EUROPEAN CAR INSURANCE

European car insurance cover for an unlimited period with Saga*

*Both Saga Select and Saga Plus cover levels include use of your car in over 30 European countries for an unlimited period of time. All drivers named on the policy are covered for driving in Europe, the policyholder doesn't have to travel with them.

Saga Standard also covers you for driving in Europe for up to 90 days in any policy year.

Saga Plus and Saga Select car insurance with unlimited European travel gives you the freedom to focus on your trip – however long you plan to be away. Check your policy documents to see exactly what European car insurance cover is included for your trips abroad.

Do I need a green card to drive in Europe?

You don't need a green card for driving in the EU anymore because the UK has joined the Green Card Free Circulation Area.

If you’re planning on driving in the EU, rest assured you’ll still be covered by your Saga policy with EU car insurance to drive in any of the countries that we cover as standard (listed in the table below).

What about outside the EU?

If you’re intending to drive elsewhere (such as Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey) please give us a call on 0800 056 1472 as we may be able to provide a green card.

Follow these tips to keep the process simple:

• Be clear about your travel plans before contacting us – a green card will only be valid for a certain period and only in the countries listed on it.
• Request your green card about a month before you travel to make sure you get it in time.
• Once ordered, your green card should arrive in the post within seven working days.
• Your green card must cover the whole of your trip, and you’ll need to show it whenever you cross a country’s border.
• You must carry a paper copy – digital versions (like a PDF or photo on your phone) won’t be accepted.

We recommend keeping copies alongside your European car insurance policy documents so that you have everything you need to hand when you travel.

Do I need an international driving permit (IDP)?

An IDP is not generally required within Europe; however you may need one to drive in some EU countries and Norway if you have:

• a paper driving licence
• a licence that has been issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

To check if you need an IDP to drive abroad, check the Gov.uk list. If you need an IDP, you can buy one over the counter at your local Post Office for a small fee. Together with your European car insurance you will then be able to drive anywhere within the EU.

Make sure your car maintenance is up-to-date

Be prepared for your journey abroad by carrying out some general checks on your car before leaving home.

• Check tyre pressures match the manufacturer’s recommendations – for some makes of car it might be recommended to alter the tyre pressures if your car is going to be particularly laden with people and luggage
• Check your tyre tread levels. The minimum tread differs across Europe so make sure your tyres will be legal.
• Check – and top up if necessary – your oil level, water level and screenwash.
• If your car’s annual service is due soon, it might be a good idea to have it serviced early, particularly if you have a long journey to complete.

Check for tolls, taxes and restricted-access schemes

Check what you need to do before driving on foreign roads. You may have heard about the London Congestion Charge and Low Emission Zone; many cities across Europe also operate schemes like these, and for most of them you will need to register and obtain stickers in advance. You can find a full list of all European environmental zones on the Green Zones portal. To prevent being caught out, and facing a hefty fine, make sure you do your research well before you go.

If you’re going to be driving on Swiss motorways you need to purchase and display a vignette sticker, which is car tax. Many motorways across Europe are toll roads so you’ll need to pay to drive on them. If you wish to avoid this, many sat-nav systems allow you to choose a route that avoids tolls – just be aware that this could make your journey much longer!