Car Insurance When Going Abroad

Published: 09/18/2012

If you intend to take your car abroad you will need to make sure that you have adequate insurance for this. Some people make the mistake of just assuming that the coverage they have at home will still apply when they leave the country with their vehicle. This can be a huge mistake. Even if their policy claims to offer them coverage when driving abroad it may not be offering them the same level of protection. It is therefore crucial that people understand their situation before they take their vehicle to a foreign country. If people wait until they need to make a claim before finding out this information it can become a source of regret.

Things to Consider with Car Insurance When Going Abroad

There are a few things that people will need to consider before taking their vehicle abroad such as:

  • Some UK insurance will downgrade your policy if you are going to be driving on the continent. What this means is that if you have an accident you will not have benefit from the same amount of coverage. Even if you normally have fully comprehensive car insurance it may be the case that while driving abroad you are only covered for third party coverage.
  • It is believed that up to 50% of policy holders are unsure about the extent their insurance will cover them while driving abroad. Many of these people have the mistaken idea that they have full coverage on their European trips when in fact they do not. It is therefore important that people clarify the situation with their insurer so that they do not end up full of regrets later.
  • Another worry is that people may have insufficient coverage for the country they are visiting when abroad. It is therefore vital that people do a bit of research before they travel – otherwise they could end up with legal as well as financial problems in the result of an accident. The more reputable insures will offer at least the minimum amount of coverage for the places the individual will be visiting.
  • It is also important that people understand the length of time that they will be covered when driving abroad. This can be as long as 90 days but with some insurance companies it may only be 30 days. If people are unaware of the time restrictions on their policy it could mean that they are driving abroad without any coverage.
  • If people do not feel comfortable that their current policy is offering enough coverage for travelling abroad they will have the option to upgrade. They only need to do this for the length of their holiday.
  • Those individuals who expect to be driving abroad for longer than 90 days may be wise to check out other options for car insurance.

Taking your vehicle abroad can make a holiday enjoyable, but it is important that you have adequate insurance for this. If you have an accident, or your car is stolen, your predicament will be worse without adequate coverage.

 
Posted in: Vehicle Insurance
 
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