your comprehensive cover, the amount will depend on the length of your trip.

Your insurer will issue you with a green card – a motor insurance certificate that is valid in the EU. Green cards used to be a legal requirement, and while this is no longer the case, taking one will make it easier if you need to make a claim or exchange details with another road user or the local police.

Extra protection

It may also be worth taking out insurance against any mechanical problems your vehicle might suffer. The consequences of suffering a breakdown while you’re overseas could be severe: if you can’t get moving again quickly, it could mean you miss out on some of your holiday. And the cost of bringing a car back to the UK for repairs is likely to be very high. If you already have breakdown cover in the UK, it is unlikely to extend to Europe unless you specifically requested that at the time of purchase.

Your breakdown insurer may allow you to extend protection for the duration of your trip for an extra fee, or you could take out cover solely for your holiday. Compare the cost of signing up for a year-long European breakdown policy with the price for a couple of weeks, or however long you’re planning to be away for. If there’s a chance you could head to the Continent again in the near future, a year-round policy could prove more economical than buying insurance twice.

Other checks to make

Before heading off on a long trip is a good time to have your car serviced. At the very least, you should check oil, water and tyre pressure. Take some time to familiarise yourself with the driving rules wherever you are headed. Speed limits vary from country to country – and you shouldn’t expect speed limit signs always to be available to help you out. And drink-driving limits can be stricter than in the UK. If in doubt, the best policy is to avoid alcohol altogether.

The equipment you need to have in your car can also vary. Some countries make it a legal requirement to carry a warning triangle and high-visibility jacket in case you break down. If you don’t have a new-style EU licence plate (which shows which member state the vehicle was registered in) you should also have a GB sticker attached. If you don’t, you could face an on-the-spot fine. Check also that your headlights don’t dazzle drivers coming towards you on the left. You may need to buy a headlight-converter kit if they do.

If your vehicle is originally from the EU zone or beyond, you be required to alert your insurance comapny, as this may be classed as an imported vehicle.