British tourists planning to drive their cars whilst abroad should exercise caution before hitting the road.

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.

In addition, it appears that people are planning a comprehensive journey, with about 50 per cent of all those travelling overseas foretelling they will cover more than 1,000 miles driving while away, meanwhile 19 per cent are predicting 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 holidaymakers who fail to ensure that they have adequate insurance cover whilst on their holiday abroad it could well be that they have to raid their own finances in order to meet the cost of repairs to their vehicle following a breakdown, accident or theft. This could have an impact on their ability to manage loans, credit cards and mortgage repayments upon their return back home.

To minimise the likelihood of getting into difficulties whilst on holiday, the company urged drivers to plan their route carefully and to make themselves aware of the motoring legislation for the countries that they will be driving through. Additionally, checking tyre pressure and brake fluid levels before departing was also recommended.

Joanne Mallon, in charge of car insurance 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 who are looking for an effective way to finance a holiday may well find that obtaining a personal loan is a good course of action. And for those looking to buy a car to take to the road for an adventure holiday abroad, a cheap loan may not only help with purchasing a vehicle but also help fund an adequate comprehensive insurance policy. Getting a loan for the means of getting a car could also be recommended, as a recent Experian study showed 20 per cent of males would go overdrawn in order to get a set of wheels.