Afternoon, we're planning a 5 month camping trip around europe and currently investigating car insurance (there are so many things to plan!) My current insurers won't cover me for more than 30 days. Obviously we need cover for approx 150 days.
Anybody know who might cover this?
(will deal with breakdown cover later...longest I've found is for 100 days.)
TIA,
Rich and Cat.
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Hi Rich and Cat, I'm insured with MoreThan, I've just had a quick look through the policy and there does not seem to be any restriction on the length of time away on the Continent. One thing that I notice is that if you don't tell them which countries you are going to they only provide third party cover but if you notify them before you go away as to which countries you plan to visit then you get fully comp cover.
Thanks for the response, I've had a look at the site and found this in the faq:
"I take my car to Europe at least 5 months of the year. Can you provide cover?
We can cover you for a maximum of 120 days abroad. If you require more cover than this, we would suggest you to contact a local high street broker."
You'll need a separate Green Card for Caravans in France, Germany, Spain, Belgium and probable in more countries. Here in Holland we can get one for free from our insurance companies.
Now my understanding was that a Green Card was to let the authorities know in the country you were visiting that you have proper insurance for that country. The EU requires all insurance companies in member states to provide minimum level of cover for their customers, usually third party, fire and theft. My insurance policy gives me the same level of cover as I have here in the UK for up to 60 days in Europe. My insurance cover note explains this in all the langauges in common usage in the EU so I don't need a Green Card.
David
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My insurance cover note explains this in all the langauges in common usage in the EU so I don't need a Green Card.
Perhaps things are different in Britain than in Holland. Still, it is not a matter of being insured or not (of course you are insured), but in many European continents a Green Card is obligatory, and in some countries you need another Green Card for the caravan.
It is interesting what you say and I hope you don't think I am being argumentitive but what you are saying is contary to the general advice given to British motorists and I am concerned that this thread could confuse newcomers. Obviously it is important that people from the UK going to Europe do check with their individual insurance companies about what they need in order to have the correct cover for their car. Unlike mine some insurance policies don't cover you for travelling to Europe except in its most basic for (third party) so you have to pay extra, in these circumstances the extra cover note may be referred to as a Green Card. According to the Caravan Club of Great Britain the only countries where a Green Card is required are Greece, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland. Since the publication of the CC guide this may have changed as some of the countries mentioned are now in the EU. Interesting that info on Switzerland does not match.
For visits by motorists to 29 of the 44 Countries participating in the Green Card System the Green Card is not a required document since it is substituted by the national vehicle registration plates of those 29 Countries, which are - the 25 Member Countries of the European Union as well as Croatia, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.
The national registration plates of the 29 countries signify to the Authorities of the country that the vehicle concerned is insured in respect only of the Third Party liabilities for which insurance is compulsory. Motorists are therefore urged to find out from their Insurers:
what, if any, insurance documentation is necessary for the countries to be visited;
the extent of the cover provided by their own motor insurance policies for the countries visited
the procedure to be followed in the event of an accident in a visited Country.
I have never heard of Green Cards for caravans although I always take my insurance documents with me and also a copy of my CRIS certificate which proves my ownership of my caravan.
Thanks for your information. Nothing argumentitiveabout that (I didn't know that word) . Your explanation is very plausible. Still, I have my insurance papers here in front of me. I have a Dutch Green Card to prove that my car (+ trailer) is insured (third party). This card (or perhaps the British extra cover note you mention) is obligatory in Holland and in all European countries I know. It proves that we have an insurance for our car and a caravan or other trailer. In Holland that is enough, and obviously in Britain too. Now, I also have a Green Card for my caravan (so they do exist), exactly the same as for my car, except for the codes and numbers, of course. This card is issued by insurance companies because some other European states (see above) require it - don't ask me why. I don't think it's very important; we have travelled many times through Europe without such a card and without knowing that such a requirement existed, but still, you never can tell and especially in Germany police officers can become troublesome if your papers are not fully in order. Beter safe than sorry.
Hugo, the wording that used to be on a Green Card is now generally printed on the back of our Insurance Certificate and covers travel to all the members of the EU and a Green Card is therefore no longer required by us when travelling within the EU.
Phil.
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Well, the problem (as far as there was one) is solved. This issue has been discussed on a Dutch and Flemish forum for caravanners, and the result was that all of us have now that second Green Card for our caravan. I thought you might need one as well when going to certain countries, but of course, my knowledge of British insurance matters is extremely limited.
I have just realise why Dutch caravans might need a Green Card. Am I right in thinking that in Holland a caravan is a registered vehicle? If so this might be the reason. In the UK caravans are not registered, nor do we have TUV tests! Perhaps we should.
Yes, in Holland a caravan is a registered vehicle, but Holland is not one of the countries where you need to have a separate Green Card for the caravan. By the way, it is only a few years ago that registration of caravans has been introduced here, and in that time the number of caravan thefts has dropped considerably. A good idea indeed!
Thanks, just tried them, a bit steep but will keep it in mind if nothing else crops up.
Trying tesco as well as they do say on the website you can pay extra for going abroad...will phone them tomorrow.
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Topic: Car Insurance
