Car insurance news

Driving fast in Europe risks motor insurance on return

Motor insurance company Privilege have found that a quarter of motorists who holiday on the Continent speed on their return.

The study found that 28% of drivers unintentionally speed in the UK because they have got used to higher speed limits in Europe. Those who have not got a four years no claims bonus on their motor insurance are most likely to do so, with 35% of participants in the online survey reporting accidental speeding.

A new phenomenon of "speed tourism" is also reported by Privilege, who discovered that 3% of drivers travel to Europe with the intention of enjoying the higher speed limits allowed by super highways such as the Autobahn.

The managing director of the motor insurance firm commented, "It is clear from our research that some British drivers are heading abroad specifically to drive faster than they would at home and are forgetting the upper UK speed limit of 70mph when they get back."

If drivers are caught speeding upon their return, this means points on their driving licence and a likely motor insurance hike. However, as the Guardian found, so many drivers are now getting points on their licence for speeding that some motor insurance providers do not substantially raise premiums for speeders, allowing them to still take advantage of relatively cheap car insurance.