Beware Of The Bank Holiday

If you have a long car journey or a trip abroad planned this month, be sure to pick the right car and breakdown insurance.

The good news for wage slaves is that May brings us two bank holiday Mondays to look forward to: the Early May Bank Holiday on 7 May and the Spring Bank Holiday on 28 May. However, if you're a motorist who plans to enjoy the good weather by taking a long weekend or spring break this month, then be sure to take steps to avoid the usual holiday hazards.

Whether you're driving in the UK or heading overseas, it's important to have the right protection in case things go wrong. For example, how many times have you seen motorists stranded by the roadside during the holiday season and thought, "Phew, I'm glad that's not me"? So, if you plan to make a long car journey, make sure that you have the right breakdown cover.

Breakdown cover in the UK

The first step is to check your motor insurance policy to see what level of protection it provides. You may have bought adequate breakdown cover alongside your car insurance, or it may be a benefit provided by a 'packaged bank account', so do check before paying for additional cover.

The market for roadside-recovery cover is dominated by four big players: The AA, Britannia Rescue, Green Flag and the RAC. These firms charge between £80 and £150 for this protection, whereas my money-saving wife buys her Best Buy 'pay and claim' breakdown policy from AutoAid for a bargain £34 a year. Alternatively, you can buy RAC breakdown cover at a quarter of the price simply by paying with Tesco Clubcard vouchers (that's a whopping 75% discount on the usual price).

Motor insurance in Europe

If you're planning to drive on the Continent, whether on a family holiday, short break or booze cruise, don't assume that your car insurance policy will provide the same cover as it does in the UK. Always check to see what level of cover you have for foreign use. Although your policy must provide the minimum compulsory insurance required within the European Union (and for those countries which abide by the EU Insurance Directives), this could be limited only to third-party cover.

Hence, if your motor insurance policy doesn't include standard cover for Continental driving, normally the cheapest option is to pay an extra premium to your insurer for an optional extension. Typically, this will cover you for trips of up to thirty days, subject to a yearly maximum of, say, ninety days. Insurers which provide overseas cover as standard sometimes require you to inform them of your trip before travelling, so check your policy document and, if necessary, call your insurer before you go.

European breakdown insurance

Of the major motor insurers, only Marks & Spencer provides European breakdown insurance as standard. Of 22 other motor insurers surveyed by website Find, nine charge an extra premium for this optional extension, but thirteen don't offer this cover at all. Hence, my advice would be to get a quote for European breakdown cover from your motor insurer or UK breakdown cover provider. Then shop around to compare premiums from The AA, Green Flag and the RAC, plus other providers such as Direct Line and Europ Assistance, before signing up.

Be prepared!

Before you set out on a long journey, spend ten minutes giving your car a quick once-over. By checking the engine-oil level, radiator level, windscreen-washer level and tyre pressures, you might prevent an avoidable breakdown. Finally, here are some general tips on summer driving and driving in Europe, courtesy of The AA.

The Fool's search engine checks 97% of the online car insurance market to find you a great deal!