Insurance for Driving Abroad

Insurance cover for driving abroad is included in most UK car insurance policies, allowing your car to be driven anywhere in the EU and in some cases in other European countries. However your policy’s insurance cover may be reduced when driving abroad to the minimum cover allowed by law. Permitted countries may include any country which the Commission of the European Community approves as meeting Article 7(2) of the EU Directive on Insurance of Civil Liabilities arising from the use of motor vehicles (number 72/166/CEE).

We recommend checking your particular insurance policy for details and to clarify any restrictions on use. Most UK insurance companies limit the number of days of driving in Europe to 90 days. In most cases, for a small additional premium, the coverage of your motor insurance policy may be extended to give the same benefits as offered in Great Britain whilst driving in Europe.

Typical UK car insurance policies permit driving in the following EU member countries. The list below also includes non-EU members meeting the aforementioned EU insurance directive:

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Iceland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland (including Liechtenstein).

European Driving Regulations

If you intend driving abroad, European rules and regulations require that you carry with you the following documents:

Valid full UK driving license with paper counterpart
An International Driving Permit (if required)
V5C Vehicle Registration Document
Certificate of Motor Insurance
Passport
Vehicle on Hire Certificate VE103b for a hire car
A letter of authorisation from the registered keeper if you are borrowing the vehicle

Other EU Driving Rules

EU driving regulations and legally binding rules differ in mainland Europe. Some things to be aware of include:

Some countries require drivers to carry a Red Warning Triangle
Police Radar Detectors and in some cases even Satellite Navigation devices warning about fixed speed camera sites may be illegal
Snow chains are mandatory in some EU countries in the winter
The beam pattern of UK cars may require adjustment for driving on the right. Contact your car dealer for advice

[ choosing an insurer ] [ reducing premiums ] [ accidents ]
[ vehicle insurance groups ] [ glossary ] [ home ] [ contact ]