UK policy holders have been urged to extend their motor insurance for cover abroad before they embark on a European road trip.

Insurance firm esure claims that many Britons travel abroad without the necessary cover despite the fact that, according to RAC research, they are three times more likely to be involved in accident in Spain or Portugal compared to the UK.

Many Britons mistakenly think that a comprehensive policy in the UK will provide the same level of cover in the EU but it translates only into third party cover, meaning that an accident will cover the other car and not that of the UK policy holder.

Adrian Webb, head of corporate communications for esure, suggests that anyone considering driving abroad must talk to their insurance company prior to making their trip.

He said: "Don't ever take on a car abroad without having checked that there's an insurance policy in place for that car that covers you.

"Otherwise you'll be in for a very nasty shock. There's a history of people making assumptions and coming up a cropper with foreign use of cars."

Research by RAC also showed that three million British motorists head too the continent via the channel tunnel every year.

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