This summer, a larger number of people will be ditching the increasingly problematic medium of flying, and choosing that more familiar family institution: the car.

Driving in foreign lands can be a steep learning curve and it seems that people pay less respect to details overseas than when travelling at home. An example of this neglect can be seen with regard to car insurance. According to Go Travel Insurance, a recent report suggested that a sizeable majority of drivers had no idea what their insurer insured them for when they drove in foreign land, and another alarmingly high percentage mistakenly assumed that their travel insurance extended to cover car insurance too.

It is advisable to check with your car insurance company to see if you are covered for overseas driving. If you have fully comprehensive insurance for the UK it is possible you will need to get supplementary insurance - under EU law an insurer is only required to provide something called 'Road Traffic Act', which is even less than third-party insurance and will not cover you against theft, accidental damage or injury.

It is also good to look for what period of time the insurance will be valid for EU travel. Most insurers will offer a 'free period' for your policy abroad, but this can vary wildly from 3 days (Directline, Esure and Halifax, for example) to 365 (Saga and Ecar)! There is such disparity that is certainly worth visiting a site such as www.fool.co.uk in order to compare car insurance when your policy is up for renewal.

Although not a legal requirement breakdown insurance is also advisable for the observant traveller. In some instances it is easier and less costly to get new insurance cover for overseas driving. Check with your current British provider or shop around if you feel you will be able to get a better arrangement with someone else. ASDA Car Insurance provided get great value and reliable cover. You can even tailor your cover to suit with some optional extras, including a hire car and breakdown service from the RAC, and legal protection. As you might expect, AA Travel Insurance offers similar optional benefits.

The primary point, we can’t say it sufficiently, is pay attention to details. Don’t be worried to make many enquiries regarding your current insurance policy and plan into the future. Don’t wait until the last minute as your insurance will include select terms with regard to notice periods. You don’t seek to end up with a holiday that ends up a good deal pricier because of a piece of car insurance paper.