My fully comp insurance includes 90 days euro travel. I go for about 100 - 120 days (on average 9 or 10 days a month). The insurer will not increase the allowable days so for some of the trips I use another car. But here is an odd thing, the insurer says there is no need to inform them of each trip. How would they know if I exceeded the 90 days. Presumably, if I make a claim for an event whilst abroad I'd have to sign a declaration that I hadn't exceeded the 90 days. This would be very trusting on the part of the insurer which would be out of character. Maybe I'm paranoid!

When I went abroad this year I had to tell them where and how long I was going for to get an International Insurance Certificate (Green Card). That was with Sainsburys/esure.

I dont need to notify my insurers either (Bell) they automatically provide 90 days EU cover as part of the policy, printed on the back of my insurance certificate in a multitude of EU languages are details of my policy and its cover. My cover has been confirmed to be fully comp abroad, unlike my previous insurer who if you did not notify them provided just third party cover (EU minimum).

When I went abroad this year I had to tell them where and how long I was going for to get an International Insurance Certificate (Green Card). That was with Sainsburys/esure.

Green Card? I thought that went out years ago. Why do some insurers want to know dates of travel but others don't? My insurance is up for renwal in Jan so I shall ask for explanations.

You always need to check with you insurer as they often only give minimum cover abroad. I've just gone with Sheila's Wheels and they only give minimum unless you ask for a Green Card (and then they give less cover than UK cover).

Rich

Checked with my insurer (arranged thru John Lewis Partnership insurance service). Fully comp in UK and fully comp in europe for upto 90 days. No need to let them know travel dates because it is pre-booked, whatever that means. No green card necessary but I must have insurance cert with me at all times. Also 90 days cannot be extended so if I want to do a lot of long weekends I might have to arrange additional short term cover. This can be £12-15 per day (RAC quote).

I insure with Saga (you have to be over 50) they are not the cheapest but the reason I insure with them is there is no time restriction on using the vehicle in Europe I normally go for 130 days but you are covered for up to a year.

I insure with Saga (you have to be over 50) they are not the cheapest but the reason I insure with them is there is no time restriction on using the vehicle in Europe I normally go for 130 days but you are covered for up to a year.

So if I understand you correctly, SAGA insurance includes fully comp for euro driving for upto 365 days a year. That is tremendous. When my 90 days expire I'm down to 3rd party fire and theft. As I'm over 50 I'll get a quote from SAGA.

With the oft quoted mass of baby boomers now reaching retirement I'm surprised more insurers don't offer whole year fully comp euro cover.

If you go to the Saga insurance summary page http://www.saga.co.uk/insurance/car-insurance/summary.asp

It states “Cover in the EU for the policyholder to take trips abroad for an unlimited period at no extra cost”

As I said they are not the cheapest My insurance this year for A Octavia Elegance 2010 1.8 TSI fully comprehensive is £314.

thanks ian-inhome for the link.

£314 is about £40 less than I recently paid for my renewal (59 Elegance 1.8 tsi dsg). I get 5 years NCB and have no deductible. Next renewal I'll have to make sure I remember to get a quote from SAGA!

Check the policy. It may not have a limit on the number of trips and the wording may be such that it's trips are limited to 90days or less each but the number of trips is not limited.

That's what I was just quoted for so you could go away 10 times and spend 35 days away each time - and still be fully insured!

I sent the following e mail to Saga

"Could you please confirm that your comprehensive car insurance policy

regarding trips abroad doesn't have a time limit on each trip.I.e. you can

have as many trips abroad as long as each trip doesn't exceed x number of

days.

Reply from Saga

I am writing to confirm under comprehensive cover you are covered for European use, you are covered for the same level of cover that is shown in your schedule. I can also confirm you are covered for an unlimited period.