Motorists buying cars in a different EU country from their own will find it easier to get short-term insurance cover for the journey home under a proposed new directive announced by the European Commission today (Monday), writes Alan Osborn.


Brussels said this would help people buy cars wherever in the EU they could find the best value and help stimulate cross-border competition in the vehicle market.


Acknowledging that motorists were “frustrated by the insurance obstacles which currently exist,” the Commission said its new Motor Insurance Directive would modernise the present rules by updating provisions on the minimum amount of cover motorists must have and make it easier for customers to change insurance providers.