Britons Driving Abroad Advised To Take Precautions

British motorists thinking about driving their cars whilst abroad on holiday should exercise extreme caution before hitting the road.

Such is the advice given by Sainsbury's Car Insurance which states that unless drivers take steps to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover before leaving to go on a foreign driving holiday then they could be faced with costly repair bills. According to the company, just under a fifth (17 per cent) of people are planning on driving their car abroad during the next 12 months. Overall, France was shown as being the most popular destination for a foreign driving break, with some 4.58 million drivers looking to take their vehicles to the European country over the next year. Meantime, 1.89 million are set to visit Ireland, with 1.7 million going on a road trip to Germany. Spain, Italy and Belgium were also shown to be sought-after locations for drivers.

Also, it would appear that people are looking towards a comprehensive journey, with about 50 per cent of all those travelling overseas expecting they will cover more than 1,000 miles driving whilst away, meanwhile 19 per cent are predicting to drive between 501 and 1,000 miles.

However, before driving off to hit the road for Paris, Rome, Berlin or any other European destination, Sainsbury's Car Insurance not only urged drivers to get fully comprehensive car insurance but also to get in contact with their provider to advise them of their intentions to go away prior to their departure. It would appear that although many insurers provide cover for driving on the continent, policyholders are required to notify them that they are going to do this. If this is not done, Sainsbury's reported motorists would likely see their cover reduced to only incorporate third party, fire and theft.

For those holidaymakers who do not have adequate insurance cover while on their trip abroad it it is entirely possible that they have to raid their own finances in order to fund the cost of repairs to their vehicle following a breakdown, accident or theft. This could easily impact on their ability to manage loans, credit cards and mortgage repayments upon their return back home.

To minimise the chances of getting into difficulties whilst on holiday, the company urged drivers to plan their route carefully and to make themselves aware of the motoring laws for the countries that they will be going through. In addition, checking tyre pressure and brake fluid levels before departing was also recommended.

Joanne Mallon, car insurance manager for Sainsbury's, reported: "When going on holiday, most people will remember to take travel insurance but we are concerned that some motorists are overlooking the need to ensure that their car journey is fully covered. Having an accident anywhere is bad enough but when abroad it can be compounded by a lack of local knowledge; to then find that the other party's damage is covered, but not your own, is surely a blow worth avoiding."

Those consumers looking for an efficient way to finance a holiday may discover that obtaining a personal loans is recommended. And for those wishing to buy a car to take to the road for an adventure on the continent, a cheap loan may not only help with purchasing a vehicle but also to get a comprehensive insurance policy. Borrowing for the means of getting a car could also be recommended, as a recent Experian study showed 20 per cent of males would go in to the red in order to get a car.