A Guide For Safer Road Travel Abroad
Despite the rising cost of fuel; road trips are now a very popular holiday choice for motorists who prefer sight-seeing and adventure to lazing around on a sunny beach. This has no doubt been spurred on by popular television programmes like Top Gear and films such as Due Date. However, it is very easy to get swept up in all of the excitement prior to setting off on a road trip and forget about motoring essentials such as car insurance and breakdown cover.
Will my existing car insurance policy cover me during my holiday?
Motorists who take their vehicles abroad will be afforded the same levels of protection that they would ordinarily receive while travelling in their home nation by a limited number insurers who focus on quality. This will not normally be provided through cheaper policies and it is therefore recommended that you check with your current provider before setting off on your travels in order to find out whether or not your cover levels will be adequate.
Ordinarily insurance providers will immediately downgrade fully comprehensive policies to third party levels or even lower in the event of the policy holder leaving the country in their vehicle. With third party levels of car insurance cover, the provider agrees to cover the cost of repairs for anyone involved in an accident for which the policy holder was responsible but will not cover the cost of repairs to the policy holder’s car. This can be particularly troublesome, particularly if you are in a foreign land; as it can leave you stranded and facing extremely high fees to either get your vehicle repaired or shipped back home.
It’s recommended that you arrange for dedicated European car insurance policy if your current policy will not offer you the same levels of protection abroad as it would at home. This may not exactly be a form of cheap car insurance cover when compared to conventional policy prices, but it might be worth paying a little bit more initially as it could save you money in the longer term.
What about my breakdown cover policy?
Your breakdown cover policy is another agreement which could be jeopardised by your decision to take your vehicle abroad. However, unlike with car insurance, many breakdown cover providers may simply refuse to offer you any roadside assistance at all once you are outside of your home nation.
This can be incredibly problematic if you break down in a foreign country, as it can leave you seeking out assistance from a local garage in a land in which you are unfamiliar while communicating in a language in which you may not be fluent. Unexpected expenses such as this also have the potential to wipe out your allocated holiday expenditure, which could well cut your road trip short.
In order to avoid this potential unexpected expense and the stress that comes with it, it is recommended that you purchase a dedicated European breakdown cover policy. Under these agreements, the provider will guarantee the same levels of cover as you would receive while at home by enlisting the services of various companies based in these countries who they have existing agreements with. Again, you would obviously pay a bit more but it could well save you money in the longer term; particular for people who are take their vehicle on a road trip.
Other Things To Remember
There are other things to remember when you are taking your vehicle abroad. Breakdown cover kits which contain equipment like puncture repair kits are essential and also don’t forget to take a spare tyre or at least a space saver which can take you to the nearest garage.
It is also recommended that you arrange for a full servicing and a thorough check of your vehicle health before setting off on your expedition so as to minimise the potential for failures over the duration of the journey.
Amongst all of the excitement and planning that is required when arranging a road trip holiday, it is easy to forget about your vehicle; but it really isn’t something that can be taken for granted as it has the potential to completely ruin your holiday if you are reliant upon it.
