Car Insurance for longterm driving in Europe

ToxicPaddy

There is the possibility that I might be working in Europe for a few months to a year or more.. Does anyone know of any insurance policies that cover longer than the standard 30-90 days driving in Europe as I'd like to bring my car over if I was..

Anyone know of any company that offers this as an extra or anyone any experience trying to get this type of cover?

Tox

CiniO

Every insurance company provides you with unlimited third party cover within the EU for the whole period of the policy. But remember it's olny third party.
Most of insurance companies would provide full comprehensive cover though for longer then 30/90 days if you ask them for it. Some of them might charge extra for it.

But here I can see other problem.
Just make sure that your Insurance company is OK to provide you a cover at all, if you are not resident in Ireland. And that might be the case here.

PS. What country is it you are going to?
Maybe it would be easier to get insurance for your car in there?
Most likely it will be cheaper, as Ireland seems to be the most expensive place for car insurances in Europe.
Also just to let you know, that you don't need your road tax while you are abroad.

Henry Ford III

Arrange cover locally.

CiniO

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Arrange cover locally.

That not always might be possible. Depends on the country he's going to.

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CiniO, can you provide any links/information that show a comparison of car insurance prices within the EU?

CiniO wrote: »

...as Ireland seems to be the most expensive place for car insurances in Europe...

CiniO

kingambrose wrote: »

CiniO, can you provide any links/information that show a comparison of car insurance prices within the EU?

I don't think I can.
All my knowledge about it, comes just from chatting to other people for different countries.
So far Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherland, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Italy, UK seems to be cheaper.

Henry Ford III

CiniO wrote: »

That not always might be possible. Depends on the country he's going to.

If you are resident it's always possible arrange cover locally surely???

CiniO

Henry Ford III wrote: »

If you are resident it's always possible arrange cover locally surely???

Not always.
There's few things.
1. If someone is going there just for few months, he might not be considered resident according to local regulations. Or even if someone is planning to stay longer, he might not be considered resident unless he spends there half a year. So what is he supposed to do for this first half year?

2. Even if someone is resident there, it might not be possible to arrange cover on Irish plates. Depends on local regulations. It might also be not always possible to register a car up there, as some countries in EU don't allow to register RHD cars. If that's the case, he's trapped, because he can't do anything.

Even if he's lucky, and he will be able to do it, cost and hassle of arranging cover locally, registering the car, might be huge, and it might be way easier to find Irish insurer, which will provide cover for the whole period, even if someone is working abroad. But here's another thing to be taken under consideration. Some countries might limit a time, that you can drive with Irish registered car. In some countries it might be 3 months, in some 6 months, in others 12 months. But depending on the country, not everywhere it's enforced.

ToxicPaddy

Cheers for the replies guys..

There is a chance I could be going to Switzerland, nothing has been confirmed yet and from what I can gather, if you want to be insured in Switzerland you have to have your car registered there and on Swiss plates.. which is a lot of paperwork and hassle for what could be only 6 months.

I would plan on bringing my own car over for maybe 6 months and if things work out I'll sell if back here and buy a left hand drive one over there already on Swiss plates and get insured by a local insurer over there.

If you have a car in Switzerland for more than 12 months, it has to be registered in Switzerland after 12 months, transferred over to Swiss plates and be on Swiss insurance and you also have to apply for a Swiss driving license too.

My insurance is up at the end of November so if I have to change to another company then to get that type of cover I'd be willing to do so.

Does or has anyone gotten this cover and from who did you get it?

Tox

CiniO

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

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Does or has anyone gotten this cover and from who did you get it?

Tox

I remember FBD were advertising 12 month EU cover for free.
But there might be some tricks with it. Just read T&C throughly.
I'm insured with Allianz and they provide free 3 months cover. Anything over costs extra, but when I asked them how much would it cost me to get cover for 6 months, she said it was something like extra 50 quid.

Do you have comprehensive cover?
Because all these only applies to theft, fire and own car damage.
Your third party is valid at all times in Europe.

ToxicPaddy

I have fully comp cover, always go get it, but would be looking for that abroad too, so wonder what the cost would be for that abroad, if they even do offer that..

CiniO

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

I have fully comp cover, always go get it, but would be looking for that abroad too, so wonder what the cost would be for that abroad, if they even do offer that..

Did you read what I wrote earlier.
Lot's of insurance companies will provide you with full comprehensive cover up to 3 months for free. Anything above it, will be probably just a couple of bob
I also mentioned, that FBD was advertising, they provide full 12 month EU comprehensive cover, with no extra costs. To find out if it's true just ring them.