A car trip to Europe promises car owners a lot of positive impressions. However, one should not forget about the possible risks to which the traveler and his property are exposed. That is why the primary issue before such a trip is car insurance.
In order to choose the optimal tariff for voluntary car insurance, it would not be superfluous to use a universal calculator. Yes, such a calculation will later require clarification of the insurance cost, because not all insurers include CASCO coverage 'outside the Russian Federation' in the basic tariff of their calculators. It is also worth paying close attention to the procedure for handling an incident, which is described in the insurance rules of a particular company. Regarding the handling of an incident abroad, there may be discrepancies.
Recently, some companies have included the option of 'claim without certificates' in the contract; nevertheless, in the event of an accident on the territory of another state, it is advisable to always contact the competent authorities. The fact is that upon returning home, it is quite problematic to get an accident certificate if the insurer still demands to provide it.
Motor third-party liability insurance
All Russian drivers know about the need to insure their motor third-party liability. It is also known that in this area, there are state-established conditions and tariffs that are uniform for all insurers. This can be easily verified by calculating the insurance cost using the OSAGO calculator on the website or directly in the office of any insurer. However, it should be remembered that this insurance does not apply in European countries.
In order to protect yourself from financial claims of injured foreign drivers, you need to obtain a 'Green Card'. Moreover, without such insurance, it is impossible to enter the territory of most European countries, and the fine for the absence of a 'Green Card' significantly exceeds the fine for not having a driver's license.
In essence, the 'Green Card' works like our 'autocivil liability insurance', but its cost is significantly higher than the tariffs that insurers have embedded in the OSAGO calculators for 2014. This difference is explained by the fact that the insurance amounts established in European countries exceed the liability limits provided for under 'autocivil liability'.
Driver's license
Most European countries recognize ordinary Russian driver's licenses, since our state is a member of the relevant convention. However, in Spain, Italy, and France, problems may arise when processing an incident, because these countries only recognize international driver's licenses. That is why it is worth obtaining such a document before visiting these countries.
In addition, it must be remembered that in these countries, as in most European states, there are quite severe penalties for traffic violations. For example, speeding carries a substantial fine, and parking in an unauthorized place will definitely result in the car being towed.
Border crossing
There are a number of criteria, non-compliance with which may make it difficult to cross the border by car. For example, a car with studded winter tires will not pass border control. The only exceptions are northern countries such as Norway or Finland – these states allow the use of cars with winter tires.
It is best to plan the route in advance in order to clarify such nuances, because border crossing conditions can differ significantly even in neighboring countries. Such information can be found on specialized forums. There you can also read reviews from car enthusiasts who have already traveled around Europe by car.
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