Yes, you need European car hire insurance if you are taking a UK hire car to France, Spain or anywhere else in the EU. The cover on a standard UK rental agreement stops applying the moment the vehicle leaves mainland Great Britain. It has to be arranged in advance. The rental company’s insurers price it against the specific countries and dates of your trip
We’ll explain what European car hire insurance includes, what it leaves out and how to arrange it with Fairview Vehicle Hire.
What Is European Car Hire Insurance?
European car hire insurance is an extension to your rental agreement that makes the vehicle legal to drive in EU countries. If you’re hiring a car in the UK to drive to Europe, you’ll need to arrange cover with your hire company for the specific countries and dates of your trip. That cover has to include third-party liability. This is the legal minimum in EU countries and it pays for damage or injury you cause to other people, their passengers and their property.
You can then add extra protection on top:
- Car hire excess cover reimburses the excess you would owe for damage to the hire car itself
Does My UK Hire Car Insurance Cover Me in Europe?
Standard UK car hire insurance does not extend across the Channel automatically. The insurance on a Fairview vehicle applies in mainland Great Britain. Driving one of our rental vehicles in the EU, in France or Spain or anywhere else, needs prior approval and a separate arrangement with our insurers.
Your own motor policy is worth checking too. Some UK policies extend to hired vehicles, but that extension often stops at the border and rarely covers vans, minibuses or higher value cars.
Contact the team to give us your travel dates and destinations and we will get a price for EU cover back to you.
What Does Fairview’s European Cover Include?
Fairview hire vehicles can be taken outside mainland Great Britain into the EU with prior approval, and EU car hire insurance is added to your hire at an extra charge. That cover is for third-party liability, so it pays out for damage or injury caused to other people or their property in an accident.
Alongside the insurance itself, a European rental with us can include:
- Unlimited mileage packages, which suit long routes south through France or across northern Spain
- A wide vehicle choice, ranging over family cars, estates and premium models
- A quote confirmed in advance, so the cost of EU cover is known before you commit to the trip
Full details of how our European hires work are set out in Can I Travel in Europe When Hiring a Car from Fairview?
What Is European Car Hire Excess Insurance?
European car hire excess insurance covers the amount you are liable to pay if the rental vehicle itself is damaged or stolen while you are abroad.
Policies vary, but most cover:
- Damage to windscreens, glass, tyres, the roof and the undercarriage
- Incidents including fire, theft and vandalism charges
Misfuelling fees, lost key replacement and towing charges all sit separately to your excess.
What Is Not Covered When You Drive a Hire Car in the EU?
Breakdown cover is not included for travel to the EU and you need to arrange it yourself before you travel.
Cover for this can be arranged through:
You will also need to carry your own European travel kit. This should include a first aid kit, a warning triangle and reflective jackets, plus anything else your destination requires by law.
How Do I Arrange Car Hire With European Cover?
Arranging car hire with European cover through Fairview takes one conversation and it needs to happen before your booking is finalised. Call or email us with the details of your trip and we will check with our insurers, then come back to you with a price.
Have this ready when you get in touch:
- The countries you plan to drive through, including any you are only passing through
- Your travel dates
- Your preferred vehicle type
- The number of drivers
Multi-country routes, so a trip that crosses France into Spain, or dips through Belgium on the way to Germany, needs all of those countries listed at the quote stage. A deposit is required as part of the booking.
Once we have approved everything, you can collect the vehicle and drive it anywhere in the EU.
What Documents Do I Need to Take a Hire Car to Europe?
There are four main documents you need to take a hire vehicle to Europe:
- A full UK driving licence. Provisional licences are not accepted.
- Your passport, valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.
- A VE103 vehicle on hire certificate. This proves you have permission to take a hired or leased vehicle abroad and no rental vehicle should cross a border without one.
- Your rental documentation, including the insurance details for your EU cover.
Check the specific entry requirements for every country on your route as well. Border processes at Dover and Folkestone have been changing through 2026 as the EU Entry/Exit System is phased in.
Plan Your European Road Trip With Fairview
At Fairview Vehicle Hire, we have over 2,200 vehicles available to rent across London and the South East. Our fleet covers everything a European trip might call for, spanning compact cars for city driving and larger vehicles for families travelling with a boot full of luggage.
Our team handles the European cover quote, the paperwork and any questions you may have.
Contact us with your trip details or browse our car hire range to find the right vehicle for the drive.