Car Insurance When on Holiday Abroad UK 2026

Last reviewed: 26 April 2026

EU cover under a standard UK motor policy post-Brexit

Most standard UK Comprehensive and TPFT motor insurance policies include a foreign travel provision covering driving in European Union countries and the European Economic Area (EEA, which includes the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway). The standard provision typically covers at minimum Third Party cover for up to 90 days per trip or per policy year, depending on the policy wording.

Post-Brexit, the UK and EU reached a bilateral arrangement that maintained the minimum Third Party cover principle for UK-registered vehicles driving in EU member states, the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic provides the underlying framework. The ABI confirmed in 2021 that UK policyholders did not need to carry a physical Green Card for travel in EU and EEA countries, and that minimum Third Party cover was automatically extended under standard policy terms.

However, the extension to EU cover is not uniform across all UK policies. Some policies extend full Comprehensive cover to EU driving; others revert the cover to Third Party minimum for travel outside the UK. The specific foreign travel provision is stated in the policy schedule and IPID. Verify your specific policy's foreign travel cover level before driving abroad, particularly whether the cover is Third Party or Comprehensive during EU travel.

The Green Card: when it is and is not required

The Green Card is an internationally recognised document confirming that a vehicle holds at minimum Third Party motor insurance cover meeting the destination country's legal requirements. It was historically required for all international vehicle travel.

For EU and EEA countries, the Green Card requirement was effectively suspended for UK-registered vehicles following the 2021 post-Brexit arrangements. UK policyholders driving in EU and EEA countries no longer need to carry a physical Green Card as proof of insurance, their UK policy documents and driving licence are sufficient.

For non-EU/EEA countries, including countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and some Balkan states outside the EU, Green Card requirements vary and may still apply. If driving outside the EU or EEA, contact your insurer before travel to confirm whether a Green Card is needed for the specific destination and request one if required. Insurers are required to issue a Green Card on request at no additional charge.

Switzerland (not EU but EEA-adjacent via bilateral agreement), Turkey (not EU), and Morocco (common travel destination from Spain) have their own insurance verification requirements, confirm with your insurer for each specific non-EU destination.

Hire cars abroad: CDW and additional cover requirements

When hiring a vehicle abroad, rather than driving a UK-registered vehicle, the insurance situation changes entirely. A hire car is covered by the hire company's own insurance within the EU, typically providing basic Third Party cover as a minimum. Most UK Comprehensive policies explicitly exclude hired vehicles from foreign travel cover provisions.

The hire company offers Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Damage Waiver cover as an additional hire component. CDW waives or reduces the driver's financial liability for damage to the hire vehicle. Without CDW, the driver is personally liable for damage costs up to the vehicle's value in most hire agreements.

CDW from hire companies is frequently more expensive than equivalent cover from independent travel insurance or specialist hire car excess insurance providers. The ABI advises consumers to compare hire company CDW costs against alternatives before travel. Confirm with your travel insurer whether hire car excess protection is included in your travel insurance policy before purchasing separately.

Driving outside the EU and EEA: non-standard destinations

For travel in countries outside the EU and EEA, a UK-registered vehicle driven on holiday in Morocco, Turkey, or other non-EU destinations, the standard UK policy's foreign travel provision may not apply. Most UK policies' foreign travel extension covers only EU and EEA countries plus a small number of additional listed territories.

Contact your insurer before planning non-EU road travel to confirm: whether cover applies in the specific destination; whether a Green Card is required; and whether additional premium is payable for a short-term extension. Some insurers provide short-term extensions for specific non-EU destinations; others decline non-EU cover entirely.

Repatriation and breakdown abroad

Breakdown cover is not motor insurance but is a separate product. For UK drivers who have a UK-based breakdown policy, confirm whether the policy covers continental European breakdown. Some UK breakdown policies include European breakdown cover as standard; others treat it as an add-on or provide only limited roadside assistance without repatriation.

Motor insurance policies typically do not include vehicle repatriation to the UK following breakdown abroad. Repatriation, returning the vehicle and its occupants to the UK following a breakdown or accident that prevents the vehicle from being driven, requires specific breakdown or motor assistance cover with a European repatriation component.

Key Figures

Short-term European breakdown and repatriation: planning before departure

For UK drivers taking their own vehicle to mainland Europe, breakdown cover abroad is a separate and important consideration from motor insurance. Most standard UK breakdown products, including RAC, AA, and Green Flag, include European breakdown cover as an add-on or in higher-tier annual memberships. Confirm whether your existing UK breakdown policy covers: roadside assistance in the specific destination countries; vehicle recovery and repatriation to the UK if the vehicle cannot be repaired in the destination; and onward travel or accommodation for the vehicle's occupants while it is under repair abroad.

If your existing breakdown policy does not include European cover, single-trip or annual European breakdown cover can be purchased separately. This is typically available from the same providers as UK breakdown cover and from specialist travel breakdown insurers. The ABI advises consumers to assess European breakdown cover before departure rather than discovering gaps when assistance is needed in a foreign country.

Insurance Premium Tax at 12 percent (HMRC, gov.uk) applies to UK motor insurance premiums covering European travel as part of the standard policy. Additional European breakdown cover carries its own premium structure. BIBA-registered specialist brokers (biba.org.uk/find-insurance/) can advise on combined motor insurance and breakdown cover packages for extended European road trips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need extra insurance to drive my UK car in Europe?

Most standard UK motor policies include at minimum Third Party cover for EU and EEA countries for up to 90 days. Check whether your policy provides full Comprehensive or Third Party Only cover abroad, this varies between policies. Verify the foreign travel provision in your policy schedule or IPID before travel.

Do I need a Green Card to drive in the EU after Brexit?

No. The Green Card requirement for UK-registered vehicles was suspended for EU and EEA travel in 2021, following post-Brexit bilateral arrangements. For non-EU destinations, Green Card requirements vary, contact your insurer before travel to confirm.

Does my UK car insurance cover a hire car abroad?

No. UK motor insurance policies typically exclude hired vehicles from their foreign travel provisions. Hire cars are covered by the hire company's own insurance. Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or equivalent from the hire company or a travel insurer covers damage to the hire vehicle.

What if I want to drive through Switzerland, Morocco, or Turkey?

Switzerland, Morocco, and Turkey are not EU member states. Your policy's EU/EEA foreign travel extension may not cover these destinations. Contact your insurer before travel to confirm coverage and whether a Green Card or additional premium is required for the specific destination.

Is breakdown included in car insurance when driving abroad?

Motor insurance does not include breakdown cover. A separate breakdown policy is required. Confirm whether your UK breakdown policy includes continental European breakdown and repatriation before travelling, many standard UK breakdown products include European cover only as an add-on.

Sources & Verification

• ABI, Motor insurance and overseas travel: https://www.abi.org.uk
• gov.uk, Driving abroad: https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad
• Road Traffic Act 1988: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52
• HMRC Insurance Premium Tax: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/insurance-premium-tax
• FCA Register: https://register.fca.org.uk
• BIBA, Find a specialist broker: https://www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance/
• gov.uk, Driving without insurance: https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/penalty-for-driving-without-insurance

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify rates with official sources before making any financial decision.