Motor insurance: keep your car covered when you cross the Channel
August 10, 2007
Kara Gammell guides you through the labyrinth of insuring your family vehicle for that motoring trip to France, whether on a quick wine run or summer holiday
Case study: Green Flag saved holiday from a washout
Nearly a million people who do not check their motor insurance before driving off on holiday abroad could face a nasty shock should they come to claim, according to research released this week.
Being properly insured in case of accidents overseas is essential given that more than a third of drivers in the survey by Norwich Union admit they have accidentally driven on the wrong side of the road and 42 per cent have admitted looking the wrong way when approaching junctions.
Erik Nelson of Norwich Union said: "It is important to understand that fully comprehensive motor insurance in the UK does not automatically mean the same level of cover abroad, and so we urge people to contact their insurer to assess their level of cover when away, and decide whether to upgrade their policy prior to their trip."
Many drivers with comprehensive car insurance will find their policies bumped down to third-party cover as soon as they drive outside the UK.
Hoping for the best could prove an expensive mistake, as the cost of car accidents abroad can vary from an average of £1,445 in France to £5,180 in Sweden and Denmark, according to Norwich Union.
Major insurers such as Admiral, Barclays, HSBC, More Than, RAC Direct Insurance and Zurich do not automatically extend comprehensive cover abroad on standard policies, according to statisticians Defaqto.
Some insurers will provide enough comprehensive cover on the Continent for you to nip away for a weekend.
For example, Direct Line, Egg, esure, Halifax, MBNA Europe, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and swiftcover.com policies all include foreign trips for three days at no extra charge. AA Insurance, American Express, Churchill and Marks & Spencer include comprehensive cover for trips of up to 90 days abroad.
References:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ |
