European Car Insurance Cover
We are planning our first trip to France with the caravan in April this year. The trip is of 38 days duration and we have already made our travel arrangements. When I check my current car insurance policy I find it only covers me for 30 days travel in Europe.
I have rung my insurers the Co-op but they will not allow me to extend this cover which leaves me with a dilemma. I know that the Caravan Club offers a policy which allows 270 days European travel per year and Saga offer a policy that offers unlimited European
travel. I am halfway through the policy year with my current insurers so to cancel my policy with them and take out a new one would incur cancellation charges. Someone has suggested I may be able to find a company which offers short term European cover for
the 8 extra days which my current insurer won't insure. I have found several such companies on the internet offering this type of policy but when I ring them for a quote they say the journey they are insuring
must begin and end in the UK so this would appear not to be an option. I am sure I am not the first person to come across this problem. Is there a way round it or will I have to bite the bullet and cancel my current insurance policy and take out a new one!
Would be grateful for any advice
Comments
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Oh Dear!! And it may prove to be dear! Can't really help on the cover you ask about. As you have already found out, both the CC and Saga have policies that suit those of us who like to go on long trips. You are aware that your policy will cover you 3rd
Party in europe but that is probably not good enough for you (I wouldn't take the risk). Try a broker to see what they suggest but you may have to shorten your trip or bite the bullet and pay cancellation fees. I am sure you are not the first who has discovered
this problem. Let us know how you get on.0 -
Difficult one; there are companies other than the CC which offer cover for over 30 days though. Perhaps an idea to ring a few and get quotes, but you'll get stung for cancelling the existing policy. Is it an option to cut your trip by 8 days? Perhaps
less expensive than cancelling a policy half way through; I have no idea, just coming up with ideas.On a similar note: have you checked your house insurance policies? Quite a few of those only allow you to be away from home for 30 days too.
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Unless it's the wrong company, or I'm missing the point,this link implies 90 days is easily obtained for £30?
http://www.co-operativeinsurance.co.uk/carinsurance/extended-foreign-use
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Thanks for all your advice, lot to consider particularly being first timers. Not possible to shorten our holiday (InaD) as we have already booked our Eurotunnel crossing. Will check our home insurance policy! Thanks for the co-op insurance link (DougS).
I have rung them once and they tell me that I can't extend the cover but I will try them again. Looks like I may have to bite the bullet!0 -
Thank you [Deleted User User] for your advice will try it
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Not possible to shorten our holiday (InaD) as we have already booked our Eurotunnel crossing.
If it came to the crunch, you CAN change the Eurotunnel booking. We always travel that way and book with them direct with Tesco vouchers. I have changed our bookings more than once, and it has never been a problem. They don't charge an admin fee either,
all you would (possibly) pay is any difference between the original price and any increase in price on a new booking. I have changed before now without it costing a penny as the new crossing was the same price as that I originally booked.0 -
We are covered for 90 days for each trip,our fully comprehensive cover is extended for Europe at no cost, we are insured with LV= since they marketed themselves as Liverpool Victoria
Admiral
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Our insurance covers up to 90 days in Europe too, at no extra charge - and we make sure they know that we will be towing during that period and not just driving the car solo.
It's surprising that they won't allow an extension of cover - have you asked to speak to 'a supervisor' rather than just the person who answers the phone. 'Computer Says No' often isn't the case when you speak to someone higher up in an organisation.
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