A large number of UK drivers do not know if their car insurance policies cover them when they head abroad on trips, new research from uSwitch.com has stated.

uSwitch.com research notes that in total, 17.2 million motorists are in the dark when it comes to their driving cover abroad, while extension of products can set them back a large amount.

A variety of problems such as theft and injury are not included in deals under European Union regulations, uSwitch said, but some providers can make amendments to their original deals.

Insurance Expert at uSwitch.com Ashton Berkhauer noted that the situation could be averted if drivers opt to fully research deals. He commented: ‘Consumers should look at the level of cover on offer and watch out for any restrictive clauses as to the number of consecutive days a car can be driven abroad before the driver must return to the UK.’
Research conducted by independent finance site MoneyExpert discovered that 25 per cent of comprehensive car insurance policies will only cover vehicles taken to other countries if drivers have requested additional cover. Figures suggest that around 6.3 million people take a motoring holiday abroad each year and many could be unknowingly taking extra risks.

Tim Berry of MoneyExpert explained: ‘Taking your own car overseas makes sense for millions who want to avoid queuing at airports or driving an unfamiliar hire car when you're already struggling to adapt to driving on the wrong side of the road.’

‘However, insurers have strict rules on what you can and cannot do when it comes to taking our cars out of the country’, he added.

Although many car insurance providers only offer British drivers overseas third party cover, only two in three people are unaware of the fact, the research showed. Meanwhile, one in ten Britons currently takes a risk by assuming they are covered by their comprehensive UK travel insurance policy for any mishaps while motoring abroad. Recent research from Zurich also revealed that 28 per cent of British motorists fail to check their travel insurance before heading on a driving holiday.
Ian Crowder, public relations manager for the AA, explained that policies purchased in the UK are required to offer the minimum legal level of cover required for driving in other EU countries.

However, that does not mean a comprehensive policy bought in the UK will provide comprehensive cover when the vehicle is driven abroad, he continued. Different insurers have different approaches to overseas motoring, said Mr Crowder, as some provide 90 days free comprehensive cover, others offer the chance to purchase an upgrade to comprehensive cover abroad and some will not provide anything other than the legal minimum.

He added that not having the right cover could prove expensive in the event of a crash abroad, explaining: ‘You've got the expense of getting your car removed and so on, which wouldn't be covered by your insurance if you haven't extended your comprehensive cover to drive in Europe.’
However, spokesman for the ABI, Malcolm Tarling explains that in theory a driver should not have to do anything because the policy will automatic cover them. In practice, he states, this is a different matter because if the car was broken, stolen or damaged abroad the policy might not cover this.