Many British motorists don't know that they're not covered for car accidents in Europe

British motorists who head off to the EU for work or pleasure may not have checked whether their insurance will fully cover them in the event of a car accident.

If you are driving in the EU, you no longer need a "green card" (international certificate of insurance) as according to UK law, your British motor insurer must cover you for at least the minimum legal requirement of the country you're in.

While some insurers give the same comprehensive cover drivers have in the UK, others only provide third-party insurance. The most popular insurance providers - the AA, Green Flag and RAC - only provide third-party cover in Europe.

Rather than pay for the full annual comprehensive cover, the AA and RAC suggest that motorists upgrade only for the time they're away - at the cost of £8 or £12 a day. If you are going away for longer, it is worth considering an annual comprehensive policy that definitely covers Europe.

The hassle of trying to find a garage and pay out for expensive repair costs with garages you know nothing about while overseas is another hidden aggravation for people involved in a road traffic accident in Europe. Having comprehensive vehicle accident cover assists in finding recommended garages that have already been fully checked.

A report in the Financial Times in August this year (2006) points out that, following a little-noticed Law Lords ruling, drivers could now find they are under-insured when involved in an accident overseas.

This is because compensation claims in the UK can run into millions of pounds. Accidents in hire cars, therefore, often have a minimum payout. While this helps British motorists overseas, it also means that if they cause an accident while they're on holiday, they will be subject to a higher payout cost.

If you prefer to rent cars rather than drive your own, one option to ensure adequate insurance cover in the event of a road traffic accident is annual collision damage. Reasonably priced at around £50/year, it is offered by organisations like www.insurance4carhire.co.uk

Car accident compensation claims
Anybody who has been involved in a car accident knows that it can impact your life greatly. Whiplash, personal injuries, car replacements and other accident-related costs affect your body, your wallet and eat up time.

If the accident you have been involved in was not your fault, you could apply for a compensation claim and use any damages awarded to help get over your personal injuries and get your life back on track.

We can give you free legal advice and explain the claims process in clear English without complicated legal jargon If we think we can take your accident claim on, you will benefit immediately from our excellent success rate and no win no fee policy - no money from you and all damages yours to keep.

So why not give it a try and call us on 0808 143 43 42 to find out whether you qualify for a claim.