Short Term Car Insurance for Europe

Thinking of escaping to the open roads on the continent before Brexit? Here’s a quick guide to short term car insurance if you’re driving in Europe this summer.

Mention driving in the UK during the summer and many British drivers automatically think of tail-backs, traffic jams and crawling along behind tractors and caravans at 5 miles an hour. However, change the location to Europe and suddenly everyone feels like they’re on Top Gear envisioning picturesque open roads, autobahns and driving with the top down.

Driving holidays in Europe have a certain glamour which British drivers find very appealing. Whether you’re borrowing a convertible or sharing the driving, temporary car insurance is the perfect insurance solution for European travel.

Short term car insurance or adding a named driver?

The trouble with adding a named driver for holiday driving is that if there is an incident it will affect the no claims discount of the policy holder.

Whether you’re taking your own car to Europe or borrowing someone else’s, when you take out short term insurance, be sure to mention you’ll be taking the vehicle abroad since European travel is usually an additional extra.

Cover is usually available from two to 28 days and some insurers will even insure up to three months, although if you need cover for that long it might be worth taking out an annual policy and then cancelling it when you no longer need it – just watch out for high cancellation fees if you’re considering this.

What do I need to take with me?

Be sure to take your passport, UK driving licence, the V5C (log book) and short term insurance details with you when you go. If you are planning on driving in countries outside of the EU you will also need a Green Card, GB sticker on your vehicle and an International Driving Permit which you can get from the Post Office, or the AA / RAC.

Don’t forget you’ll need European breakdown cover. Many short term policy suppliers will let you add this to your temporary car insurance policy.

If you’re planning to drive in Europe after October 31st 2019 and no deal has been reached then you will also need:

• a free ‘green card’ – allow one month to get this from your vehicle insurance company
• a GB sticker
• an International Driving Permit (IDP) for some countries

Short term car insurance FAQ’s

Can I get short term car insurance if I’m under 21 or over 75?
Yes, some insurers will provide temporary insurance to older and younger drivers, although it is likely to be very expensive.

Can I get short term car insurance if I’m a newly qualified driver?
It’s unlikely you will get short term car insurance if you’ve had your driving licence for less than a year.

Is short term car insurance more expensive?
Yes, on a per day basis it is more expensive and the excess will probably be higher as well. However, if you only need to be insured for a short period, it’s still likely to work out cheaper than an annual policy.

What if I am hiring a car?
Car rentals include insurance within the hire costs, however the excess for these policies can be very high in the event of a claim, for example £1,000 for minor damage is pretty standard. Because of this some people take out ‘car hire excess insurance’, so that if they do need to make a claim, the excess is covered.

Do I need a Green Card?
No, not to travel in most countries whilst we are still in Europe, although you will require a Green Card if you are traveling through; Belarus, Morocco, Russia or Turkey.