Cover Abroad
Using a car to travel across Europe, whether on holiday or for work, is very popular. However, there are a few important things to consider before you drive abroad , especially when it comes to your car insurance.
Section 145, subsection 3b, of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA 1988) as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 (RTA 1991), states that your insurance policy:
'must insure him or them in respect of any liability which may be incurred by him or them in respect of the use of the vehicle and of any trailer, whether or not coupled, in the territory other than Great Britain and Gibraltar of each of the member States of the Communities according to the law on compulsory insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of vehicles of the State where the liability may be incurred'
In other words, your UK car insurance policy will, by law, also cover you when driving abroad in the EU and in certain other countries. However, the cover provided by your policy when driving abroad must only be third party cover. This means that even if you have fully comprehensive insurance in the UK, you are not automatically given fully comprehensive cover while you drive abroad. In this case, if your car is stolen or damaged, or you have legal fees to pay, your insurance will not usually cover you.
When driving in an EU country, your car insurance certificate is proof that you are covered. If you are travelling outside the EU, you may require a Green Card to prove that you are insured in the UK. Some insurers may not cover you in certain countries outside of the EU at all, such as Slovenia and Croatia. In this case, you may be required to purchase car insurance upon arrival in that country.
Extend Your Cover
Some insurance companies will extend your fully comprehensive cover to EU countries for a extra charge, for example £20 for ninety days' extended cover. If you wish to extend your cover you must give your insurer sufficient notice, so that any additional paperwork can be completed before you travel.
Most policies will not require notice if you plan to drive abroad for short periods and do not wish to extend your cover. However, if your trip will be longer than sixty days you may be required to tell your insurance company that you are driving abroad: otherwise you may find yourself with no cover after the sixtieth day. If you are unsure about how long you are allowed to drive abroad without amending your policy, you should refer to your policy booklet or contact your insurer.
Compensation
If you are the victim of a road accident abroad, whether or not you were driving, you are able to make a personal injury claim for compensation just as you would in the UK. All European insurers must appoint a UK representative to handle your claim in English. Example claims include: injuries sustained in a collision with a French driver, or when knocked down by a Spanish driver whilst crossing the road abroad.
The level of compensation available for a claim is either that which applies in the UK or that available in the foreign country, whichever is higher. You have a minimum coverage of €100,000 for damage and €350,000 for personal injury, although some insurers will limit these figures if several victims are awarded compensation under the same claim.
Green Card
When driving in the EU you are no longer required to carry a Green Card, although it may prove useful when stopped by foreign police: in other countries you will need to show one. When you are driving in a foreign country it is important to be aware of the rules of the road to avoid fines. If you are involved in an accident abroad, contact your insurance provider. The claim should be handled in the same way as a claim for an incident in the UK. For more details of cover abroad, see:
