EU passporting rules let insurers sell across borders — but the policy still needs checking as carefully as one bought at home, maybe more so.
Coverage and territorial scope
Confirm exactly which countries the policy provides cover in — a policy issued in one EU country doesn't automatically mean full coverage everywhere else in the EU. Territorial scope is a specific clause worth reading directly, not assuming from the insurer's general marketing.
Exclusions and limits
Check exclusions and coverage limits the same way you would for a domestic policy — these don't become more generous just because the insurer operates cross-border. Read the actual policy document, not a translated marketing summary.
Deductibles/excess
Confirm the deductible or excess structure and currency it's stated in — cross-border policies sometimes state amounts in a currency different from your own, which matters when estimating what you'd actually pay toward a claim.
Cancellation terms and language
Check the cancellation notice period and process, and confirm which language governs the contract in case of a dispute — this matters if you ever need to correspond formally with the insurer or a national redress body.
The claims process itself
Confirm how and where claims are actually handled — some cross-border insurers route claims through a local branch or partner, others require contact with an office in a different country. Ask specifically which national out-of-court redress body would apply if a dispute arose, since this depends on how the insurer is structured, not just where you live.
Sources
Related Kibbo Tools
- Insurance Policy & Coverage Comparison Workbook — compare a cross-border policy against a domestic alternative side by side.
- Insurance Policy Coverage Checklist — confirm coverage, limits and exclusions before signing.