Were You Aware ? Third Party Only in Euroland

magnon · 11-26-2009, 12:47 PM

Whilst reading the small print I’ve just realised my £42k car (when new) is only covered third party only when in Europe despite the fact I pay for fully comp cover via BMW insurance.

I rang two other insurance companies and what you seem to get is say 2 to 4 trips of 3 to 5 days duration per policy year depending on insurer but third party only or the minimum cover to meet the local requirements of that country.

To get fully comp you have to ring your insurer prior to entering Euroland and pay an additional premium the cost of which is dependent on countries being visited and duration.

Also bear in mind you can not just nip over the boarder from say France into Germany unless you ring your insurer and get cover or go TPO, risky....

As I have to renew my insurance by Monday 30th I would be interested to hear from others their understanding of cover provided elsewhere.

Magnon

AlanQS · 11-26-2009, 01:03 PM

It's called the green card and has been with us for decades - nothing has changed.

I didn't know until recently that insurers would give you three days for free - provided you tell them and give the dates you would be in the foreign country. - I was going to Northern Ireland and had thought about nipping into the Republic for a day trip when I found out about this freebie.

The green card usually doesn't cost much - £15 say (years since I got one) and your cover over there should be the same as your cover over here.

dxb335d · 11-26-2009, 01:13 PM

Ive always rung up prior to going, and they confirmed i was fully comp for the duration, and for no extra cost.

jjbirch · 11-26-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxb335d

Ive always rung up prior to going, and they confirmed i was fully comp for the duration, and for no extra cost.

its allways handy to get a email confirming this carlos,or a letter, maybe if you did have a bump they could say they didnt get your phone call

dxb335d · 11-26-2009, 01:22 PM

All phone calls are recorded. I did also have email confirmation also.

jjbirch · 11-26-2009, 01:25 PM

i wouldnt say all mate i would say some calls maybe

dxb335d · 11-26-2009, 01:27 PM

100% they are mate, for their interest... Not ours.

jjbirch · 11-26-2009, 01:30 PM

so you would ring them up 1 week after and say can you find my phone call on tues 10am please,bet they get 100's of calls every day, going to need a big hard-drive lol,

willhollin · 11-26-2009, 01:32 PM

Yes all of them.

jjbirch · 11-26-2009, 01:34 PM

and the all porn chat lines too lol
shit i better stop calling lol

willhollin · 11-26-2009, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjbirch

and the all porn chat lines too lol
shit i better stop calling lol

Especially dwarf albino sex chat lines, so be careful.

jjbirch · 11-26-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willhollin

Especially dwarf albino sex chat lines, so be careful.

is that the one your wife works for lol

dxb335d · 11-26-2009, 01:45 PM

Mate its 100% logical for them to record them. Just think about it JJ.

magnon · 11-26-2009, 01:46 PM

AlanQS

Thanks for the Green Card Thread which I've followed up and found the following info, that sugested even though you have a green card you still may not be driving in euro with fully comp cover so beware.

Quote....
Many insurers will issue a Green Card, but have no obligation to do so. If they will not, you may wish to make enquiries with other insurers or ask about getting border insurance at the point of entry into the country.

The Green Card document itself is only proof that the minimum third party liability cover required by law in the visited country is in force. You should check with your insurer to make sure that your UK policy cover is fully in force when you travel abroad whether or not a Green Card is issued.

Within the countries where frontier inspection is no longer required, the Green Card is still the insurance document most readily recognised and understood by national police forces. As you may need to produce evidence of insurance other than at a border, for example after an accident, you may consider it advisable to carry a Green Card to avoid any inconvenience.

The Green Card system is administered in the UK by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).

Unquote

Full details here....

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ance/DG_067624

Snooky · 11-26-2009, 02:48 PM

Very interesting magnon. Just checked the policy documents for my car insurance and my wifes. My wife is with esure and hers is exactly as you describe (3rd party only outside UK; can be upgraded if you call them in advance). I am with Direct Line and they include Republic of Ireland on the same cover as UK. As an Irishman that travels home with the car every year to see the folks I am much relieved - It used to be that RofI was included with most policies here.

AlanQS · 11-26-2009, 03:02 PM

Well, one year when I travelled abroad, - with the green card, an old nutter pulled out in front of me just outside Pisa. The resulting repairs to my car were paid for by my insurance company without complaint.

It did take 8 months for my broker to get the money back from the Italian's insurance company and restore my NCB!

So, all I can say is that when I used to get a green card it gave me the same cover over there, as I had, over here. Perhaps you have to ask specifically for that now - in which case, change insurance companies.

11-26-2009, 12:47 PM	#1
magnon New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: E92 335d 2007 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Notts iTrader: (0)	Were You Aware ? Third Party Only in Euroland Whilst reading the small print I’ve just realised my £42k car (when new) is only covered third party only when in Europe despite the fact I pay for fully comp cover via BMW insurance. I rang two other insurance companies and what you seem to get is say 2 to 4 trips of 3 to 5 days duration per policy year depending on insurer but third party only or the minimum cover to meet the local requirements of that country. To get fully comp you have to ring your insurer prior to entering Euroland and pay an additional premium the cost of which is dependent on countries being visited and duration. Also bear in mind you can not just nip over the boarder from say France into Germany unless you ring your insurer and get cover or go TPO, risky.... As I have to renew my insurance by Monday 30th I would be interested to hear from others their understanding of cover provided elsewhere. Magnon
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11-26-2009, 01:03 PM	#2
AlanQS Colonel 240 Rep 2,810 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	It's called the green card and has been with us for decades - nothing has changed. I didn't know until recently that insurers would give you three days for free - provided you tell them and give the dates you would be in the foreign country. - I was going to Northern Ireland and had thought about nipping into the Republic for a day trip when I found out about this freebie. The green card usually doesn't cost much - £15 say (years since I got one) and your cover over there should be the same as your cover over here.
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11-26-2009, 01:13 PM	#3
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 944 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Ive always rung up prior to going, and they confirmed i was fully comp for the duration, and for no extra cost. __________________ 997.2 GT3
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11-26-2009, 01:22 PM	#5
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 944 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	All phone calls are recorded. I did also have email confirmation also. __________________ 997.2 GT3
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11-26-2009, 01:25 PM	#6
jjbirch Banned 75 Rep 2,927 Posts Drives: E60 530D M SPORT Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: england iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320d m sport [0.00]	i wouldnt say all mate i would say some calls maybe
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11-26-2009, 01:27 PM	#7
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 944 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	100% they are mate, for their interest... Not ours. __________________ 997.2 GT3
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11-26-2009, 01:30 PM	#8
jjbirch Banned 75 Rep 2,927 Posts Drives: E60 530D M SPORT Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: england iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320d m sport [0.00]	so you would ring them up 1 week after and say can you find my phone call on tues 10am please,bet they get 100's of calls every day, going to need a big hard-drive lol,
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11-26-2009, 01:32 PM	#9
willhollin Major General 268 Rep 9,915 Posts Drives: VW T5 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Worcestershire iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 330d SE [10.00] 2010 Transporter T5 ... [0.00]	Yes all of them.
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11-26-2009, 01:34 PM	#10
jjbirch Banned 75 Rep 2,927 Posts Drives: E60 530D M SPORT Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: england iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 320d m sport [0.00]	and the all porn chat lines too lol shit i better stop calling lol
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11-26-2009, 01:45 PM	#13
dxb335d The Tarmac Terrorist 944 Rep 29,345 Posts Drives: 997.2 GT3 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ''Fandango Towers'' iTrader: (3) Garage List 2010 Porsche 997.2 GT3 [9.50] 2003 BMW E46 M3 [6.00] 2007 BMW E92 335D [5.50]	Mate its 100% logical for them to record them. Just think about it JJ. __________________ 997.2 GT3
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11-26-2009, 01:46 PM	#14
magnon New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: E92 335d 2007 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Notts iTrader: (0)	AlanQS Thanks for the Green Card Thread which I've followed up and found the following info, that sugested even though you have a green card you still may not be driving in euro with fully comp cover so beware. Quote.... Many insurers will issue a Green Card, but have no obligation to do so. If they will not, you may wish to make enquiries with other insurers or ask about getting border insurance at the point of entry into the country. The Green Card document itself is only proof that the minimum third party liability cover required by law in the visited country is in force. You should check with your insurer to make sure that your UK policy cover is fully in force when you travel abroad whether or not a Green Card is issued. Within the countries where frontier inspection is no longer required, the Green Card is still the insurance document most readily recognised and understood by national police forces. As you may need to produce evidence of insurance other than at a border, for example after an accident, you may consider it advisable to carry a Green Card to avoid any inconvenience. The Green Card system is administered in the UK by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB). Unquote Full details here.... http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...ance/DG_067624
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11-26-2009, 02:48 PM	#15
Snooky Major 40 Rep 1,167 Posts Drives: Audi RS5 Sportback Carbon Blac Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Livingston, Scotland iTrader: (0)	Very interesting magnon. Just checked the policy documents for my car insurance and my wifes. My wife is with esure and hers is exactly as you describe (3rd party only outside UK; can be upgraded if you call them in advance). I am with Direct Line and they include Republic of Ireland on the same cover as UK. As an Irishman that travels home with the car every year to see the folks I am much relieved - It used to be that RofI was included with most policies here. __________________ Still missing my E92 335i M Sport!
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11-26-2009, 03:02 PM	#16
AlanQS Colonel 240 Rep 2,810 Posts Drives: Jaguar XE P250 HSE Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Glasgow iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 430i m-sport G ... [0.00]	Well, one year when I travelled abroad, - with the green card, an old nutter pulled out in front of me just outside Pisa. The resulting repairs to my car were paid for by my insurance company without complaint. It did take 8 months for my broker to get the money back from the Italian's insurance company and restore my NCB! So, all I can say is that when I used to get a green card it gave me the same cover over there, as I had, over here. Perhaps you have to ask specifically for that now - in which case, change insurance companies.
	Appreciate 0 Quote