Holiday preparations should include checking insurance

As well as the usual mechanical checks, attaching the GB sticker and headlamp shields, caravan and motorhome owners should call their insurers to check their level of cover before leaving for a holiday abroad.

Not all motor insurance policies automatically continue comprehensive cover outside mainland UK.

Ian Crowder, public relations manager for the AA, said: "Before driving outside the UK, check with your car insurer that you will be comprehensively covered.

"If you have car insurance of any sort in Europe, you are automatically covered by law for the minimum legal requirement in the country you are visiting - usually third party only. So if you hit another car or property or cause injury, your insurer will meet the third party costs, but not yours."

It is also possible to obtain a European Accident Claim Form, which gives basic information in a range of languages and will enable the driver to gather names, addresses and insurance details of the other parties involved.

26/02/2008 10:33:39