Travel insurance - Tips & Advice - Holiday driving
With improved European road, rail and ferry transport systems, driving over to the continent has never been easier. Our guide explains how to get there, the benefits of taking your car, plus advice on safe driving in Europe, including travelling with Direct Line car insurance and European breakdown cover…
Getting there
Budget airlines have opened up Europe for many holidaymakers, but not everybody wants to fly. So it’s good to know that overground, sea and rail routes to and through Europe have also been steadily improving, making it easier and also more attractive to go by car. Driving holiday sites such as www.drive-alive.co.uk have helpful links to the most up-to-date intercontinental transport systems. Essentially you can travel from nationwide destinations in the UK to other parts of Europe by:
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Ferry
To France, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Ireland. Once in Europe you can catch more car-carrying ferries to other parts of the continent to widen your cross-sea options.
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Eurotunnel
To France. Once there you can take advantage of other car-carrying rail routes such as the French Motorail to take you and your vehicle across land all the way to the South of France (see www.raileurope.co.uk/frenchmotorail).
Driving in Europe
Once in Europe you can take advantage of the extensive E-road network and the maps to go with. As www.visiteurope.com explains, these roads cross national borders with, for example, The North-South E15 running from Scotland past London, dipping to the southern edge of Spain in Algeciras. You could also travel East-West on the E30 from Cork in Ireland and travel through Britain, Holland, Germany and Poland. Of course there are plenty of smaller roads and routes too. For those who really want to explore Europe on a road trip, some of the most scenic drives include Croatia’s dramatic Dalmatian Coast, the Amalfi Coast in Italy and the crossing from Denmark to Sweden over the Oresund Bridge.
However, not all European countries sign post E-roads alongside the national names (e.g. they are not recognised in the UK) so you may also need to use standard maps to help plan your journey.
Safe driving abroad
Whether you’re planning a short shopping break or a long drive abroad, you need to make sure you do it safely. It’s important to plan your trip properly before you go, as road rules and regulations differ from country to country. You’ll need to read up about the documents you may need (a valid licence and car insurance policy is essential - breakdown cover optional), what extra equipment you may need to take (some countries require that you carry extra light bulbs or hazard triangles, for example) and what your best route options are. For more detailed information on driving in Europe check out our breakdown cover ‘tips and advice’ for a handy guide on ‘Breaking Down Abroad’. You’ll also find tips and advice enjoying your trip on our car insurance page online. Our European breakdown cover and car insurance cover also have links to helpful routeplanners and maps of Europe.
Benefits of driving to Europe
Low-cost flights can be a cheap and easy way to get to Europe, but don’t always work if you have a lot of luggage, a large family or want to bring things back. In high season airfares can also go through the roof and it may therefore be more cost effective and convenient to take the car. Aside from the great freedom that a trip on the open road offers, some of the main holiday types and activities that this kind of transport suits include:
Am I insured when driving abroad?
Any Direct Line car insurance policy provides the level of cover in your schedule (e.g. comprehensive or third party, fire & theft) in the UK, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. It will also provide the minimum legal level of cover you need to drive in other countries that are members of the EU (for full details, see your policy booklet).
For payment of an additional premium, we can normally issue an extension of cover that provides you with the same level of cover that you have in the UK.
It’s always best to call us if you are thinking of driving your own car abroad, as you will need to confirm that we can provide cover in the country you are travelling to and whether we may need to issue a Greencard.
Direct Line customers who want to take a road trip through Europe can also benefit from our great value car, breakdown and travel insurance. To find out what you could be saving apply for a quote today.
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