With more people choosing to travel independently and taking their own cars to European winter ski destinations, Green Flag warns that many risk getting caught out with excessive costs of vehicle recovery back to Britain should they have an accident on the slopes.

According to the Ski Club of Great Britain, over one million British people travelled to ski resorts last year, and of these one-in-ten chose to self-drive. Many people driving to European ski resorts this season will leave protection against mechanical breakdowns off the holiday checklist.

"While personal insurance remains high on everyone's checklist, many forget to take out the necessary extra cover required to protect their vehicle against all conditions and problems that could arise both on or off the piste. Without it the cost of their ski holiday could spiral out of control", explained Nigel Charlesworth.

Even if the outward journey is smooth, a hard tumble on the slopes could prove costly for injured motorists and while personal travel insurance covers medical costs and repatriation of people, it does not organise or cover the cost of getting the car home.

Without the necessary cover, recovery of a car and repatriation from the French Alps, if the only driver is incapacitated, could cost up to £2,000 for the return journey to a UK port, plus a further 90p for every subsequent kilometre spent on the journey home.

There are plenty of reasons to take the car to the slopes, as Nigel explains: "Driving abroad means you avoid the queues at the airports and transporting the equipment you need is easier in a car, especially if you have a roof rack."

Most popular driving destinations for Brits are those ski resorts that can be reached in one day's journey such as Chamonix, Val d'Isere and La Plagne, but Northern Italian resorts such as La Thuile and Livigno are reachable for those willing to drive that little bit further.

Driving in Europe, especially at high altitude, can also present problems for motorists. Most ski resorts high in the mountain ranges are off the beaten track, and the approach can be a treacherous journey for the unprepared.

"People forget that driving in mountainous areas can be a new experience, particularly on snow and then drivers have to be aware of the driving legislation in each country," says Nigel. "In France for example, a warning triangle is compulsory as are headlamp adjustments. The drink/drive limit in France is 50mg as opposed to 80mg in Britain and motoring offences attract on-the-spot fines."

As part of a package of benefits, Green Flag's EuroPlus cover includes the cost of extra accommodation and hire car in the event of a breakdown and even a chauffeur service to drive the stricken driver back to the UK.

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