Before you begin driving in Europe you should check with your auto insurer what you are actually covered for. In the UK for example some insurers only give third party cover if you want to drive when you are abroad. This means that you either need to change your auto insurance provider or you need to buy extra cover elsewhere in case you break down or are involved in a collision.
One thing that you will need if you are driving a minibus to a ski resort in Europe is a way bill. A way bill acts as a sort of control document that allows you to drive from one member state to another. You need to check with the hire company whether the way bill is included in any insurance cover, if it isn’t then your own insurer should be able to tell you what to do.
Britain’s close ties with Europe over the years have meant that an increasing number of people now like to either hire a car or take their own car with them, depending on what part of Europe they are visiting. It hasn’t taken travel companies long to cotton on to the fact that there is quite a big market in encouraging British drivers to take their cars abroad. Every day you see advertisements for short breaks in Belgium or France where you can take your car via the Channel tunnel or the ferry.
The European ideal of countries without borders is all very well but as most native English speakers seem to have an innate objection to both speaking and reading in a language that is not their own, this may be an impossible dream. If you live in the UK but want to drive through Europe then you may find yourself befuddled and bemused when trying to decipher road signs. Some road signs are, of course, internationally recognized such as the men at work sign, stop signs, bend in road etc. but there are still plenty more that are written in the language of that country.
Most rental companies may come and retrieve their vehicle but you could be left stranded if you don’t have the proper breakdown cover. You should check with your insurance or whoever holds your breakdown cover because you would need to extend it temporarily to include Euro breakdown. Once you have that cover you can take your holiday with confidence, some breakdown insurance even pays for your flight home so it’s worth checking out. The mountains are beautiful, but not so great that you’d want to be out there alone at the dead of night.
While Germany is probably more like the UK when it comes to driving and car insurance, you have to have proof of third party liability before you can buy and register a vehicle. This type of auto insurance covers any damage caused to another driver, their vehicle and their property. German auto insurance like much European auto insurance is very expensive compared to the United States – good to know if you plan to drive abroad make sure that you have sufficient international cover before you set off. In Germany the risk of road accidents is higher than it is in America, largely because the country is smaller and there are, comparatively, more cars on the available road space.
If you do plan to drive when you are on the continent then you need to remember that the rules are rather different to those you are used to. You should also check with your auto insurer as to the legal issues you might face when you are driving through Europe.
On both the Europeanand the American roads scooter and motorcycle riders are becoming an increasingly common sight. Scooters in particular are becoming more popular, a craze that started in Europe, specifically Italy with their invention of the Vespa. The American scooter market has been cornered by Honda and Yamaha.
Whenever, wherever, and whatever you drive your vehicle could have some kind of failure and breakdown in the middle of nowhere. If you have this form of insurance on your car and you are stranded at the spot where the breakdown took place then you are entitled to assistance. The compensation may cover any mechanical work needed at the scene or in some cases the towing of your vehicle to a place where a proper assessment can be made of the damage.
Although Americans are often renowned for not owning a passport this has changed somewhat in recent years as more Americans plan to vacation abroad. Europe is a favorite destination for American tourists because of its wealth of cultural history. If you plan to take your next vacation in Europe and want to visit more than one country while you are there, then it’s likely that you will find it is cheaper to go for auto rental than to travel by bus or train. You’ll need your Green Card which is an internationally recognized auto insurance document.
