Friday, November 6, 2009

Are You Covered When Driving Abroad?

With the holiday season approaching, many UK motorists will be planning to take their car overseas and drive in countries such as France and Belgium. However, if an accident takes place they could be in for a nasty surprise courtesy of their car insurance provider.

A car insurance comparison website has issued a warning to drivers to check their policies before they travel or they may not have the level of cover they expect. Research has found that 39 per cent of motorists are unaware that their car insurance is automatically downgraded from comprehensive cover to third party only when they drive across the continent.

Some of the leading car insurance companies in the UK automatically reduce their policyholders' level of cover when in Europe, including Direct Line, esure, Swiftcover and Barclays.

The details should be outlined in the small print of your policy. Every insurer is obliged to offer third party cover in all EU countries but if you have comprehensive cover in the UK the potential downgrade may come as a shock.

Anyone who regularly drives on the continent, such as those who work abroad or have a holiday home, are advised to review their car insurance policies to ensure they have a level of cover that's suitable for them.

Drivers should also take time to review the rules and regulations of each country they plan to visit. For example, the speed limit on town roads in Belgium is just 50km/h. It's also illegal to travel without a warning triangle in France, Belgium and Germany - and motorists should not forget to adjust their headlamps and display GB stickers.

An accident or conviction overseas can seriously impact your car insurance premiums. If your provider doesn't offer comprehensive cover abroad, shop around for cheap car insurance with a comparison website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Gregory





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