Comprehensive car insurance abroad

gandrusz

Hi,

What is the best way to insure a car, so that it has also comprehensive cover abroad (i.e. Europe)? I have a 06 reg Focus insured with direct line and they just charged me 17 quid for 4 days comprehensive cover in France! I am planning to visit the continent more often, so ideally I would like to find an insurer who would give me full European cover included in the package.

I would be grateful for any suggestions.

benjaminM

gandrusz wrote: »

Hi,

What is the best way to insure a car, so that it has also comprehensive cover abroad (i.e. Europe)? I have a 06 reg Focus insured with direct line and they just charged me 17 quid for 4 days comprehensive cover in France! I am planning to visit the continent more often, so ideally I would like to find an insurer who would give me full European cover included in the package.

I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Hi, quite a lot of insurers will give up to 90 days european cover free of charge. Pretty sure the likes of NIG, Fortis, AXA and LV all automatically include the cover. I'm suprised direct line dont include it, espcially as they are owned by RBS who also own NIG. Rather than doing a quote online why dont you give the insurers or even a broker a call to discuss your requirements. If you are going online makes sure the european cover is included, it is sometimes classed as extended cover and has to be added, it can be quite easy to omit it.

Quentin

benjaminM wrote: »

Hi, quite a lot of insurers will give up to 90 days european cover free of charge. Pretty sure the likes of NIG, Fortis, AXA and LV all automatically include the cover.

No.

The best they "give" you is just the legal cover to drive in the EU (eg LV).

Some do give you just a couple of days comprehensive cover in the EU (eg 3 days with Axa), but getting 90 days full EU cover "given" is just not available.

benjaminM

Quentin wrote: »

No.

The best they "give" you is just the legal cover to drive in the EU (eg LV).

Some do give you just a couple of days comprehensive cover in the EU (eg 3 days with Axa), but getting 90 days full EU cover "given" is just not available.

Nig, Fortis and LV will provide you with comprehensive cover for 90 days in the EU providing you already have comprehensive. Basically they will provide the same cover that is stated on your schedule. Not Sure about AXA as I dont have a policy booklet to hand, if you say they dont I have no reason to disagree with you.

Fortis:

We will cover your legal liability to others while you or any
driver covered by this policy are using the car within the
European Union and any other country which has agreed to
follow Article 7(2) of the EU Directive on Insurance of Civil
Liberties arising from the use of motor vehicles (number
72/166/EEC). You do not need an International Motor
Insurance Card (Green Card) for visits to these countries.

We will also provide the cover shown on your schedule for up
to 90 days in any period of insurance while you are using

the car within the countries referred to above.

The other insurers have pretty much the same wording.

Quentin

benjaminM wrote: »

The other insurers have pretty much the same wording.

No they don't!

To give fully comprehensive cover in the EU is definitely the exception, not the rule:

eg: LV

Except where we say otherwise your insurance applies in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.........................Your insurance provides the minimum compulsory insurance in EU countries

Or Morethan:

Your policy automatically includes the minimum cover for driving in EU countries. However, this cover is limited and does not include loss or damage to your own car

.

etc.

benjaminM

Quentin wrote: »

No they don't!

To give fully comprehensive cover in the EU is definitely the exception, not the rule:

eg: LV

Or Morethan:

.

etc.

Quentin, I have the policy booklet for LV in front of me. It states the following:

Your insurance provides the minimum compulsory insurance in
*European Union

As well as this minimum cover, your insurance also gives the cover shown on your schedule

The OP was asking for suggestions for companies that include comprehensive European cover and the insurers I suggested do.

dzug1

Well certainly LV and their predecessors have always given me full cover free of charge - in the sense that it's been included in the quote without being asked for.

Whether if I went back to them and asked if the insurance would be cheaper without it - no idea.

Wonder if that's what Quentin's getting at?

gandrusz

benjaminM wrote: »

Hi, quite a lot of insurers will give up to 90 days european cover free of charge. Pretty sure the likes of NIG, Fortis, AXA and LV all automatically include the cover.

I had a quick look at AXA and it doesn't seem to be true:

We will extend the territorial limits for the agreed length of time abroad for all sections
from A to H and optional Section I (if additional premium has been paid) that are
operative on your policy, this will include the countries listed above in Section G.

it does mention the additional premium rather explicitly.

benjaminM

gandrusz wrote: »

I had a quick look at AXA and it doesn't seem to be true:

We will extend the territorial limits for the agreed length of time abroad for all sections
from A to H and optional Section I (if additional premium has been paid) that are
operative on your policy, this will include the countries listed above in Section G.

it does mention the additional premium rather explicitly.

It all depends on the policy. Axa underwrite quite a few different motor products and some include it automatically and as you have pointed out some dont. Without boring you with facts premier35, Conway, Axa Car 7 all include it and have the following statement:

Your policy automatically extends the cover shown in the schedule to the countries of the EU for up to 93 days in any one policy year.

So if you take out comp you get comp as above.

Policies that are available on comparison sites are often stripped down to the basic cover and you have to add the extras. Generally speaking motor policies sold by brokers include all the covers, thats often why brokers are more expensive!

mikey72

benjaminM wrote: »

Quentin, I have the policy booklet for LV in front of me. It states the following:

Your insurance provides the minimum compulsory insurance in
*European Union

As well as this minimum cover, your insurance also gives the cover shown on your schedule

The OP was asking for suggestions for companies that include comprehensive European cover and the insurers I suggested do.

I think you may be out of date, from the policy on the website

"Use in other foreign countries

If you want to use your car in countries not listed on your schedule then as long
as we give you our permission, and you pay any extra premiums, we will extend

the full benefits of this insurance to apply:"

It now appears to be an extra you have to pay for, otherwise it's minimum cover.

All mine used to include fully comp abroad as standard, I've just checked this years with esure, and last year with Churchill, both have dropped to minimum unless you pay the extra.

benjaminM

mikey72 wrote: »

I think you may be out of date, from the policy on the website

"Use in other foreign countries
If you want to use your car in countries not listed on your schedule then as long
as we give you our permission, and you pay any extra premiums, we will extend

the full benefits of this insurance to apply:"

It now appears to be an extra you have to pay for, otherwise it's minimum cover.

All mine used to include fully comp abroad as standard, I've just checked this years with esure, and last year with Churchill, both have dropped to minimum unless you pay the extra.

Hi Mikey, I can assure you the policy wordings I have quoted are up to date. I'd be more than happy to scan and email anyone a copy should they wish to see them.

Not all policies are the same and insurers have lots of different variations. As I mentioned before a lot of the polices that are bought online are basic cover and you have to add what extra's you want. The policies I quoted from are ones (without wishing to break the MSE code) that I sell myself as a broker and they are availble from any broker. The products that brokers sell are generally inclusive of all add ons such as personal accident, courtesy car, legal cover, foriegn use etc etc. Some companies have started taking core covers out so they can sell them cheaply online but the polices I mentioned I can 100% guarantee include foriegn use comprehensive as standard and it is part of the policy at no extra cost. The cost of the policy could possibly be more expensive, I dont know, but the cover is included which is what the OP's original question was for. I hope this helps, I'm not trying to be clever, my facts are accurate and I am willing to back them up should anyone like more information.

Regards

Benjamin