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British tourists planning to drive their cars whilst abroad should exercise caution before hitting the road.

This was the advice given by Sainsbury's Car Insurance which states that unless drivers take steps to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover before leaving to go on a foreign driving holiday then they could be faced with costly repair bills. According to the firm, just under a fifth (17 per cent) of holidaymakers are planning on driving their car overseas during the next 12 months. Overall, France was targeted as being the most likely destination for a foreign driving holiday, with some 4.58 million drivers looking to take their cars to the European country over the next 12 months. Meanwhile, 1.89 million are set to visit Ireland, with 1.7 million going on a road trip to Germany. Spain, Italy and Belgium were also considered to be sought-after locations for motorists.

In addition, it appears that many people are planning a significant journey, with about half of all those going abroad expecting they will drive for more than 1,000 miles whilst away, meanwhile 19 per cent are expecting to drive between 501 and 1,000 miles.

However, before setting off to hit the road for Paris, Rome, Berlin or any other European destination, Sainsbury's Car Insurance not only urged motorists to get fully comprehensive car insurance but also to get in touch with their provider to let them know of their holiday driving plans prior to their departure. It came to light that although many insurers provide cover for driving on the continent, policyholders need to let their insurer know of their intentions. If this is not done, Sainsbury's said motorists may well see their cover reduced to only incorporate third party, fire and theft.

For those Brits who fail to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover while on their trip abroad it could well be that they have to raid their own finances in order to meet the cost of repairs to their vehicle following a breakdown, accident or theft. This could easily impact on their ability to manage loans, credit cards and mortgage repayments upon their return to britain.

To minimise the likelihood of getting into difficulties whilst on holiday, the company urged drivers to plan their route carefully and to make themselves aware of the motoring legislation for the countries that they will be driving through. Additionally, checking tyre pressure and brake fluid levels before departing was also recommended.

Car insurance manager for Sainsbury's, Joanne Mallon, reported: "When going on holiday, most people will remember to take travel insurance but we are concerned that some motorists are overlooking the need to ensure that their car journey is fully covered. Having an accident anywhere is bad enough but when abroad it can be compounded by a lack of local knowledge; to then find that the other party's damage is covered, but not your own, is surely a blow worth avoiding."

Those who are looking for an effective way to finance a holiday may well find that obtaining a personal loan is a good course of action. And for those looking to buy a car to take to the road for an adventure holiday abroad, a cheap loan may not only help with purchasing a vehicle but also help fund an adequate comprehensive insurance policy. Getting a loan for the means of getting a car could also be recommended, as a recent Experian study showed 20 per cent of males would go overdrawn in order to get a set of wheels.