Car Insurance expires while in Europe

deebert

I'm heading away in a few weeks driving around Europe - down to the south of France and up as far as Norway. I've rang my insurance company and am covered but my insurance expires two weeks before I return. The insurance brokers I use have said they can't send out the renewal quote until June 23rd but I'll be somewhere in France at this stage. The only solution they suggested is that I get somebody at home to pay and when the cert comes out in the post they fax me a copy. But I'd prefer to have all this sorted before I leave so could I:

Cancel my current insurance and organise new insurance to start before i leave? But would I lose my No Claims Bonus?

or

As they suggested I get somebody to pay and when the cert arrives, I get them to scan it and email me a copy. I print it and cut the disc out

Anybody have any other suggestions as I don't want to driving around with an out of date disc on my car.

Thanks

Anan1

Have you tried asking the ins co directly? They may not be able to help given that you're with a broker, but they may be able to come up with something.

Hagar

Check your policy before you travel. I'm not 100% sure but I think your policy only covers you outside the state for a maximum number of weeks per year. If you are going to be away for many weeks you may exceed that limit and may find you have no insurance. You may have to let your ins co know and pay an extra premium.

deebert

As you said the insurance company were unable to help as I'd got my insurance through a broker. I've made numerous calls to both and have been getting nowhere.

Hagar - I've checked and they cover me for upto 90 days for any one trip without any extra cost so it's all good on that front

Thanks

Buffman

deebert wrote: »

As you said the insurance company were unable to help as I'd got my insurance through a broker. I've made numerous calls to both and have been getting nowhere.

Remember you don't have to go with the same company again. Its always a good idea to shop around before renewing. You could even try to approach your insurance company directly and cut out the broker, treat it as a new deal, not a renewal.

Your broker does seem very unhelpful here, not even willing to give you a price for the renewal.

Anan1

OP - Do you already have a full bonus? If so, cancelling the policy and taking out a new one elsewhere won't affect your NCB.

deebert

Buffman - Have been ringing around looking for quotes and I can't even get close to what I'm paying at the minute but will try my own company as a new deal and see what happens.

I've only 2yrs 10months NCB, by full bonus do you mean having NCB for a certain length of time? Sorry couldn't find the answer online.

L1011

Hagar wrote: »

Check your policy before you travel. I'm not 100% sure but I think your policy only covers you outside the state for a maximum number of weeks per year.

90 days seems to be the absolute bare minimum given these days. Quinn do unlimited fully comp across the Common Travel Area and 90 days fully comp and unlimited TPFT outside it IIRC.

Anan1

deebert wrote: »

I've only 2yrs 10months NCB, by full bonus do you mean having NCB for a certain length of time? Sorry couldn't find the answer online.

Unfortunately, this means that you'd lose the 10 months bonus if you cancelled the policy now and took out a new one. Given everything you've said, i'm starting to think your second original solution (scan & email) is the best one.

oldyouth

You would want to check that EVERY country you intend to pass through is covered under your policy. Normally it is just EU countries and a few others.

Don't worry about the disc, that is just an Irish thing and is not required that you display it abroad. You will, however, require evidence of insurance and your cert and a Green Card are best, even though the latter is almost obsolete

Del2005

deebert wrote: »

Buffman - Have been ringing around looking for quotes and I can't even get close to what I'm paying at the minute but will try my own company as a new deal and see what happens.

I've only 2yrs 10months NCB, by full bonus do you mean having NCB for a certain length of time? Sorry couldn't find the answer online.

All car insurnace is going up, the insurance companies lost loads in the sub prime mess (AIG's bailout etc), so don't assume that you'll get a cheap quote off your broker when you get your renewal.

The best thing would be to do what the broker said and wait for their renewal quote. They have to be sent out 2 weeks before your insurance expires and if you have someone at home to pay, they can pay and get the cert. If it more expensive have some other quote reference numbers and leave a few copies of your licence at home for the person to pay for the cheapest most suitable quote for you.

Then they can scan you a copy and post the cert where ever you are and it should get to you before your policy expires. They should have your itinerary and can post it to where ever your staying or Poste restante if you aren't staying anywhere.

deebert

Cool, Thanks for all the replies. Might just do as Del2005 suggested.