UK car insurance - europe and beyond

leg1t

Any experts on UK motor insurance abroad?

Mainland Europe: I'd like to know about the legal cover of UK car insurance in mainland Europe. Often, policies state 'up to XX days European cover included' but I've also read that car insurance in any Euro zone country, UK included, must include the minimum legal cover for driving anywhere in the Euro zone and a green card is no longer required (part of the insurance cover note). Is the latter true? And if so does this mean that no matter what insurance you take out for your vehicle in the UK, you are covered third party no matter what your insurers state? So in effect, the insurers included European cover is simply additional cover up to your policy level (e.g. fully comp.) for up to the quoted number of days?

Morocco: What does one do when entering Morocco? It would appear that no matter what UK cover you have, your cover note is not going to be enough so either a green card has to be issued by your insurer, if they offer it, or one has to buy insurance at the border. Any experiences?

vaio

Don’t know about Morocco but what you say about the EU generally is correct

InsideInsurance

You are covered for the minimum in each state of the EU which doesnt necessarily mean you are covered for all Third Party losses as ultimately not all states may require that.

So you can be safe in the knowledge your not going to be arrest for driving without insurance but not that if you have an accident either your or the TPs damages will be covered. Spain's bail bond requirement has been dropped but it could be other european countries have something similar, I dont know, and again this wouldn't be covered unless the cover of your policy explicitly included it.

huckster

Try Stuartcollins.com

Car Insurance abroad is one of their specialities.

vaio

InsideInsurance wrote: »

You are covered for the minimum in each state of the EU which doesnt necessarily mean you are covered for all Third Party losses as ultimately not all states may require that.

So you can be safe in the knowledge your not going to be arrest for driving without insurance but not that if you have an accident either your or the TPs damages will be covered. Spain's bail bond requirement has been dropped but it could be other european countries have something similar, I dont know, and again this wouldn't be covered unless the cover of your policy explicitly included it.

I’m pretty sure the cover provided is either what is legally required in the country you are visiting or what is legally required in your home country whichever is better.

So, as the UK requires cover for injury and damage to property then even if I visit a country which only requires cover for injury then my UK policy is still obliged to give me cover for injury & damage.

Also worth pointing out that insurance companies can’t put any time limits on this EU cover.

Morocco is part of the green card scheme so you’ll have to get one from your insurance company, the standard free EU wide cover won’t apply

leg1t

Thanks everyone - you've all provided useful info/links. It's been over ten years since I owned a car so this is mostly about understanding my position (particularly when looking at insurance quotes and their sales pitches) and I plan to make some trips outside the UK. Good link from huckster for Stuartcollins who provide an annual Green Card. I'll make an enquiry there - not sure how the green card typically works with most insurers - does one need to ask for one with specific, limited dates? I don't really want to be restricted.

InsideInsurance

vaio wrote: »

I’m pretty sure the cover provided is either what is legally required in the country you are visiting or what is legally required in your home country whichever is better.

Your correct, its been a while, but my bail bond comment still stands

vaio

Yep, I’d guess the bail bond requirement went because it wasn’t compatible with the EU directives which I’d guess wouldn’t allow a bond to be required from foreigners when it’s not required from the natives.

Sally_A

Just a word of advice, the Euro wording tends to be printed on the back of the certificate (and also has Foreign Use wording inside the policy document), so if you have altered cover in any way (eg. putting a friend on to drive "just in case") and are going abroad on a Cover Note, take your certificate with you too, as well as the policy booklet.

I tend to still issue a GC for any customers of mine going abroad with a Cover Note, and also supply a European Accident Form.

Outside the EU, yes, get a Green Card - you may be charged for this.

There are still certain countries outside of the EU that insurers will only give RTA cover (or minimum legal requirement), so suggest you also look into Breakdown/Recovery cover.

Many insurers do have a 31 day limit, if you require more than this, either ask them to extend, or change insurers.

A little off topic, but I seem to recall that if insurers could not offer the cover you wanted, they had to give you a pro-rata refund on their policy rather than a short term - is this still the case does anyone know?