At a glance
- Driving to Europe can give you more freedom than flying, especially if you want to take your own car and pack around your plans.
- All UK vehicle insurance provides minimum third-party cover in the EU and some other European countries, but you need to check whether your policy gives you more than that.
- Dayinsure temporary European car insurance can help eligible drivers get short-term cover for a European trip.
- With Dayinsure, you can choose temporary cover for the time you need, from 1 day up to 30 days for European cover.
- You’ll need key documents, including your driving licence, insurance certificate and V5C logbook if you’re taking your own vehicle.
- If someone else will share the driving, they need their own valid cover before they drive.
- Before you set off, check your route, countries, documents, and any local driving rules.
If flights are looking expensive, driving to Europe can be a very tempting option.
You can pack more easily. You can stop when you want. You can take your own car instead of dealing with airport transfers and hire desks. And if you’re travelling as a family or group, the journey can feel like part of the trip rather than something to get through.
But before you book the ferry or Eurotunnel, it’s worth checking the insurance.
Temporary European car insurance can help if you need short-term cover for driving abroad. With Dayinsure, eligible drivers can arrange temporary European cover for trips from 1 day up to 30 days. Journeys must start and finish with the insured vehicle in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
This guide explains what to check before driving to Europe, how our temporary cover works and what documents you should have with you before you leave.
Could driving to Europe work better for your trip?
Driving to Europe can make sense when you want flexibility.
You’re not tied to flight times. You don’t have to squeeze everything into a suitcase. You can bring the things that make the trip easier, especially if you’re travelling with children, sports kit, camping gear or luggage for a longer stay.
It can work well if you’re:
- Visiting family or friends abroad
- Planning a European road trip
- Taking a longer summer holiday
- Travelling with children
- Carrying sports equipment or extra luggage
- Heading to a festival, campsite or holiday home
- Sharing the driving with someone else
But driving has its own costs too. You’ll need to think about ferry or Eurotunnel tickets, fuel, toll roads, parking, emission zones, breakdown cover and insurance.
So the question isn’t just “is driving cheaper than flying?” It’s “does driving fit the kind of trip you want?”
If it does, the next step is checking your cover before you cross the border.
Comparing the journey costs beyond flights and fuel
Before you set off, it helps to look at the financial side of both travel options. Here is a quick comparison of the costs you’ll need to consider for a flight-based trip versus a continental driving holiday.
| Flight-based trip costs | Driving holiday costs |
| Airline tickets for each passenger | Ferry or Eurotunnel tickets for the car |
| Cabin or hold baggage fees | Fuel for the full route |
| Airport parking or transfers | Motorway tolls and local parking |
| Foreign car hire | Temporary European car insurance |
It’s worth mapping the whole route before you decide. A long drive can be cheaper for some trips and more expensive for others, especially once tolls, overnight stops and fuel are included.
The benefit is control. You choose the route, the timing and the stops.
Does your current UK car insurance cover you in Europe?
Many UK drivers assume their annual comprehensive policy automatically covers them abroad, but this is a dangerous misconception. Under UK law, standard annual policies are only required to provide the minimum legal cover in the EU. This usually drops your protection down to third-party only.
This means that if you have an accident abroad, your insurer will pay for damage to other vehicles but won’t cover any damage to your own car.
To avoid paying thousands of pounds out of your own pocket after an accident, you must check your policy document for trip limits, country exclusions and restrictions. You no longer need a physical Green Card to drive within the EU, but you should always consult the official GOV.UK guidance for up-to-date entry requirements before you travel.
How Dayinsure temporary European car insurance can help
Dayinsure temporary European car insurance can help when you only need cover for a short trip.
It can be useful if you’re:
- Driving to Europe for a holiday
- Borrowing a friend’s car for a European road trip
- Sharing a long journey with another driver
- Taking your own car abroad for a short break
- Visiting family or friends in Europe
- Using a car temporarily while travelling
- Driving for a short business trip in Europe
With Dayinsure, you can arrange short term European car insurance for the time you need, from 1 day up to 30 days. That means you don’t need to buy a full year of extra cover for a trip that only lasts a week.
If you’re looking for temporary car insurance Europe options, the key thing is to choose cover that matches the journey. That means the right driver, the right car, the right countries and the right dates.
What Dayinsure temporary European car insurance covers
Dayinsure temporary European car insurance is designed for eligible drivers who need short-term cover for driving abroad.
Your policy is arranged for the driver, vehicle and cover period shown on your documents. Before you travel, make sure every detail is correct.
Cover for your chosen trip
When you apply, choose the cover period that matches your travel plans.
Think about:
- When you leave the UK
- When you’ll return
- Whether you need cover for the journey to the ferry or tunnel
- Whether you need extra time for delays
- Whether you’re visiting more than one country
Journeys to European countries must start and finish with the insured vehicle in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Cover for the named driver and car
Make sure you meet our eligibility criteria before you purchase your insurance policy, and double check the level of European cover you’ve selected before you travel.
Dayinsure temporary car insurance gives you short-term cover, and European cover can be arranged for your trip. If you want comprehensive European car insurance, make sure your policy documents show the cover level you expect before you leave.
Keep your certificate somewhere easy to reach, ideally printed as well as stored digitally.
Borrowing someone else’s car for a European trip
You can use Dayinsure temporary cover when you’re borrowing an eligible car for a European trip, as long as you have the owner’s permission and meet our criteria.
That can be useful if:
- Your own car is too small for the trip
- You’re borrowing a family member’s car
- A friend’s car is better suited to the journey
- You want to share the driving in someone else’s car
- You only need cover for the trip itself
If you’re arranging insurance for driving someone else’s car in Europe, make sure:
- The owner has given you permission
- The car registration is correct
- Your name and licence details are correct
- The European cover dates match the trip
- The countries and journey fit the policy
- You don’t drive before cover starts or after it ends
What documents do you need for driving in Europe?
Before you travel, gather your documents in one place.
You need to take your GB driving licence when driving abroad. If you’re taking your own vehicle, you also need your V5C logbook and insurance certificate.
You should have:
- Your physical UK driving licence
- Your insurance certificate
- Your V5C logbook if you’re taking your own car
- Your passport and travel documents
- Breakdown cover details
- Any permits or local documents needed for the countries you’ll visit
Get ready for your European road trip
Driving to Europe can be a brilliant way to travel.
You can take your own car, pack around your plans and enjoy the route instead of just the destination. But the insurance needs to match the journey before you leave the UK.
Dayinsure temporary European car insurance can help eligible drivers get short-term cover from 1 day to 30 days. It can be useful if you’re taking your own car abroad, borrowing someone else’s car or sharing the driving on a European road trip.
Before you set off, check the countries, documents, cover level, driver details and journey dates.
Ready to plan your trip? Get a temporary European car insurance quote through the Dayinsure website or the Dayinsure app before you drive.
FAQs about temporary European car insurance
Can I get temporary comprehensive car insurance for Europe?
Yes, but only on Dayinsure Aviva policies. Comprehensive EU cover is not available on Mulsanne policies. If your quote is placed with Mulsanne, you won’t have the option to add comprehensive EU cover. Always check your documents before travelling.
Do I need a Green Card to drive in Europe from the UK?
No, you do not need a Green Card to drive in the EU, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland. However, you must always carry valid proof of insurance, such as your Dayinsure certificate.
Can my travel companion take out a temporary policy to share the driving on my car?
Yes, an eligible travel companion can set up a separate temporary policy in their name for your car. This is a simple, cost-effective way to share the driving on long European road trips without modifying your annual policy.
