If you are planning to drive abroad in the school holidays you need to check exactly what type of car insurance cover you have.
A lady in London was shocked by how much she had to pay out for two minor accidents, even when she had bought insurance for her hire car. The two small scrapes, breaking a headlight and bumping the left wing of her car against a second rental car when parking, would probably have cost her little more than £100 each. Instead, she ended up paying out £1,237 in excess penalties.
When you rent a car in the UK or on abroad, the price includes fully comprehensive insurance but many people are not aware of the inflated excess charges which can be as high as £1,000 on the continent. Online provider, insurance4carehire, confirms this saying almost four out of 10 holidaymakers don’t know that they could be liable for these costs.
One way to get the cover you require without is to pays around £69 for an annual standalone policy, available from companies like insurance4carhire which covers all eventualities (including damage to underbody, tyres and windows, which are usually excluded in excess-waiver policies from car hire companies).
Every year three million British drivers set off to the continent, yet the price comparison website uSwitch says that two thirds aren’t sure if their insurance covers them or not. Apparently, ten per cent of Britons embark upon a driving holiday with the somewhat cloudy and incorrect notion that driving accidents are covered by our Travel insurance. Remember to read the small print, whether you are hiring a car or driving your own.
Mistake number one, if you are driving your own car, is to assume that your own fully comprehensive insurance necessarily provides the same level of cover when you are not in the UK. It does not. EU law only states that insurers are obliged to provide the bare minimum – which means third-party cover. This, of course, will not protect against accidental damage, theft or accident claims and only pays out for damage sustained to another person or car.
Ashton Berkhauer, an insurance expert at uSwitch, reckons that very few of the main providers offer free cover more than three days. The exceptions are eCar and Saga, which both provide driving cover abroad for 365 days a year. Barclays it will charge you £21.50 for up to 90 days’ cover, and with Admiral it will cost you £9 for four days and £17 for up to 30.
Paul Baxter of Tescocompare.com recommends that drivers should also make sure they have adequate breakdown cover. Breakdown cover in the UK can cost as little as £30 a year, and the cheapest Europe-wide policy is £69, this covers an annual trip of up to 31 days in Europe (IC Breakdown relating to a 30-year old man driving a Ford Focus with an annual mileage of 12,000).
However, Peter Gerrard of price comparison site Money-supermarket.com points out that some of the less expensive policies (not including IC Breakdown) are fairly stripped-down and you have to pay when the breakdown occurs, then claim the cost back on your return. Single-trip policies can also be bought for about £42 from the RAC, AA and Europ Assistance.
Michael Challiner
http://www.articlesbase.com/Finance-articles/will-your-car-insurance-travel-well-743255.html
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#1 by iridude2000 on April 12, 2010 - 7:11 am
Why do People not book with Travel Agents?
Im a travel agent and its funny of things that I hear;
Well it will cost me more using a travel agent (NOT TRUE) ; Actually you will get it cheaper except Air Since Air you dont get commission on so Agents will sometimes add commission to this; My Agency dont do that but some do.
Reasons to use a Travel Agent:
#1 Will save you $$$
#2 There usually protected by Insurance (E&O) Ask this before you deal with them and have them show this
#3 If you have a problem with hotel,etc; you can call your agent and they will deal with the supplier since they have more power then you.
#4 Most are certified in certain areas; and may know something that you dont (Hotel Renovations;Closings etc)
ALSO never;ever not get Travel/Cruise Insurance Especially for a cruise alot can happen on a cruise and without insurance your stuck.
I just wanted to point this out.
#2 by Wish2Travel on April 12, 2010 - 12:13 pm
Because I could research hotel/air/car fairs all at one website and book them all myself and not have to pay a finders fee.
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#3 by Silky Si McFly on April 12, 2010 - 12:15 pm
While I’m quite sure whether this is you trying to drum up business or are curious to why don’t anymore, I’m not sure.
My personal reasons are lack of flexibility. What I mean is when I go away, I want to option to completely change my mind and do something different from what I wanted the night before. I book a flight somewhere, maybe a hotel for the first night if I’m arriving late, and that’s pretty much it.
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#4 by me again on April 12, 2010 - 12:17 pm
you are basically saying if we do not use a travel agent we have no insurance, UNTRUE its much cheaper for me to get my own insurance, and there are no small prints, as we get from your people,
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#5 by Richard on April 12, 2010 - 12:19 pm
I was a Travel Agent and Travel Agency Owner for 34 years and I have heard this over and over.
People get personal advice from Travel Agents. Some do charge a Service Fee when booking some things like Airline Tickets due to the fact that most airlines do not pay commissions to Travel Agents anymore. Some do not if you are booking a cruise or tour. Either way it is generally the best money you can spend.
While you might get Airline Tickets online, you do not get the personalized attention, advice, recommendations and best schedules that a Travel Agent has at their disposal.
When you call an airline you get their flights, their prices, their schedules, not necessarily the best or least expensive fares. They would never tell you about another airlines flights that might be better suited for your requirements.
Remember, the Airline Reservations Agent or Internet site is booking that airline, not the best one. Remember that a good Travel Agent is looking out for you and what suits your needs better. They can "qualify" you for the best fare that suits your needs. The agent is working for you, not the airline.
While some of the Internet sites are quite good, there is nothing better than a good Travel Agent that can save you time, money and frustration. They can answer your questions and give you valuable advice, often first hand information.
Travel Agents also have access to consolidators and deeply discounted airfares that the public sometimes does not even know about. Some belong to consortiums that offer special savings and "deals" that are not online or available anywhere else.
Yes you might be able to book a flight online but when you are wanting one stop shopping with a professional that does that all the time, you are dealing with an expert not a computer.
Agents are there to assist you if something goes wrong as well and can solve problems that you encounter on your trip. Again, they are working for you and want their clients to be happy, satisfied and recommend their service to others. A travel supplier is more likely to give remedy to a Travel Agent than the consumer. The Agent uses their services constantly and has some clout in their dealings.
Make certain that you are dealing with a qualified and accredited agency and agent. Your funds are protected by bonds that in place to ascertain that you will be protected should they default.
I have great respect for how you pointed out some of the reasons to deal with a Travel Agent.
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#6 by clint_slicker on April 12, 2010 - 12:21 pm
I’ve several reasons
1, Personally I find it a lot cheap to book by myself as I don’t go to touristy places.
2, I’ve been told something was impossible by a travel agent only to find it was harder to arrange but not impossible.
3, Flexibility, the travel agents seem to have set schedules as to when to travel by flights and certain preferred airlines.
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