Research by Sheilas’ Wheels has revealed that 4.3 million Britons will drive to Europe this year and 15% of them believe they will be covered by their fully comprehensive insurance.

Numerous fully-comp policies including Norwich Union Direct, RAC and Direct Line only offer 3rd party insurance cover while abroad unless the policy holder adds substantial costs to their agreement, sometimes in the region of hundreds of pounds.  Others such as RSA require travellers to inform them before the trip.

Jacky Brown at Sheilas’ Wheels said:

“It is crucial for motorists to call their insurer and tell them that they want to extend their level of cover for driving abroad.”

Defaqto, a market analyst, reports that 61% of comprehensive insurance policies do not cover European breakdown, while 28% have it as an optional extra. Only 11% have it as standard in a policy.

Comprehensive cover can be arranged for overseas trips but this can lead to a weekly surcharge.  Some companies like Zurich will offer a free period of cover, in this case 60 days, but will charge extra for any weeks over that amount.  Uswitch estimated that a trip of 180 days would end up costing the driver £510.  This breaks down as £20 a week in rural areas and an extra £30 a week in urban areas such as city-breaks.

Many insurers charge £21.50 for 90 days including Barclays, while some base their rates on the number of days required.  Diamond, for example, will charge £9.50 for a further three days and £17.50 for up to 14 days of cover. Annual cover can be bought for an extra £34.50. Admiral charges £9 for four days, and £17 for up to 30 days. Some such as Marks & Spencer, Churchill, Endsleigh and the AA, offer free comprehensive cover for 90 days a year, while The Post Office offers 45 days.
The only insurance providers that offer free cover for up to 365 days are Ecar and Saga.

Ashton Berkhauer, an insurance expert at Uswitch.com, said:

“It isn’t only sun-cream protection that holidaymakers need to worry about when driving abroad this year. Motorists must also spend some time examining the protection offered by their car insurance provider. Consumers should look at the level of cover on offer and watch out for any restrictive clauses and the number of consecutive days a car can be driven abroad before the driver returns to the UK”

Travellers have also been warned that breakdown coverage needs to be taken into account before travelling, with many of the big organisations offering reduced rates to existing customers.

Jacky Brown warns that as well as insurance and breakdown troubles, policy holders need to be wary of the varying travel rules in different countries:

"It is also vital that motorists understand the basic rules and regulations for driving on foreign roads and be fully prepared by planning their journeys, carrying the essential equipment and giving their car a maintenance check before setting off."