You have lined up the season. Instructor role, chalet job, or just heading out to work the winter. You are driving your own car out because it is cheaper than flying and you want wheels once you are there. Then it hits you: is my car actually insured to be in France for five months?
For most people, the honest answer is no. Here is why, and what to do about it.
The 90-day problem
Nearly every standard UK car insurance policy includes some European cover. The catch is in the small print. That cover is usually:
- Capped at 90 days in total per year, and
- Reduced to Third Party only the moment you leave the UK.
A ski season runs four to six months. So on a standard policy you blow through the day limit halfway through the season, and even before that, you are only covered Third Party. If your car is damaged, stolen or written off out there, you are on your own.
That is fine for a two-week holiday. But it’s not fine for a winter working abroad.
What season cover needs to do
If you are driving your car out for a season, the policy needs to:
- Cover the whole time you are away, not just the first 90 days.
- Keep your comprehensive cover comprehensive on the continent, so your own car is protected, not just other people’s.
- Include a Green Card as proof of cover (more on that below).
- Ideally, offer European breakdown cover as an add-on, because Alpine passes in January are not kind to cars.
This is a specialist product. Comparison sites do not sell it, because they are built around standard annual UK cover. You need a broker that arranges long-term European motor insurance specifically.
Do you still need a Green Card?
Since 2021, a Green Card is no longer legally required to drive a UK-registered car in the EU. So no, you do not need one to be legal in France, Italy or Austria.
That said, a Green Card is still useful. It is clear, internationally recognised proof that your cover is valid, and it saves awkward conversations at a border or after a bump. Good specialist policies include one as standard, so you may as well have it.
Winter driving laws you need to know
Getting the cover right is half of it. The other half is not falling foul of mountain driving rules, which change country to country and can invalidate a claim if you ignore them:
- France: under the loi montagne, winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory in designated mountain areas from 1 November to 31 March. Carry chains regardless.
- Austria: winter tyres are compulsory in wintry conditions from 1 November to 15 April, plus you need a motorway vignette.
- Switzerland: no fixed tyre law, but you are liable if your car is not equipped, chains where signed, and you need a motorway vignette.
- Italy: winter tyres or chains required on many roads, usually 15 November to 15 April, depending on region and signage.
Wherever you drive, carry a warning triangle, hi-vis vest and first-aid kit, display a “UK” identifier, and fit headlamp deflectors if your car is right-hand drive.
The bottom line
If you are driving to the Alps for a season, do not assume your normal policy has you covered. It almost certainly caps out at 90 days and drops to Third Party abroad. Sort specialist season cover before you leave, and you can enjoy the winter without an insurance-shaped worry in the back of your mind.
Stuart Collins & Co has arranged European motor insurance for UK-registered vehicles since 1969. We are FCA authorised (firm reference 1013445), every quote is reviewed by a person, and a Green Card is included as standard.
Heading out this winter? Get a ski-season quote, or call us on 01792 655562.
