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European Breakdown Cover - A Serious Consideration
By Mark Flanighan
It’s much easier nowadays to take you car to Europe from the UK. We have the channel tunnel or “Chunnel” as some like to call it. We have an abundance of ferries to take us to the French, Belgium, Dutch, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish and Irish coastlines that I know of and with competition being so high, prices are more affordable. You only have to see the amount of British number plates throughout Portugal, France and Spain to see the quantity of cars that depart our shores. But what about the car we are driving, will it get you and your family to where you want to go, or are you taking risks like you would back at home?
There are fundamental differences about taking your car to the continent and driving back at home in the UK. First of all is the language barrier, if you breakdown what guarantees do you have that any help will speak English? The makes and models of cars differ form country to country so what is the likelihood of a good spares resource. Knowing where you are and who to ask for breakdown assistance could also be an issue. A final consideration but very serious should you have a major breakdown, how much would it cost you to get you, your family and your car back home should the worst happen?
We are all-familiar with breakdown cover here back in the UK, but anyone visiting Europe and intends to drive this kind of distance should think of European breakdown cover as a serious consideration. Most policies will get you going should you breakdown, will have English speaking operators and in serious situations get you car home saving you thousands of pounds. Of course there is a cost associated with any insurance policy and the decision to buy is usually based on the risk factor, what are the chances of breaking down? The truth is though, that most drivers very rarely undertake long journeys, like from the UK down to Spain and those who do this regularly are the drivers most likely to have already purchased European Breakdown Cover.
It will only take one breakdown within a strange area. Not knowing who to ring and then when you do find someone, the language barriers will not give you confidence of a cheap repair. There are even more serious issues to consider and that is of crime. With reported crimes of cars being pulled over and robbed of its contents within normal situations, how much more vulnerable are you going to be if you are sitting next to a broken down car in a strange European destination. An uncomfortable thought, but a real threat in certain areas of Europe. We Brits travel to Europe and expect to get our English breakfast our normal newspaper and English speaking hotels and restaurants. But this is not the case when it comes to garages and repair options. These will be local mechanics offering a service that they would to the locals in their own time and in their own way.
If you are considering the long drive to Europe, then being prepared with European Breakdown cover, should be something you pack with your passport.
Mark is webmaster for European Breakdown Cover and Be At The Wheel Of A Ferrari and Breakdown Cover
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Flanighan
Driving Abroad: are you Covered?
Author: Caroline Poynton
We have all seen or personally experienced the devastating floods of recent weeks across the UK. Looking at the flooded streets and submerged cars, it is difficult to imagine what effected families are going through as they face another week without their homes, cars or even running water. For most people, however, insurance policies will cover at least the material losses, if not the emotional distress. But how far do you consider your insurance cover if you are driving abroad? Faced with a similar flooding situation while on your summer vacation might get you a celebrity shot on 'Holidays from Hell', but if you were to look out from your villa balcony to see your car bobbing in the storm waters, you may feel far happier just knowing you'd carefully organised your car insurance, in advance.
While many of us take pains to choose the right insurance for our homes and vehicles in the UK, there is far more confusion as to what happens when we travel abroad. Packing your car and driving into the sunset for, say, a road trip around Europe, may sound like an adventure of a lifetime. And there's no reason it shouldn't be - just ensure you check your insurance cover ahead of your trip. Like many drivers, you may assume, for example, that a UK car insurance policy will provide the same level of cover if you take your car abroad. In most cases, however, existing policies will only cover for basic road traffic accidents (RTAs) or at best, third party cover for overseas trips. This means you would not be covered for theft, fire or damage. Nor would you be covered for legal matters following a car accident.
You may also have heard of a 'Green Card' for driving abroad? This is an internationally recognised document, that proves you have the minimum insurance cover required by law in the country visited. The key word, however, is 'minimum' - the card does not provide insurance in itself and although it will provide useful evidence of your basic cover, you will still need to get further insurance cover if you want comprehensive protection.
Getting the same insurance cover you enjoy in the UK when travelling abroad is a simple enough process, however. You could just ask your existing insurer to extend the scope of your cover before you travel, if it is not already included in your policy. An additional premium may be charged for this extension and will depend on where you're travelling and for how long. Alternatively, this may be a good opportunity to check out the car insurance market generally - it's always worth ensuring you're getting the best deal especially if you're planning to frequently travel with your car. Also ask your chosen insurer about Green Cards - although you no longer need a Green Card in EU countries, it still provides useful evidence of basic insurance, and if you're travelling outside of the EU you will certainly need one. Your insurer should be able to help you obtain one.
Some insurers may offer what is known as 'Green Card cover' - as Green Cards in themselves are free (and do not provide insurance cover in themselves), this really means that you are paying for extending your UK insurance cover overseas. Whichever kind of cover you choose, though, and whether you take a Green Card or not, be sure to take your insurance documents with you, just so that you are prepared if you need to make a claim. And don't leave any such documents in your car - if you were to face a UK-style flood situation while abroad, your careful organisation and paperwork would be meeting a soggy end.
You may also want to consider your breakdown cover. You can purchase car breakdown policies with your holiday insurance or separately. Your motor insurer might also provide this cover. Such insurance might cover the cost of hiring a car while yours is being repaired, road-side assistance and emergency repairs, the cost of returning your car to the UK or sending out spare parts, and even emergency accommodation if you can't use your vehicle. Prices will vary depending on what level of cover you want or need, but whatever policy you choose it will be a great reassurance, especially if you are driving long distances.
The following general tips may also help you plan your driving trip of a lifetime:
* Get your vehicle serviced before you set off on your holidays and ensure you research and comply with any vehicle requirements in the countries you are visiting.
* Do not forget your motor insurance certificate, Green Card (if issued), and details of any breakdown and travel insurance, together with any emergency helpline numbers. Also take your registration document, driving licence and, of course, passport. For some countries, you may need to take an International Driving Permit - check your destination/s in advance.
* Get a fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, tool kit, spare bulbs and warning triangle for your vehicle. Many of these items are a legal requirement in some EU countries.
* Take a spare set of keys and keep them somewhere safe!
* Familiarise yourself with road signs and the road rules of the country you are visiting before you go.
* Do not forget your registration document, driving licence and passport. Also check your destination/s to see whether you need to take an International Driving Permit with you.
All this planning may not sit very comfortably with the ideal of speeding into the great unknown with just your car and the road ahead. But if you really want a road trip of a lifetime, a little advance preparation will ensure that you can have just that.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/driving-abroad-are-you-covered-195426.html
Driving Tips - Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road
By Michael Russell
There are still 53 countries which drive on the left hand side of the road. The most notable of these being the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and countries on the Indian sub-continent. In addition, many Caribbean islands and African countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, to name a few, drive on the left.
Obviously, problems arise when people who are used to driving on the left visit a country which drives on the right and vice versa. If you rent a car, all the controls will be on the opposite side to what you're used to but in fact, this concentrates the mind to such an extent that driving on the correct side of the road is the least of your worries.
Probably the most difficult and dangerous driving transition is when holiday makers from Ireland or the UK visit continental Europe or the other way round. Invariably, they take their own vehicle and drive onto a ferry or the Eurostar Channel Tunnel train from one side of the road and when they get to the other end, they suddenly have to drive on the other side. In addition, you now have the difficulties of your steering wheel being on the wrong side of the car, making overtaking and other such manoeuvres rather problematical.
Following the tips below will make the transition to the other side of the road much easier.
Roundabouts and traffic islands - Go with the flow. These things are designed so that you really shouldn't be able to even start going the wrong way around them. The road leading to the roundabout should be angled in such a way that it will be a real effort to go the wrong way, so just follow the natural line of the road.
Joining a main road from a side road - This is easy if there's traffic on the road already - just follow it in the direction you want to go. If the road is apparently empty, stop and think. Remember which country you're in, then look carefully in both directions. One of the major causes of serious accidents among foreign drivers is that they only look in one direction and it's the wrong one for the country they're in. You may be used to looking to the right when you want to turn left in the UK because you don't have to cross a carriageway, but in Spain or the USA, you will be crossing the nose of traffic coming from your left, so look both ways, preferably several times.
Turning into a side road from a main road - To make certain you turn onto the correct side of the side road, it's another occasion for actively remembering which country you're driving in.
Traffic lights - In the USA and some parts of continental Europe, even when the main traffic lights are red, you will often encounter flashing amber lights signifying that you can filter in to the right turn, if there's no traffic coming. In the UK, it is rare that you can filter to the left but if you can, there will usually be a left hand arrow which will actually be green or, less often, flashing amber.
Motorway driving - Until you're used to it, stay in the inside lane and make sure you're aware of where the inside lane actually is. If the country drives on the right, it will be on the right, and the other way around.
Overtaking - If you have front seat passenger that you trust, get them to peak out and see if it's safe to pull out and overtake. If you don't, and your visibility is fair because the vehicle in front is a normal size, inch out a little way for a look. If it's clear, put your foot down. If you're following a large vehicle such as a lorry, forget it if the oncoming traffic is quite heavy. Otherwise, you might wait for a bend so that you can see what the oncoming traffic is like but if in doubt, just don't do it. Be patient, your opportunity will come.
Danger areas - Believe it or not, the most likely places where a motorist will forget which side of the road to drive on are (a) coming out of a service (gas/petrol) station and (b) leaving a parking space at the side of the road, particularly in rural areas and small towns. Be extra vigilant here.
If you drive abroad with a friend or spouse, make sure that they know it's alright to shout at you if they see that you're about to drive on the wrong side of the road. Swallow your pride and admit that you may get it wrong some time and if they notice something amiss, they should say so without delay. It could save both your lives!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell
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