Open borders do not mean you can just drive abroad

DON’T GET RED CARDED ON YOUR TRIP TO GERMANY
Insurance brokers warn England fans driving to the World Cup as thousands run risk of falling foul of local motoring laws

With thousands of England football fans driving to Germany for the World Cup finals, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA), the UK ’s leading general insurance intermediary organisation, has issued a warning that many are running the risk of falling foul of local motoring laws.

For further information you can call on your local insurance broker.

This risk is posed because of the England fans’ lack of familiarity with the local laws in the countries they may have to travel through and because many lack adequate insurance.

Graeme Trudgill , Technical Services Manager at BIBA said: “The motoring laws abroad can be very different to those in the UK . For example, in Germany children need to be aged at least 12 to be able to sit in the front seat of a vehicle.

“I urge all England fans driving over for the World Cup Finals to contact their insurance broker for a full insurance policy fitness check. We don’t want to see any Englishman red carded, during this year’s World cup – either on the pitch or on the roads!”

“Many motorists don’t check their car insurance to find out whether they are covered for driving abroad. Although having fully comprehensive cover at home, they may only have third party cover for driving abroad or find they are not covered at all.”

BIBA offers the following tips for fans driving to Germany :

• When you buy your motor insurance ask your insurance broker if there is a charge for foreign use – if so, keep this in mind when considering the cost. Direct insurers often charge whereas brokers do not.
• Contact your insurance 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 and motor insurance certificate with you when driving abroad. Their can be a variety of regulations so check with the Automobile Associations or RAC to ensure you have all the equipment you need.
  
• Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the motoring laws of the countries you will be driving in by checking with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office ( http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029394365). In Germany you are required to keep emergency items, such as a warning triangle and first aid kit in the vehicle at all times.
• To help reduce the chances of breaking down, have your car serviced before you take it abroad.

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