If you are a British car owner then you may think that you know how to drive. Well you may be familiar with roads and driving habits in the UK but it is a very different story when it comes to driving abroad. Take Italy for example, not only do they drive on the opposite side of the road to Britain, as most European drivers do, they may also have three lanes of traffic on a one way two lane street. Driving through the centre of Italy can be a hair raising experience if you’ve never done it before. Driving regulations and parking customs are very different to those in the UK. Sometimes the roads get so packed in Italy that it can be a nightmare experience for drivers who are not used to it.

While you should have fully comprehensive insurance and European breakdown cover no matter what part of Europe you drive through, you should make certain that you have it in Italy. When the roads are as packed as Italian roads and you are not sure of the local customs. It is all too easy to have a minor accident. If the car in front of you comes to a sudden halt and you drive into the back of it, your ignorance of driving conditions will not alter the fact that you are at fault. If you are only covered for third party fire and theft and your own vehicle is damaged then you could find yourself with a large repair bill.