Travel Insurance for Driving to France - UK Guide 2026

Travel insurance is not legally required for driving to France, but going without it is a significant financial risk. Your GHIC card covers emergency hospital treatment. Everything else - repatriation, cancellation, liability, legal costs - requires insurance.

GHIC vs travel insurance

Coverage	GHIC	Travel insurance
Emergency hospital treatment	Yes	Yes
Repatriation to UK	No	Yes
Trip cancellation	No	Yes
Personal liability	No	Yes
Lost/stolen possessions	No	Yes
Dental treatment	Limited	Yes
Private hospital treatment	No	Depends on policy
Legal expenses	No	Yes (important for driving)
Delayed departure	No	Yes

Get a GHIC first (free)

The UK Global Health Insurance Card is free from nhs.uk. It replaced the EHIC post-Brexit. Apply before your trip - it takes up to 2 weeks to arrive.

The GHIC reduces your out-of-pocket costs for emergency treatment but does not replace travel insurance. You still need a separate policy.

What to look for in a policy

Medical cover

• Minimum £2 million medical cover (most policies offer £5–10 million)
• Must include emergency repatriation to the UK
• Check whether pre-existing conditions are covered

Driving-specific cover

• Legal expenses - if you are involved in an accident in France and need legal representation, this is essential
• Personal liability - covers you if you cause injury or damage to someone else (beyond what your car insurance covers)
• Driving in France not excluded - some cheaper policies exclude self-drive holidays. Check the small print

Trip cancellation

• Covers non-refundable costs if you have to cancel your trip (ferry/tunnel bookings, accommodation, etc.)
• Check what reasons for cancellation are accepted

Excess

• Most policies have an excess (the amount you pay before the insurance kicks in). Typical range: £50–150
• Lower excess = higher premium. Find the balance that works for you

Travel insurance is separate from car insurance

A common misconception: your car insurance covers you for driving in France (liability to other road users), but does not cover:

• Your own medical costs
• Repatriation
• Trip cancellation
• Personal possessions stolen from the car
• Legal expenses beyond the road traffic accident

Similarly, travel insurance does not cover:

• Damage to your vehicle (that is car insurance)
• Breakdown recovery (that is breakdown cover)
• Traffic fines including Crit’Air fines (personal responsibility)

You potentially need three types of cover for a France driving trip: car insurance, travel insurance, and breakdown cover. They cover different things.

Tips for saving money

1. Annual policy vs single trip - if you travel more than twice a year, annual is usually cheaper
2. Family policies - cover the whole family for less than individual policies
3. Comparison sites - use MoneySupermarket, CompareTheMarket, or GoCompare to find the best deal
4. Check your bank account - some current accounts include travel insurance (Nationwide FlexPlus, HSBC Premier, etc.)
5. Credit card cover - some premium credit cards include travel insurance. Check what is actually covered