Motoring off abroad? Make sure you’re covered
Motoring-mad Brits planning to take their car to Europe on holiday this year need to be aware of exactly what their car insurance policy will cover them for, says comparison site moneysupermarket.com.
moneysupermarket.com found, of 20 big brand car insurers over half offer motorists the same level of cover they have in the UK when driving on the continent. For example, Marks and Spencer and Endsleigh both honour their fully comprehensive policies for 90 days of driving in Europe. However, seven insurers will automatically downgrade a fully comprehensive policy to provide only the minimum level of cover required for the country you are driving in, and another will downgrade further to third party only cover. If you are driving through several countries during your holiday then the level of car insurance cover could vary considerably from country to country as a result.
Steve Sweeney, head of car insurance at moneysuypermarket.com said: "It is a mistake to assume your existing cover is valid when driving abroad - chances are your car insurance policy is likely to differ. When driving in continental Europe, motorists need to be aware a provider could automatically downgrade a fully comprehensive policy to either the minimum cover required for the country you are driving in or even third party only - and that's as soon as the wheels hit continental soil. It's therefore crucial Brits scour the small print of their policy. If you were unfortunate enough to have a crash while abroad and were only covered for third party, you could find your great holiday getaway turns into an expensive motoring nightmare."
The policy small-print also reveals how long the cover will last for - some policies will only last for 30 days for example, whereas others will provide unlimited cover (within reason) for driving on the continent.
Steve Sweeney continued: "If your car insurance policy does automatically downgrade you, it's worth speaking to your insurer ahead of your trip so you can make amendments to your policy if needs be."
DON'T FORGET TRAVEL COVER
Brits travelling to Europe also need to ensure they have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which entitles UK citizens to receive free or reduced cost medical treatment when in other European Economic Area countries. The EHIC, which is free to apply for, is the only recognised document for medical treatment in the EEA and every family member must have their own card. The EHIC remains valid for five years so if you already have a card, check the expiry date before you travel.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at moneysupermarket.com said: "Holidaymakers heading to Europe can present the EHIC to secure the same state-provided medical treatment as a local resident. However, any non-essential care or treatment can cost extra, and not presenting the card from the offset can cause complications. The EHIC only offers relatively low level financial reimbursement for basic medical bills, and holidaymakers shouldn't view it as a replacement for travel insurance, especially as it will not pay for you to be returned to the UK for ongoing medical treatment or for air ambulances.
"Recent ABI travel insurance figures have shown the number of holidaymakers falling ill while abroad has hit a record high,3 demonstrating just how important having adequate travel insurance is. Medical treatment abroad doesn't come cheap and holidaymakers stand to lose out and suffer unexpected financial pain if they don't have the right insurance in place. As well as offering comprehensive medical treatment cover, travel insurance protects you for lost or stolen possessions, holiday cancellation, personal liability and a range of other costly possibilities. For this reason it is important to have both an EHIC that is in date and a valid private travel insurance policy. The trick is to shop around for the right level of cover for you at the right price."