Travelling abroad this easter?

Spring finally looks like it’s on the way with the lighter nights and improvement in the weather, and Easter just around the corner. 

If you’re thinking of driving over to the continent this Easter, don’t automatically assume that your car insurance policy covers you for going abroad, and if it does then bear in mind that it may only provide you with the minimum requirement for driving in that country which is usually third party only cover.

Both Endsleigh and Churchill include cover abroad for up to 90 days in their policies as standard, however this is only the minimum cover, although for an additional premium based on the duration you’re going away for and which country you’re going to you can upgrade the cover to mirror your UK policy.

It is also worth investing in a good motor breakdown policy if you’re considering a trip to the continent this Easter. Many policies will again charge extra for European cover but this peace of mind is worth the few extra pounds to guarantee a long weekend break isn’t going to be marred by a flat battery or burst tyre.

More importantly for any break outside the UK is travel insurance. Fortunately the days are long gone when a travel policy would cost nearly as much as the holiday itself and a family of two adults and two children travelling to France for 5 days can get cover for under £10 – less than the cost of a round of drinks!

Of course when looking for any insurance cover it can be a minefield of information to trawl through, however the important areas to make sure are covered are medical cover, belongings and cancellation as these are the areas of the policy that are most commonly claimed against. In addition if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, make sure that your insurer is aware of them when you apply for your policy or you could invalidate any medical claim you make.

When travelling in the EU it is also strongly recommended that you carry an EHIC card, this replaced the former E111 form in January 2006 and will give you instant access to medical treatment within the EU, and in some cases this will also waiver your excess on your travel insurance for any medical treatment you may require.

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2009-03-24 15:26:43 © Moneyextra.com