Is my U.S. auto insurance coverage valid in Europe or other parts of the world?
Going abroad can be an eye-opening experience — the culture, the language, even the food can be different. Whether it's learning some key phrases or buying auto insurance coverage, if you are planning a trip overseas, it never hurts to be prepared!
If you're driving anywhere outside the U.S. and Canada, your American auto insurance coverage is typically not valid. However, most rental car companies make it easy for you to buy insurance when you rent your car. Not sure of the insurance requirements of the country you are visiting? One of the best places to start looking for answers is with the rental car company.
Generally, you should purchase car insurance from the foreign car rental company at levels similar to your auto insurance coverage in the U.S. If you're going on a multicountry tour, make sure that the car insurance provided by the rental car company complies with auto insurance regulations in all the countries where you plan to drive.
If you're the type of person who likes to plan your vacations down to the minute, Esurance suggests that you book your rental car reservation early — you may get a discount for planning ahead and you'll have the opportunity to ask questions about driving conditions, auto insurance coverage abroad, and generally what to expect and how to prepare. If you have the time, it's also wise to shop around for your auto insurance coverage abroad — you could find a better deal on auto insurance than you can get from a rental car company.
This page is intended to provide you with general information about car insurance, and to help you understand the various kinds of coverage. It does not describe or refer to any specific policy or coverage. For information about your particular coverages, we encourage you to read your policy contract and consult your insurance representative with any questions.