Third party only in EU

Motorists seem to have a misunderstanding over the cover that their GB car insurance will provide in other EU countries, esure insurance warn.

It is true that most policies' small print includes a mention of European cover, but this is limited to third party liability.

Holidaymakers are asked to telephone their insurance providers before they depart to ensure that they arrange comprehensive cover for their vehicles, trailers or caravans, as well as additional possessions.

Adrian Webb, head of corporate communications for esure, says: "Under European law, if you have a comprehensive policy in Britain, it gives you what's called the minimum EU cover anywhere in the EU.

"This is only third party, which means that if you crash your car into somebody else's, writing off their car and injuring you, the only thing that's covered is their losses. Any damage to your own car is not covered."

Mr Webb continues: "If you hire a car, the policy – unlike breakdown cover – goes with the car, not the person. So there's no such thing as 'driving other cars' cover, which you can have in Britain. There's a history of people making assumptions and coming up a cropper with foreign use of cars."

The RAC Foundation has found that British motorists who drive to Portugal or Spain are three times as likely to be involved in a fatal accident as they are at home.

11/11/2007 10:07:40