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UK motorists thinking about driving their cars abroad should exercise caution before driving off.

Such is the assertion of Sainsbury's Car Insurance which reports that unless drivers take steps to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover before going on a foreign driving holiday then they could be faced with costly repair bills. According to the company, just under a fifth (17 per cent) of holidaymakers are planning on taking their car abroad during the next year. Overall, France was highlighted as being the most popular destination for an overseas driving holiday, with some 4.58 million drivers planning to take their cars to the European country over the next year. However, 1.89 million are set to visit Ireland, with 1.7 million going on a trip to Germany. Spain, Italy and Belgium were also considered to be sought-after locations for motorists.

Also, it would appear that quite a few people are planning a quite considerable journey, with about half of all those travelling overseas expecting they will cover more than 1,000 miles driving whilst away, meanwhile 19 per cent are expecting to drive between 501 and 1,000 miles.

However, prior to hitting the road for Paris, Rome, Berlin or any other Destination in europe, Sainsbury's Car Insurance not only advised motorists to get fully comprehensive car insurance but also to get iin contact with their provider to advise them of their holiday driving plans before they leave. It would appear that although many insurers provide cover for driving on the continent, policyholders are required to notify them that they are going to do this. If this is not done, Sainsbury's said drivers may well see their cover downgraded to only incorporate third party, fire and theft.

For those people who fail to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover whilst on their holiday abroad it may be possible they have to dip into their own pockets in order to meet the cost of vehicle repairs 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 lower their chances of getting into difficulties whilst abroad, the company urged motorists to plan their route carefully and to check the motoring laws for the countries that they will be going through. Additionally, checking tyre pressure and brake fluid levels before departing was also recommended.

Joanne Mallon, car insurance manager for Sainsbury's, 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 consumers looking for an effective way to finance a holiday may discover that obtaining a personal loan is recommended. And for those wishing to buy a car to take to the road for an adventure on the continent, cheap loans may not only help with purchasing a new car but also help pay for comprehensive insurance policy. Borrowing for the means of getting a car could also be recommended, as a recent Experian study showed 20 per cent of males would go in to the red in order to get a set of wheels.

Mark Dawson writes for the the Loan Arrangers where you can compare loans and apply online for cheap home loans, and the best rate secured loans.