Simply put, yes. As soon as you step foot in a different country, you are subject to foreign laws and regulations. Vehicle insurance comes with a myriad of rules and stipulations, so it is vital that you let your vehicle hire company know if you are planning on taking the vehicle abroad to ensure that you are legally covered.
For example, Supervan Ltd’s vehicles all come with full comprehensive insurance to travel in the UK. However, we do need to be informed so that we can reinsure your chosen van, car or motorbike for road risk, breakdown cover and repatriation. You may believe that using your own insurance will cover you when driving in the Continent, but the reality is that in most cases, you are only automatically covered for basic Road Traffic Accident (RTA) insurance.
You can, of course, get cheap breakdown cover but many of the more basic policies do not include repatriation, which can become a massive issue if your vehicle cannot be repaired and you need to get yourself and the vehicle back to the UK. According to the AA, repatriation costs £995 on average – a high price to pay for the sake of a few pounds.
Where are you travelling to and through?
Supervan would also need to know your destination and the countries you are planning on travelling through on the way. Our vehicle insurance will cover you in the majority of Europe and Eurasia; however there are some exceptions that require you to hold a Green Card as proof of your insurance overseas. These countries include:
- Albania
- Serbia and Montenegro
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Belarus
- Macedonia
- Ukraine
Other legal requirements to consider
Depending on the country or countries you are visiting, you may be required to adhere to a number of other guidelines and legalities; for example, when travelling in Spain, there must be reflective jackets within the passenger compartment of your vehicle that must be worn by the driver and/or passengers when exiting an immobilised vehicle on all motorways and busy roads.
Other requirements may include:
- GB stickers – compulsory unless your UK registration plates display the GB Euro-symbol
- Spare bulb kit
- Fire extinguisher
- First aid kit
- Warning triangle
- Breathalyser
- Certain amount of cash to pay on-the-spot fines
Confused?
Luckily, Supervan Ltd can take all the pressure away from you; with years of experience in hiring vans, hiring cars and hiring motorcycles for travel both in the UK and Europe, we have the knowledge and understanding of the rules and pitfalls to help. We can take care of all the insurance, breakdown cover (including repatriation), documentation and must-have items for your journey, and all at the best possible prices.
All of our vehicles are maintained and serviced to the highest standards, and those all-important tyre, water, and oil checks will have been carried out before you take delivery, minimising the possibility of anything going wrong whilst abroad.
For more information, please call Supervan on 01277 366 602.
