Hoot guide to booze cruises

Here at Hoot, the young driver car insurance specialist, we know how to spot bargains when they come along. That's why we've put together a guide to booze cruising - there are some terrific beer and wine deals to be discovered by travelling across the Channel to France.

South coast day trips from Folkestone and Dover across the water to France are becoming an established way of life for Brits. This guide is for young people who want to make the most of the trip as well as enjoy the whole experience.

This may sound a little light-hearted but let's get straight to the two most obvious rules that young drivers, as well as more experienced motorists, must really stick to:

  • Drive on the right side of the ride, not the left!
  • Do not drink and drive! Blood alcohol levels are stricter than in the UK.

Now that you've cracked these, let's help you with other planning and tips to ensure a drive on to the greater land mass of Europe goes well.

French roads - driving and insurance

Recent research reveals that 57% of motorists planning to 'booze cruise' during the festive season are likely to drive illegally and could put their insurance at risk.

Millions are unaware of speed limits on foreign roads. For France, the motorway limit is 130 km/h. Speeding fines can be as high as €1,500 which would defeat the object of a booze cruise that is supposed to save money.

About a third of motorists wrongly believe UK driving rules are the same in other European countries. In fact, when travelling abroad, it is compulsory for motorists to carry a warning triangle in France, Germany and Belgium. GB stickers are needed for cars without European number plates and headlight adjustors must be fitted.

It is important for motorists to check their car insurance cover before travelling. Upon leaving the UK, minimum cover such as third party only may apply. About 10% of drivers suffer damage to their car abroad so, in case of making a claim, they should call insurers to have cover extended to fully comprehensive while travelling.

Car trip planning tips

Crossing fares - It is possible to shop around for cheaper fares. Online booking usually saves money and choosing times of travel can keep costs down - day trip and afternoon bookings are often better rates. Eurotunnel is worth considering for a quicker 'booze dash' rather than a more sedate ferry crossing.

Plan the day - Before you go decide where you want to shop. Visit this booze-cruising website for more information. There are maps showing the main Channel-port towns in France - Calais, Boulogne, Cherbourg and Dieppe - and locations of hypermarkets and other food and drink outlets.

The booze cruise website also provides information about customs allowances and helps calculate loads to fit into vehicles. See the detailed motoring checklist.

Items to take - Passport, European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and a handy form with details that may be required in case of an emergency, or documents - and credit cards - are lost.

Choose and buy with care - The main 'raison d'etre' for a booze cruise is saving money on alcohol and other goods. Aim to shop in places that let you try before purchasing so it's possible to decide whether to buy or not. Money would have been wasted if purchases were disliked when back in the UK.

Try samples wherever possible. Different-looking and named continental beers could become firm favourites - and for the price of cheap wine in the UK, French bottles could be better quality than anything back home.

Young driver car insurance with Hoot

If you are driving abroad soon and you need cheap car insurance, why not use our great value service? Apply for a quote and then give us a call to check cover for driving on European roads.

Save time and money online like thousands of others who have bought young driver car insurance from Hoot. Try us now

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