Driving abroad? Make sure you’re covered
Posted by admin - 15/06/09 at 11:06 am
As we get into the holiday season, the RAC and parent company Aviva report this week that driving abroad without appropriate breakdown and insurance protection can be a very costly experience; sage advice indeed. Figures from the two companies show that the cost of breaking down can run in to the thousands of pounds; throw in an accident with a personal injury claim and the damage to your wallet is likely to be greater than the value of your car. Couple this with driving on “the wrong side” (left is best, we all know that) and your likelihood of running into bother is greater than you might imagine.
So, for those taking a driving tour of the continent in their own car:
• Make sure it’s in good running condition;
• Get European breakdown cover the AA and RAC are good at this;
• Know the rules of road and watch your speed;
• Be certain you have the right insurance cover (cutting corners can be very, very expensive); and
• Be mindful of the weight of goods you bring back – a heavily-laden vehicle behaves differently.
If that all sounds a bit much, then the simple option is to hire a car abroad, but be mindful of:
• Compulsory accident excess – paying a bit more to get it reduced might be a good idea;
• Knowing which countries you are permitted to take the vehicle into (if you are crossing borders);
• Checking if the company offers sat-nav (will cost a bit more, but stop you getting lost!); and
• Adding breakdown cover, if it’s not already included