Road-tripping is the perfect staycation idea. It gives you the opportunity to drive around the country and explore places you’ve heard about but never seen before.
The UK is full of great tourist attractions that can be moulded to create the ideal road trip – you could travel to one of the beautiful National Parks or plan a drive all the way to the Highlands in Scotland.
The opportunities are limitless, but you need to think about some of the boring legal things before setting off on your trip. Most notably, what insurance do you need for a road trip, particularly if you’re not leaving the country? It usually boils down to two options, as explained for you below…
Car Insurance
As you already know, you’re not legally allowed to drive a car on UK roads unless it’s insured. If you’re using your daily vehicle for this road trip, then you’ve already got the insurance locked down. However, you may want to check that the following are included in your current insurance package:
- Breakdown Cover
- Personal Injury Cover
Both are essential for an extended trip on the roads, so either update your policy or get temporary car insurance to get the coverage you need. If you can only afford one, then a breakdown cover is the better of the two to pick because you’re more likely to need it. Plus, you can always speak to a lawyer about car crash claims if you get involved in an accident anyway. This normally leads to a better compensation payout, so it’s okay to skip the personal injury cover if you can’t afford it.
Additionally, think about who’ll drive the car during your road trip. Are you behind the wheel the whole time, or will you chop and change with other passengers? In the second scenario, you must ensure that the other drivers are insured to drive the car before setting off.
What if you’re not driving your normal vehicle? Perhaps you’ve bought a classic car and are planning a trip with friends in their classic cars. Or, maybe you rented a campervan specifically for this trip. Don’t forget to take out a separate insurance policy for these vehicles to remain legally compliant – again, temporary car insurance is likely the most affordable option.
Travel Insurance
Yes, you can purchase domestic travel insurance for road trips in the UK. This provides the same level of coverage as standard travel insurance minus any medical costs. That’s because you already get free healthcare from the NHS, so insurance companies don’t bother.
Travel insurance is a good bet for a road trip as it protects you from any cancellations during your journey. Also, some domestic travel insurance will protect your belongings if they get damaged or stolen on your trip.
Looking at the two road trip insurance options, car insurance is the main one to worry about. Travel insurance is only necessary if you’ve booked accommodation during your travels. If you plan on camping out in your vehicle along the way, then there’s no point getting domestic travel insurance.