After years of saving your pennies and sacrificing those extra fixes of caffeine, you’re finally taking that dream trip to France! You’re finally going to get the chance to see the Eiffel Tower in person, eat a real croissant in a real European outdoor café and see what all the hoopla is all about when it comes to French men. While in France, you’re also going to take the opportunity to explore the outer reaches of the country by car. This means you’re going to have to learn all about getting car insurance abroad. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place!
Will I Actually Need Car Insurance Abroad?
The answer is an unequivocal yes! Add another yes to the equation and the emphasis won’t be enough. Any circumstance in which you’re driving a car requires that you have adequate car insurance, even if you’re in a foreign country. You should also know that your insurance in the states won’t cover you on international shores. A good thing to know when traveling internationally is that the coverage that drivers are required to carry is very slight in many countries, so consider having additional coverage that will protect you in the event of a car accident overseas.
International Driving Permit
If you believe that your U.S. issued drivers’ license will be sufficient enough to give you driving privileges in France and other countries, you would be incorrect in that assumption. If you want to drive in one of 179 countries, you’re required to have an International Driving Permit. You can get an International Driving Permit issued to you at your local office of the American Automobile Association (AAA) or National Auto Club. Your International Driving Permit will be translated into 10 different languages so that foreign law enforcement officials can translate your driving credentials into their native language.
Purchasing Car Insurance Abroad
You may not know this, but if you can swing it, you do have the option of driving your own car in France. Perhaps you have a new sports car you want to show off to the cute expatriates eating pastries at the outdoor café. However, if you’re like most travelers, you’ll be renting your car from a company in France. That option is a lot easier and inexpensive. For those France-bound travelers who are taking the easier, cheaper route, you can either buy insurance from the French rental car company or you can purchase a policy from a third party source. Do some research into international third party sources before you leave the United States so you have a good idea of all your car insurance options.
Traveling to a foreign country should be an exciting adventure filled with anticipation for great things to come. Don’t let the process of buying car insurance abroad dampen your spirits. As you long as you look into all of your car insurance options and obtain your International Driving Permit before you leave the country, you’ll be all set to hit the road, Parisian style. Amusez-vous bien!