You may think that you know France or Germany pretty well, after all you’ve been on the Metro and travelled the autobahn in a coach or bus – but it’s a very different story if you are the driver. Breaking down on a road where you’ve never driven before is not too bad at home even if you don’t have cover, because you know that others speak the language. Imagine breaking down on the busy Autobahn when you are trying to get to the Rhone Valley or somewhere similar. You may feel disorientated and there is no guarantee that someone will understand your predicament. Before you travel on European roads it is essential to get yourself European breakdown cover.

If you break down on a deserted road in a foreign country you could be there for hours before you can get help. European breakdown cover is really important if you are going to drive in Europe. If your car breaks down completely it will cost you a lot of money to have it transported back to the UK and you will be without wheels for the rest of your holiday. European breakdown cover is not expensive, and you don’t have to pay for it every month either as most insurance providers have a scheme where you can get breakdown cover for just a month, probably more than enough to cover your holiday. When you know that you are covered in case of a breakdown, it’s a lot easier to relax and enjoy the sights of Paris, Berlin and wherever else you want to hang your hat.

In Europe generally and in Germany in particular, insurance premiums for younger drivers is a lot higher than for older, more experienced drivers. Statistics tend to show that in countries like Germany, England and some other European states, the accident rate is far higher among younger drivers. There are other insurance differentials based on the size of your automobile and whether you live in a rural or a densely populated urban area, however, German auto insurance premiums are tax deductible.

If you live in America or in many other countries other than Germany, but want to drive your vehicle through Germany and your driving record is good in your country of origin you may claim credit for it when driving there, providing your home insurer provides the evidence. In Germany, the only auto insurance that is required by law is third party fire and theft. If you are planning on renting a vehicle and driving in Germany however, your insurance provider would probably advise you to take out extra, temporary insurance to cover your stay. Third party will not replace a wrecked rental vehicle and you could find yourself liable for the cost, which would be far higher than the insurance premium.