If you are planning a getaway by car into Europe this year, however much it may be a dampener to your spirits, researching your breakdown cover is a must to avoid a stressful stranding situation. The AA attended more than 3.4 million call-outs in the UK alone in 2011 and those numbers increased during the winter month of February to around 16,000 breakdowns per day. You wouldn’t want one of these breakdowns to be you, especially in a foreign country with more communication problems. So here is a simple guide for those who are new to the European car journey.
The guarantees of European breakdown cover.
Gaining car breakdown cover abroad will allow you to take your vehicle overseas with the same guarantee of services offered to you back in the UK. This means that you vehicle will either be taken back to the UK or repaired at the side of the road whilst you are in Europe.
Read the fine print.
Top UK roadside service providers such as the AA, Green Flag and RAC all offer a European service, however many service providers do not include European cover so always read the fine print of your current service provider before setting off. Other differences include countries within Europe that your policy covers, person and vehicle cover or just vehicle, and of course, prices. Breakdown cover will ultimately give you peace of mind whilst on holiday, so it is important to check the details first. For more information, take a quick look on Carfinance247.co.uk for more in-depth information about the costs.
European cover, it may not be plain sailing yet. Breakdown cover isn’t always straightforward, for example, you may not have noticed exclusions on your policy. Some policies limit the service to a specific number of days whilst you are abroad over the course of the policy which is usually 12 months. Once you have gone over this limit, your cover will become invalid and you will receive no help at all. Other policies also restrict the cover depending on your European destination. Even though your policy may say European cover, it does not necessarily mean that your country of choice is included in that policy. It is always best to check beforehand to make sure that your trip stays within their lists.
Money.
Some policies cap a limit on how much money they are willing to part with if – for whatever reason – you find yourself dealing with several problems on the road. This applies to any vehicle, a car, van, motorcycle or truck. Another cap you may find in the small print is a limit on how much your provider is willing to spend to get you to a destination. After the limit, you will have to cover additional expenses from your own holiday fund. If you are travelling with a large party, this is particularly important because as well as car finance, accommodation costs could take a big bite out of your bank account.
Types of traveller.
If you are taking your vehicle over to Europe on just this one occasion, it may be more cost effective to take out a European breakdown cover with a single trip policy rather than an annual policy for more frequent travellers.
Guest post submitted from Laura Comben who is a writer from Brighton. Her passions include fashion and beauty, art and photography.