Brits advised to check their insurance policies for Ireland

Taking a trip to the nearby country of Ireland may not seem like going abroad: they speak the same language, are on the same time zone and even drive on the same side of the road.

However, there is one thing that Brits are being advised to take into consideration before setting off on a Gaelic adventure - car insurance.

While Brits are able to drive freely with their native licenses in Ireland that does not necessarily mean that their motor insurance will cover them fully to do so.

This consideration could be one that is passing a significant amount of motoring Brits by, as Tourism Ireland says that nearly five million Brits visited the nation in 2006.

According to Tourism Ireland, in that time period 63 per cent of holidaymakers visited Dublin, while 27 per cent headed to the south of the island.

Furthermore, the tourism body has just released a new brochure entitled "The long and winding roads of Ireland", which is geared towards encouraging Brits to discover the nation by car.

Lawrence Bate, of Tourism Ireland Great Britain, said: "It is important for us to promote the exceptional beauty of the island of Ireland to British visitors who prefer to use their car on holidays."

While this is undoubtedly true, if British drivers remain unaware of their car insurance status when they are driving on Irish roads then the motorists may end up with a large-scale problem on their hands.

The best way that motorists can find out what their company covers them for, is to ring up a customer help line or to check the small print of their insurance policies.

If they are not covered for driving abroad and this knowledge has been discovered in plenty of time then it may be something which may encourage them to shop around for a policy of a comparable price, which does offer cover in Ireland as part of the package.

Motorists are also advised to take out their own breakdown cover when abroad, as having an accident on foreign soil can be expensive.

According to the Daily Telegraph, one insurance provider alone received 100,000 calls from stranded drivers in 2006, highlighting the necessity of breakdown cover, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Clive Burgess of Europ Assistance told the paper that drivers should read the cash and time limits thoroughly.

He said: "Contracts should offer a minimum of 60 minutes' roadside help.

"Make sure it is specified in the contract, or the assistance could be curtailed. Also look at cash limits on car replacement."

A more expensive policy may even work out cheaper in the long run, as if a motorist ends up having to take out extra cover each time they journey abroad the bargain UK insurance deal may end up having its drawbacks.

Furthermore, drivers should note that this advice does not just apply to visiting Ireland but all foreign countries, as being caught out with no insurance cover can be an expensive mistake to make.