UK motorists looking to drive their cars abroad should exercise extreme caution before hitting the road. This was the advice given by Sainsbury’s Car Insurance which reports that unless drivers take steps to make sure that they have adequate cover before going on a foreign driving holiday then they could be faced with costly repair bills. According to the company, just under a fifth (17 per cent) of holidaymakers are planning on taking their car overseas during the next year. Overall, France was targeted as being the most likely destination for an overseas driving break, with some 4.58 million drivers looking to take their cars to the European country over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, 1.89 million are set to hit the road in Ireland, with 1.7 million going on a road trip to Germany. Spain, Italy and Belgium were also considered to be sought-after locations for motorists.
Additionally, it would appear that people are planning a comprehensive journey, with about half of all those going abroad predicting they will cover more than 1,000 miles driving while away, meanwhile 19 per cent are expecting to drive between 500 and 1,000 miles.
However, before setting out to hit the road for Paris, Rome, Berlin or any other European destination, Sainsbury’s Car Insurance not only advised drivers to get fully comprehensive car insurance but also to get in contact with their provider to let them know of their holiday driving plans prior to their departure. It came to light that although many insurers provide cover for driving on the continent, policyholders need to let their insurer know of their intentions. Should this not happen, Sainsbury’s reported drivers would likely see their cover reduced to only incorporate third party, fire and theft.
For those people who do not have an adequate policy while on their trip abroad it may be possible they have to dip into their own pockets in order to meet the cost of repairs to their vehicle following a breakdown, accident or theft. This could have an impact on their ability to manage loans, credit cards and mortgage repayments upon their return back home.
In order to reduce the chances of getting into difficulties whilst abroad, the company advised drivers to plan their route carefully and to check the motoring legislation for the countries that they will be driving through. In addition, checking tyre pressure and brake fluid levels before departing was also recommended.
Joanne Mallon, car insurance manager for Sainsbury’s, reported: "When going on holiday, most people will remember to take travel insurance but we are concerned that some motorists are overlooking the need to ensure that their car journey is fully covered. Having an accident anywhere is bad enough but when abroad it can be compounded by a lack of local knowledge; to then find that the other party’s damage is covered, but not your own, is surely a blow worth avoiding."
Those people looking for an practical way to fund a trip abroad may discover that obtaining a personal loans is recommended. And for those wishing to buy a car to take to the road for an adventure on the continent, a cheap loan may not only help with purchasing a new car but also to get a comprehensive insurance policy. Borrowing for the means of getting a car could also be recommended, as a recent Experian study showed 20 per cent of males would go overdrawn just to get a car.
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