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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Miles Brignall

From car insurance to tolls: what Britons need to know before driving to mainland Europe

Road traffic in Yvelines, France
Many Britons will be heading for idyllic French countryside – but make sure you have the right insurance cover. Photograph: Martial Colomb/Getty Images

Before you start packing up the car to drive to mainland Europe, there are a couple of things to consider – namely insurance, breakdown cover, and how you will pay for any tolls.

All UK car insurance policies automatically give third-party cover while in EU countries, plus a few others, including Switzerland. However, most people will want to take their comprehensive cover with them, meaning they may need to talk to their provider. Plenty of insurers, among them LV=, automatically include driving elsewhere in Europe for up to 180 days with their comprehensive cover. Other insurers will give up to 30 days’ comprehensive cover but it is often a chargeable add-on. Check your policy and top up if required.

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