The summer… The perfect moment to go on vacation. In Europe, we often travel by car. But is your car insurance also valid during your vacation?
With your regular car insurance, you are generally covered in the countries around us. But if you are going on vacation further in Europe, make sure you are also covered there.
Where is your car insurance (not) valid?
Have you ever looked at the white paper form or its digital version (the former “green card”) that your car insurer sends you every year? This international motor insurance card proofs that your vehicle is validly insured and indicates the countries where your insurance is valid. In the “territorial validity” section of the form, it states, “This card is valid for the countries whose boxes are not crossed out” and, below, a list of country abbreviations.
The fact that the card is not valid in some countries is not without reason. For example, you will not be insured in Albania due to the high number of car thefts. In Cyprus, you are only covered by your insurer in the areas administered by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus. And in Serbia, you will only be covered in the Republic of Montenegro and in areas administered by the Government of Serbia.
What to do if your insurance is not valid at your vacation destination?
Suppose you want to travel to a country crossed out on your insurance card. Your motor insurance card is therefore not valid there. In this case, you must contact your insurer before your departure and inform them that your insurance is not valid. They will then provide you with a temporary extension of your policy so that you will still be covered in your vacation country.
Since your insurance is temporarily extended to an additional risk, you will have to pay an extra premium. The amount of the premium depends on the destination country and the duration of your stay.
Paper or digital version
Because a smartphone can fail (or be stolen), it is advisable to always keep a paper version of your international motor insurance card in your car. This way, you will always travel with peace of mind, even if a foreign authority does not accept the digital version. In countries like Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey, the paper version is even mandatory.
Are there any unusual traffic rules you need to pay attention to?
Before you travel, check the list of mandatory safety accessories you must have in your car in some European countries. Sometimes, there are quite strange rules in certain countries, especially concerning fluorescent vests, the use of GPS, or radar detectors. Did you know, for example, that in Italy and Slovakia, not only the driver but also all passengers must have a fluorescent vest?
To recap, your vacation should always be enjoyable and free of negative surprises. So be informed and consult your broker before you leave. Don’t wait any further and contact us now!