Car Insurance For European Holidays
Germany and France have been named as the most expensive places to have a motorway mishap, emphasising the need for drivers to ensure they have suitable car insurance in place for European travel. Research from Aviva found that the average bill if you cause a crash in Germany is £2,940, which is more than 50 percent higher than if you crash a car anywhere else in Europe. There is a need to be wary of French drivers too, as personal injury claims in France average nearly £10,000. It’s not just in these two countries where Brits must be cautious, however. Across the whole of the continent third party claims have risen by 10 per cent and personal injury claims have increased by 20 per cent.
Many drivers mistakenly believe that they will receive the same level of cover on the continent as they do in the UK. In fact, the majority of car insurance providers only offer the most basic form of car insurance in Europe even if you have a comprehensive policy at home. To check whether you will have the same level of cover in Europe as at home you should contact your insurer and ask. It may be that you need to take out additional cover – which will typically cost around £20.
Even if it’s European cover matches what you have at home, check the length of time that this applies for. Some insurers offer 90 days of cover for continental travel, but with other insurers only a handful of days will be covered. If adding European cover seems like an expense you could do without then see if there are other ways to reduce your car insurance premiums. For example, have you informed your insurer if you have security devices on your car or if you park in a garage overnight? Both could earn you discounts.