Consumer advice on driving abroad during holiday season

With many consumers chosen to drive aboard during their holidays, BIBA is offering the following advice to ensure that consumers stay within the law and stay safe:

• To help reduce the chances of breaking down, have your car serviced before you take it abroad
• Contact your broker or insurer to make sure that you have adequate cover for driving abroad. Some companies limit comprehensive cover to a fixed number of days abroad in one trip
• Make sure you take your driving licence, vehicle ownership and motor insurance certificate with you when driving abroad 
• If you are traveling to one of the 10 new EU member states, obtain a Green Card from your broker or insurer.  This shows you have basic third party cover. The existing states do not require a Green Card, but you may need to inform the broker that you are going abroad.
• Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the motoring laws of the country you will be driving in by checking with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In some countries you are required to keep emergency items, such as a warning triangle, first aid kit and/or fluorescent jacket in the vehicle at all times
• Make sure that your emergency medical (E111) and travel insurance is up to date.
  Click here to download New European Health Insurance card

To ensure quality cover at competitive premiums, motorists should contact their broker.  To find your nearest local BIBA broker visit the ‘find a broker’ section of the BIBA website, www.biba.org.uk or contact BIBA’s dedicated consumer helpline – 0870 950 1790