Our policies cover the driving of motorised vehicles (excluding Quad bikes) for which you are licensed to drive in the UK (other than in races, motor rallies off road or competitions). Please note there is no cover under Section 5 (Personal liability) while driving a motorised vehicle.
For cover to be valid you'll need to
Be wearing a helmet if driving a motorbike, moped, scooter or assisted bicycle.
Be wearing a seatbelt when travelling in a motorised vehicle where a seatbelt is available for use.
You should be aware of the following:
You'll need to hold a full licence. A provisional licence or a CBT won't be accepted outside the UK.
Just because you're entitled to drive a vehicle in the UK does not mean you'll be able to do so in another country as their minimum age or licencing requirements may vary.
Many rental companies have minimum age limits for rental, in particular it is common in many countries that you'll be unable to rent or charged a surcharge if you're aged under 25.
Some countries and rental companies require you to have held your licence for a minimum number of years to be valid to rent a vehicle.
Many countries accept a UK driving licence without further documentation, some however require you to have an international driving permit (IDP), see https://www.gov.uk/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit for more details.
Some countries will require you to provide a licence ‘check code’, see https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence for more details.
It's important you understand the rules of the country you are intending to drive in, they can vary significantly and sometimes the rules aren't ones that you'd guess. For example did you know it's illegal to drive in flip flops in France and Spain or without a shirt in Thailand, legal to turn right on a red light in the USA and Canada and illegal to eat or drink anything while driving in Cyprus!
Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you hold the right licence, meet the rental requirements and abide by road rules when driving abroad. There is no cover under our policy if you're unable to hire a vehicle.
