Quarter of a million drivers not fully covered for EU trips

Before packing the kids in the back seat and setting off for the ferry, AA Insurance urges drivers to check that they are properly covered if they are driving outside the UK.

Britain’s biggest car and home insurance broker believes a quarter of a million drivers will take to the European roads this holiday, unaware that they are not fully insured.

"When preparing for your holiday, checking your car insurance is probably the last thing on your mind as you sort out the packing, ferry or tunnel tickets and the essentials for your journey," says Kevin Sinclair, managing director of AA Insurance.

"Insurers are legally obliged to provide at least third party cover for EU member states. But although you might have comprehensive cover in the UK, you shouldn’t assume that the same applies for journeys across the channel."

The AA automatically covers customers with comprehensive insurance for up to 90 days in any EU country. "But we believe about a third of all drivers do not enjoy such cover and up to a third of them won’t think to call their insurer to extend their comprehensive cover for a cross-channel trip — especially if they are only going for two or three days," says Kevin Sinclair.

"An accident on holiday is bad enough, without discovering that you’re facing a massive repair bill to your car, or having to fork out for a new one, as well."

Because the third-party part of an insurance policy automatically includes Europe, the International Insurance Certificate (‘Green Card’) is no longer necessary in EU countries "I think that has led many people to believe their comprehensive insurance covers them, too," adds Kevin Sinclair.

The AA also reminds drivers to take their insurance documents with them. "Your insurer should be able to send you a translation of your insurance certificate — this will help overcome the language barrier if the police ask to see it," Kevin Sinclair says. "We also encourage drivers to take out European breakdown cover — if the worst comes to the worst, this will at least enable you to continue to enjoy your holiday while your broken-down or accident-damaged car is repaired or repatriated."