Car insurance can be confusing enough even when you are just trying to get covered in your own home town. Imagine how confusing it can get when you are leaving the country and will need to drive. Depending on your needs, there are several ways to go about finding what you need and not spending too much to get it.

If you are just headed out of the country on a short business trip or vacation and will be renting a car, you have at least two options that will be in play no matter where you are headed. First, most car rental companies have an insurance option, which they offer to you when you rent a car.

If you do cause an accident, this option keeps your personal insurance out of it. This means you won’t see any points, penalties or increased premiums. Your second omnipresent option has to do with the credit card you use to rent the car.

Some cards have a perk, where if you use the card for certain activies (i.e. buying a plane ticket or renting a car) the credit card will actually cover you in case you need it. This is something you should check out with all of your credit cards because you don’t want to waste money buying additional insurance, if your credit card already has you covered.

Cheap International Car Insurance

If your traveling is going to be a bit more extensive than a week or two, for example if your son or daughter is studying for a semester abroad, or your business has transferred you, the most important thing you can do before you get behind the wheel is check what the rules are in the country you plan on hitting the streets in. Every country has its own rules and regulations for both driving and insurance. You don’t want to get caught driving with your Massachusetts license if the country you are visiting requires an international permit. Once you can legally drive, check with your personal insurance company. Some of the bigger ones have international partners; reputable agencies that they trust. This will take the stressful guesswork out of your research. When talking with your insurance company, be sure to ask about discounts and deals offered to members of certain organizations. Some companies offer discounts for the most random things (i.e. credit union memberships or alumni memberships) There’s no way to anticipate what might make the difference, so make sure they list all the options.

If your insurance company cannot help in the international sector and you have no friends with practical experience where you’re going, the only thing you can do, unfortunately is start from the beginning. Just like you found insurance in the United States, you’ll have to hunt for insurance in your destination country. Start with the companies you know like Geico.. You won’t have to switch all of your insurance coverage over to them in order to get the international coverage you need.

Another option is to find companies that specialize in international coverage. Clements.com is one company that has been in operation for 60 years. The site can help you with auto, life, property and liability coverage while you are out of the country. They offer auto coverage plans similar to what you’d find in the States, but are specified not only for vehicles made for American roads but also vehicles made for driving in other countries. If you’ve had an international driving permit for a while, this could mean discounts, so be sure to tell the insurance agent if you’ve had much international driving experience.

Unfortunately, you can’t just buy general, all-inclusive, international auto insurance, so you’ll have to know what vehicle you’ll be driving. Since you might not be able to test drive your new vehicle try to choose something as close to what you’re familiar with as possible. When choosing your new car, remember that the foreign streets will be daunting enough without putting yourself in a confusing vehicle. For example, don’t just assume that your new car will have an automatic transmission. If you can’t drive a stick, be sure to say that to the person or company providing your wheels.

The one important thing to take into consideration when buying international car insurance cover is overestimating your abilities. Don’t just assume you won’t need coverage because you have an awesome driving record in the States. Sure, you might be an unstoppable force weaving through traffic on a Los Angeles freeway, but let’s be honest, you might be much more apt to get into an accident while driving on the wrong side of the road in London.

Car insurance abroad can always be a hassle especially when you are unclear about the rules. Take the time to educate yourself, seek out experienced counsel and make informed decisions.