When hiring a car in the USA, insurance cover is sometimes
limited to the legal minimum in the State where you hire.
You could be held personally liable for any claim for injury
or damage over this limit. So ask if your tour operator or
insurance adviser can provide top-up insurance to increase
your cover. This may be cheaper than buying it abroad.
Taking your car abroad
Each year over 2 million motorists take their cars abroad.
Whether you are only making a day trip across the channel
to France, driving on business or holidaying overseas, it
is vital that you have full insurance cover before setting
out. If not, you could find yourself unprotected and left
with an expensive bill if you are involved in an accident
or your car is stolen.
The relationship between UK motor insurance cover and Green
Cards can be confusing. The following notes clarify the position.
All UK insurance policies automatically provide, at no extra
cost, the minimum cover required by law in all European Union
(EU) countries, or the minimum cover in the UK if that is
greater. The minimum required is cover for your liability
to third parties.
In the non-EU countries listed below, the same situation
will normally apply. However, some insurers may exclude cover
in non-EU countries so, if you are travelling outside the
EU, you should always check your cover carefully.
| Croatia
Czech Republic
Gibraltar
Hungary |
Iceland
Liechtenstien
Monaco
Norway |
San Marino
Slovenia
Slovakia
Switzerland |
Most people want the same protection they enjoy in the UK
when travelling abroad, for example Comprehensive or Third
Party, Fire and Theft.
This could, in addition to the legal minimum of third party
liability cover, include accidental damage to, or theft of
or from, their own vehicle, depending on the policy cover.
So in most cases you will need to ask your insurer or insurance
adviser to extend the scope of your cover before you go abroad.
An additional premium may be charged for this extension -
although a number of insurers automatically give it, usually
for a limited period, without charge.
A Green Card is an internationally recognized document which
serves solely as evidence that the holder has the minimum
insurance cover required by law in the country being visited.
A Green Card provides no insurance cover in itself.
It is not necessary to have a Green Card when travelling
to the EU and countries listed above (although if you do not
take a Green Card, you should instead carry your Certificate
of Insurance). However, a Green Card can serve as easily recognisable
proof of third party insurance, for example in the case of
an accident when travelling abroad.
Insurers do not charge for a Green Card. Where insurance
is arranged through an intermediary, such as an insurance
broker, however, they may levy an administration fee for arranging
a Green Card for their client. If they do, they must separately
indicate the amount of the fee and its purpose.
There are other countries party to the Green Card arrangements
where you will either need to have a Green Card or purchase
insurance at the border. Currently they are:
| Albania
Andorra
Bosnia - Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Cyprus†
Estonia
Iran |
Iraq*
Latvia
Macedonia
Malta
Moldavia
Morocco |
Poland
Romania
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
Yugoslavia |
Southern Greek Cyprus only
* Membership suspended - Green Cards are not available. Border
insurance required
If you have any concerns about taking your car outside the
UK consult your insurer or insurance adviser. This is especially
important with regard to those countries listed immediately
above where the situation can change very quickly.
Accidents abroad
If you are involved in an accident, immediately tell your
insurer or your insurer's representative in the country concerned.
While the Green Card gives details of the local Green Card
Bureau, you should still contact your insurer or your insurer's
representatives.
Many insurers issue a European Accident Statement. This enables
drivers to exchange facts while events are still fresh in
their minds and without admitting liability.
Helplines
Many insurers offer 24-hour UK telephone numbers in case
you need help in an emergency. Make sure you have these details
with you when you travel abroad.
Breakdown insurance
Even if you have extended your policy for driving abroad,
this will not cover your car against breaking down. Vehicle
breakdown policies can be bought with your holiday insurance
or separately. Check to see if your motor insurer can provide
this cover.
A policy will cover the cost of hiring a car while your own
is being repaired, road-side assistance and emergency repairs,
the cost of returning your car to the UK and sending out spare
parts, together with emergency accommodation if you are unable
to use your vehicle. A monetary limit will apply to each section
of the policy.
Protecting against car thieves
Foreign registered vehicles attract thieves, so do not make
your car an easy target:
