British motorists looking to drive their cars whilst abroad on holiday should exercise extreme caution before hitting the road.

Such is the assertion of Sainsbury’s Car Insurance which reports that unless drivers take steps to make sure that they have adequate cover before going 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 holidaymakers are planning on taking their car overseas during the next 12 months. Overall, France was highlighted as being the most popular destination for a foreign driving holiday, with some 4.58 million motorists planning to take their vehicles to the European country over the next year. Meanwhile, 1.89 million are set to hit the road in 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.

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

However, before setting off to hit the road for Paris, Rome, Berlin or any other Destination in europe, Sainsbury’s Car Insurance not only urged motorists to get fully comprehensive car insurance but also to get iin contact with their provider to advise them of their intentions to go away prior to their departure. It came to light that although many insurers provide cover for driving on the continent, policyholders need to let their insurer know of their intentions. If this is not done, Sainsbury’s reported motorists could see their cover downgraded to only incorporate third party, fire and theft.  If you are looking to get a new policy it may pay to shop around for the best deal. 

For those holidaymakers who do not have adequate insurance cover whilst on their holiday abroad it may be possible they have to dip into their own pockets in order to meet the cost of vehicle repairs following a breakdown, accident or theft. This could well impact on their ability to manage loans, credit cards and mortgage repayments upon their return to britain.

In order to reduce the chances of getting into difficulties whilst on holiday, the firm urged motorists to plan their route carefully and to check 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 people looking for an useful way to finance a trip abroad may well find that getting a personal loan is recommended. And for those looking 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 help pay for comprehensive insurance policy. Borrowing for the means of getting a car could also be recommended, as a recent Experian study showed a fifth of males are willing to go overdrawn just to get a set of wheels.

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