Direct Line, If you are insured with them note the following
Discussion
It appears a Direct Line fully comp policy only gives you third party cover if you go abroad unless you pay extra.
A friend wasn't told this when they bought fully comp insurance, just told it included European cover, it does, the minimum !!
I suggested they checked before going to the continent & they have just had to shell out £38 for 2 weeks cover
Another Direct Line small print way of trimming the policy
A friend wasn't told this when they bought fully comp insurance, just told it included European cover, it does, the minimum !!
I suggested they checked before going to the continent & they have just had to shell out £38 for 2 weeks cover
Another Direct Line small print way of trimming the policy
Its not just direct line though is it?
The growth of moneysupermarket, gocompare etc etc shows we are a nation that loves to buy on price rather than quality then moan about it afterwards.
Every policy has small print and terms & conditions, if certain inclusions are important check for them beforehand?
The growth of moneysupermarket, gocompare etc etc shows we are a nation that loves to buy on price rather than quality then moan about it afterwards.
Every policy has small print and terms & conditions, if certain inclusions are important check for them beforehand?
Dog Star said:
It's not a bargain though, is it? Every other place in Europe gets this cover automatically, just not our backward industry.
It was very common in the 80s then seemed to die off. Now making a comeback due to cost paring.
I always budget free full euro cover as being worth £100.
It's cheap - to insure your car against comprehensive risks in a foreign country for a few quid a day? Cheap.It was very common in the 80s then seemed to die off. Now making a comeback due to cost paring.
I always budget free full euro cover as being worth £100.
Granted it should be included but if you buy a cheap policy then you get what you pay for.
As my old Dad used to say, never scrimp on tyres, brakes, insurance and johnnies.
People complain about renting cars in the US because of expensive insurance options. The reason it is like that is because almost all personal car policies extend to rental cars. Americans just turn down all the insurance. This means a VW Toureg just cost me $110 all in for 5 days.
The point? You get what you pay for. The UK had driven down prices forcing the insurance companies to exclude previous benefits. However, UK insurance is considerably cheaper for a 35 year old in a good post code. And, there is no such thing as full comp. you are always liable at some point. For me that's $100k.
The point? You get what you pay for. The UK had driven down prices forcing the insurance companies to exclude previous benefits. However, UK insurance is considerably cheaper for a 35 year old in a good post code. And, there is no such thing as full comp. you are always liable at some point. For me that's $100k.
Given we are obssessed with price rather than the quiality of service or product its hardly surprising. If when buying your annual insurance Direct Line had been dearer than others but included FC European cover as standard would you have taken it? I;ll hedge my bets and say probably not as others will have given a cheaper price for annual insurance.
Stuart J said:
A friend wasn't told this when they bought fully comp insurance, just told it included European cover, it does, the minimum !!
I suggested they checked before going to the continent
Why wouldn't you check if it was an important aspect of the cover?I suggested they checked before going to the continent
Dog Star said:
It's not a bargain though, is it? Every other place in Europe gets this cover automatically, just not our backward industry.
Do they? Source?Dog Star said:
xRIEx said:
Do they? Source?
Er.... lived and worked in France, Germany and Belgium. Your insurance is euro-wide. None of this 'green card' lark. It's certainly the same in Holland. My friends simply don't understand what the issue is.It makes absolutely no mention of having the same cover in Europe as you do in the UK.
Edited by xRIEx on Tuesday 9th September 12:21
Can't see this as a big deal TBH. If I needed fully comp cover to drive in Europe I'd make sure I had the right level of cover when taking out the policy. I certainly don't want it bundled in with every policy I buy because other people might need it - fits firmly into the "optional extra" camp for me.
xRIEx said:
Green cards only prove the minimum cover required is in force. This was part of the single market shenanigans so is exactly the same as the rest of Europe, i.e. if you are insured to drive in the UK, you're automatically insured to drive in Europe.
It makes absolutely no mention of having the same cover in Europe as you do in the UK.
<sigh> I know. ('Green card' is just a figure of speech for extending your cover (Privilege actually still issue them.)) It makes absolutely no mention of having the same cover in Europe as you do in the UK.
My point is that if you buy insurance in, say, France your policy is a full europe wide policy with the same level of cover (ie. if you are fully comp, then it's fully comp). It seems to be only the British that are lumbered with the legal minimum cover if you go abroad unless you pay extra (or have a time limitation). Just checked with a friend on FB and Swiss are the same - full cover.
I assume there must be some UK companies that offer this - I remember back in the late 80s and early 90s you could get a 365 day green card policy from Guardian Royal Exchange (are they still even going?).
Agree with many comments
Its just if you shell out for fully comp & specifically ask has it got European cover to be told yes & nothing about it only being third party is volunteered you may expect it to be fully comp. AGREED its down to the individual & this was sorted.
I only posted as a heads up for many who don't realise, Ive been told by a broker this is not uncommon with some of the more publically known companies so its probably worth anyone who isn't sure & thinking of going abroad to double check
Like most things insurance based check, check & check again, they want your money but be assured if they don't have to pay out they wont.
Its just if you shell out for fully comp & specifically ask has it got European cover to be told yes & nothing about it only being third party is volunteered you may expect it to be fully comp. AGREED its down to the individual & this was sorted.
I only posted as a heads up for many who don't realise, Ive been told by a broker this is not uncommon with some of the more publically known companies so its probably worth anyone who isn't sure & thinking of going abroad to double check
Like most things insurance based check, check & check again, they want your money but be assured if they don't have to pay out they wont.
Dog Star said:
It's not a bargain though, is it? Every other place in Europe gets this cover automatically, just not our backward industry.
Not true, you insure for your country, and when you go abroad, (and only due to EU regulations) it is mandatory for your policy to automatically cover for third party risks in all EU countries. Nothing more. And certainly a lot less in non-EU countries, i.e. you get no cover at all (except certain exceptions for almost-EU countries like Switzerland etc).If your insurer wishes to they can offer full cover, but that's only a selling point. Many do include this but only for a limited period, (say) 60 days per year.
They have no obligation to do so, so it is up to you to know what it is you are purchasing exactly. TBH it's fairly reasonable as undoubtedly driving abroad represents a slightly higher risk, so you should not be paying for something that you may not be needing.
I speak from the experience of one of the "other places in Europe".
Dog Star said:
My point is that if you buy insurance in, say, France your policy is a full europe wide policy with the same level of cover (ie. if you are fully comp, then it's fully comp). It seems to be only the British that are lumbered with the legal minimum cover if you go abroad unless you pay extra (or have a time limitation). Just checked with a friend on FB and Swiss are the same - full cover.
And if you live in France or Switzerland your much more likely to want to drive in another country than if you live in the UK, hence it is a much more important thing to have as standard. They will pay for the extra cover somewhere.Stuart J said:
Agree with many comments
Its just if you shell out for fully comp & specifically ask has it got European cover to be told yes & nothing about it only being third party is volunteered you may expect it to be fully comp. AGREED its down to the individual & this was sorted.
I only posted as a heads up for many who don't realise, Ive been told by a broker this is not uncommon with some of the more publically known companies so its probably worth anyone who isn't sure & thinking of going abroad to double check
Like most things insurance based check, check & check again, they want your money but be assured if they don't have to pay out they wont.
It's probably fair to say communication was poor. Yes, caveat emptor etc. but we don't spend all our time reading contracts and shouldn't have to. The legal onus is not on Direct Line to state third party only without being asked, but they probably sorta should.Its just if you shell out for fully comp & specifically ask has it got European cover to be told yes & nothing about it only being third party is volunteered you may expect it to be fully comp. AGREED its down to the individual & this was sorted.
I only posted as a heads up for many who don't realise, Ive been told by a broker this is not uncommon with some of the more publically known companies so its probably worth anyone who isn't sure & thinking of going abroad to double check
Like most things insurance based check, check & check again, they want your money but be assured if they don't have to pay out they wont.
Agreed with others on the pricing structure itself seeming fair. Come to think of it, is it mandated that third-party extends to the continent now? Just speculating.
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