Before you start packing up the car to drive to mainland Europe, there are a couple of things to consider – namely insurance, breakdown cover, and how you will pay for any tolls.
All UK car insurance policies automatically give third-party cover while in EU countries, plus a few others, including Switzerland. However, most people will want to take their comprehensive cover with them, meaning they may need to talk to their provider. Plenty of insurers, among them LV=, automatically include driving elsewhere in Europe for up to 180 days with their comprehensive cover. Other insurers will give up to 30 days’ comprehensive cover but it is often a chargeable add-on. Check your policy and top up if required.
When it comes to breakdown cover for mainland Europe, the first question to ask is: are you already covered? Lease cars are often covered by the manufacturer’s breakdown cover that usually applies to the whole of Europe. Many UK breakdown policies and car service plans automatically include the rest of Europe as well. Nationwide’s FlexPlus current account includes total European breakdown cover, and so do some other paid-for accounts.
If you have no other cover and you like having the peace of mind, two weeks of standard cover will typically set you back £30 to £80.
A Compare the Market comparison of policies for a 2017 car spending two weeks in mainland Europe in August carried out this week found the cheapest £31 policy was from Nova Direct. This compares with the £80 that the AA wanted to cover the same trip, while the RAC wanted £82.
Unless you have a super-reliable car that has not given you any problems, we would probably avoid the cheapest providers. Rescuemycar.com has reasonable policies for £44. Green Flag policies are well-regarded and a good mid-price option. Another firm to consider is AutoAid – a previous Guardian Money favourite. It wanted £47 for 17 days’ cover in mainland Europe for its Euro Rescue cover. You may find the premium is cheaper via a comparison site than by going direct.
When buying such policies, be aware that some companies set age limits on the cars covered – some 10 years, others 15. They typically also will not recover a car to the UK if that would cost more than the car’s value – something to think about if you are planning a long trip in a low-value vehicle.
If you are planning a long drive in France, don’t forget to factor in the cost of motorway tolls, and how you plan to pay them.
It currently costs about €110, or £95, to drive from Calais to Nice in tolls alone. Much is made of signing up for the Télépéage automated toll payment services but unless you are planning a lot of journeys, we would opt to pay as you go – paying by credit card at the automated booths.
For example, the Sanef Télépéage comes with a lot of upfront and ongoing charges, meaning it arguably won’t be worth it for those making a single annual trip, although you do get to beat the queues at busy periods.