Car Insurance Question

[arbucklethwaite6]

Hi

Hope someone can help

In France and had a minor bump and when rang insurance was told that I did not have the European Add On and had stupidly assumed it was always there

The Insurance company wont add on the cover to start today i.e not retrospectively cover me but make sure am covered for rest of trip as I am already abroad

Have tried a couple of short term insurers but they have said the same that I need to be in the country to start the insurance

Anybody know who might be able to help

Andy

[Zacs-Master]

In the country?

Which country; your native one or France?

[ukbod2015]

get a friendly family member to submit an application from home in your name.

[KARL]

Like you, I thought that not only was EU/EEA cover normally included but, more comprehensively, it was now standard via EU legislation/regulations. I say this without being absolutely certain but whenever I have insured a vehicle European cover has been included without me requiring to arrange it. On the other hand I think some UK insurers may have in their terms that one should notify them if planning to go abroad but if the cover is an EU requirement then this would not be crucial.

If you have anyone you can get to contact Citizens Advice, or similar, and enquire for you then I suggest you arrange that.

[ukbod2015]

Which company are you with so we know who to keep an eye on.

[bhg481]

EU cover is standard for all insurance policies nowadays, but only 3rd party cover. If you want your comprehensive cover to be included you usually have to ask for it.
If you never intend to take the car across the channel, make sure your policy doesn't cover the EU or you'll be paying for something you don't want (and it's not cheap).

[KARL]

Beware: If someone (including yourself) takes out a policy after you have left the country without truthfully answering any questions regarding travel (assuming UK, insurers in other countries are very possibly less pedantic/obstructive) then any subsequent claim would require to be supported by documentation and this would then show that you were abroad at the time of policy initiation.

By the way, I know that in some European countries pan-European cover is standard, not an add-on, but that may not be significant especially since I assume you are insured in the UK.

[Baldric]

Why do you expect someone to cover you for an accident you've already had?

[hc4361]

Andy doesn't want cover for the accident he's already had. He wants cover to start now so he can legally drive in the country he is in

[arbucklethwaite6]

Thanks for all the answers

Think my best course of action is to try the specialists in the UK tomorrow to see if someone will offer the insurance and if not make the call whether to get back to the UK somehow and either get the insurance or change cars to the one I have that is covered (this one in new :-()

Thanks again for your time

Andy