Be prepared for driving abroad

With the annual summer exodus to Europe upon us, many motorists are likely to unwittingly commit numerous offences or fall victim of hefty vehicle repair bills warns Mondial Assistance. As a leading provider of Pan-European roadside assistance services, Mondial is reminding holidaymakers that they could be at risk of fines and high breakdown costs if they don't familiarise themselves with the highway law of the country they are visiting and check that their roadside assistance policy extends to Europe before leaving home.

“British motorists are always surprised by the fact they can be fined on the spot in other countries," comments Lee Taylor, Automotive Director at Mondial Assistance. “In France, for example, speeding fines of 30Km/h will leave holidaymakers €135 worse off. We urge holidaymakers to firstly drive responsibly, but also to have access to an emergency fund should they find themselves in this situation.”

Just as important as driving on the straight and narrow is motorists ensuring that they have adequate breakdown cover in the event that the car decides it doesn't want to come home. “The cost of recovering the vehicle back to the UK will have a dramatic effect on the total cost of the holiday,” continues Lee Taylor. “We recommend people check that they have breakdown cover and that it includes not just the cost of getting the car back to the UK, but the cost of accommodation and onward travel if they are stranded miles from home. The most important thing however, is knowing the phone number of their roadside assistance provider should any motoring difficulties arise.”

Mondial’s Top Tips for Driving Abroad

Take your driving licence, insurance certificate, roadside assistance and vehicle registration document. However check if roadside assistance isn’t already included in your travel insurance policy.

Check with your insurance company that you're fully covered to drive abroad including any medical expenses resulting from an accident.

Check with your motor assistance provider that you have the right level of cover on your vehicle and whether the cover changes in continental Europe from that in the UK.

Request a Green Card from your insurance provider. Even though the card is not required by law to cross borders within the European Union and some other countries, it will provide proof that the minimum third party liability cover required by law in the visited country is in force. Check with your insurer to make sure that your UK policy cover is fully in force when you travel abroad whether or not a Green Card is issued.

Plan your route in advance. Pack a map and/or GPS unit.

Have your car serviced if it is due and do the essential checks on oil, tyres, petrol, battery and water before you leave as these are the most common causes of breakdown.

Buy headlamp deflector strips and a warning triangle. Headlights must be dipped during the day, for example this is the law in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Iceland.

Check you have a spare wheel and a jack, first-aid kit, jump leads, a torch, fuse kits, reflective jacket and spare car light bulbs.

Familiarise yourself with the country’s motoring laws, print a copy if need be and keep it in the car. For example, blood-alcohol limits vary and are not always the same as in Britain.

Place a GB sticker on your car; if not you could get an on-the-spot fine. If you have a GB Euro-symbol on your number plate then you don’t need a GB sticker when driving in Europe.

Check which side of the road you'll be driving on.

Ensure you are driving at the county’s speed limits.