More British drivers now take their car with them when they holiday abroad. Public air and rail services are not as reliable as people would like them to be, and rather than being stuck on a railway station or in an airport lounge, an increasing number of people prefer to spend their holiday behind the steering wheel.

Ten years or so ago it was possible to drive to somewhere like Italy and find yourself on the only driver on a tiny mountain road. Nowadays, you are just as likely to be stuck bumper to bumper on a country road in Italy as you are in Britain or America. One thing that you really do need to check up on before heading off to the continent is whether you have adequate insurance cover. There is nothing worse than to accidentally bump the back of another vehicle and then find that you are only covered for damage to the other person’s vehicle and not to your own.

You may have fully comprehensive insurance at home, but this will not cover you in Italy or any other country in Europe. EU law states that insurers are only liable for third party fire and theft unless you buy extra cover for driving through Italy. If you want to drive but don’t want to take your own car, then you might consider renting one. While most rental agencies will state that you have full cover, it is always a good idea to read the small print as you may only be covered for third party fire and theft.