Driving abroad: How to avoid holiday hell in 2024

What do you need to drive abroad?

If you plan to drive on holiday you need to know what you need to drive abroad. You should check this whether you are:

• taking your car with you
• hiring  a rental car overseas

First of all, you will need to check in which countries you can use your UK driving licence. If you can use your driving licence when you are going on holiday, then you may need to apply for an international driving permit (IDP). You also need to:

• take out insurance for driving abroad
• get any documents you need
• check the rules for driving in the country you are going on holiday to

In terms of the documents you may need, this varies depending on whether you are driving in Europe or outside of Europe. Driving abroad in Europe means you need:

• a motor insurance certificate
• the logbook for your vehicle, which is the V5C
• your driving licence

If you are driving in Europe you need to take the following documents:

• full driving licence
• DVLA driver record (copy of)
• potentially a licence check code
• your motor insurance certificate
• possibly a Green Card
• possibly an international driving permit
• travel insurance documents
• a visa potentially 

How likely are you to have an accident on holiday?

You may wonder how likely you are to have an accident on holiday. Unfortunately, Britons are likely to run into problems driving abroad. Two-thirds of Brits who have driven on holiday have experienced problems driving abroad. One problem is driving on the wrong side of the road - a third of overseas British drivers experience these issues. Also, one in every 10 Britons driving abroad drives the wrong way around a roundabout. 

Not only are Britons prone to accidents driving abroad they are also more likely to die in a road accident abroad than in the UK. For example:

• in Spain, you are twice as likely
• in the USA, you are also twice as likely
• in Greece, you are three times more likely

Having an accident while on holiday abroad is not limited to a road accident as a driver. Over half of Brits abroad have had problems as pedestrians. Also, 155,000 injuries happen near to or in swimming pools on holiday. 

There are also common injuries associated with going abroad. Common injuries include:

• slips trips and falls such as in wet areas around swimming pools
• sunburn and heatstroke
• food poisoning, with this being common in Spain
• sports injuries, particularly as people may try out unusual sports on holiday

What happens if I have an accident abroad?

If you do have an accident abroad, you must know what to do. If you have a road accident abroad you should do the following:

• call the police and ask for a copy of their police report - you can request an interpreter if necessary
• jot down notes about what's going on
• take photos of the scene as well as the number plates of other vehicles
• exchange insurance details
• take witness details
• avoid saying sorry for admitting you are at fault

It is also important to let your insurer know about the accident ASAP. If your road accident abroad happens in Europe you may need to complete a European Accident Statement (EAS). This records the facts and helps with any insurance claim but only signs it when you are sure you understand its content. 

If you are unfortunate enough to have a road accident abroad, you may want to think out making an accident compensation claim

Can I claim for an accident on holiday?

And if you have an accident on holiday which is not your fault, you may be able to make an accident on holiday compensation claim. This could be for an accident on the road, food poisoning from a restaurant or even an injury while using public transport abroad. Your holiday is a treat and should be a time of enjoyment and fun. The last thing you should have to suffer is an accident while on holiday. Making a compensation claim gives you something back after all the negativity the injury brought to your holiday. 

We can help you to make an accident on holiday compensation claim today! Simply call , or if it is easier, you can request a call back here. If you prefer, you can even begin your claim online.