Tue 25 Aug 2009 18:14 Taking the car to Poland - Paul Robinson

End of next month, my younger daughter starts a nine month contract teaching in Opole southern Poland. She'd like to drive there in her 2002 106. Any advice on insurance, breakdown cover, other important things would be very welcome. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Tue 25 Aug 2009 21:53 Taking the car to Poland - 659FBE

Assuming your 106 is RHD, take a spare clutch cable. A spare will fit perfectly in the plenum chamber at the base of the screen and a pattern (manual adjust) part costs about 10 pounds. It's a pig to fit, but having the part when it fails is 99% of the problem solved. You would never get a RHD cable on mainland Europe. Other than that, my partner's 106 has been reliable - but cast a very critical eye over tha radiator. Nissens make the best ones - OE parts are rubbish. 659. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 00:05 Taking the car to Poland - bell boy

a 2 day trip in one of those sounds fun has she not heard of ryanair? Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 10:16 Taking the car to Poland - NVH

Assuming a normal Polish winter, take advice locally in Poland about tyres, antifreeze etc. My old AX took quite a while to warm up at minus 20, but handled beautifully in snow ! www.bbc.co.uk/weather/world/city_guides/results.sh...0 Edited by NVH on 26/08/2009 at 10:17 Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 11:59 Taking the car to Poland - Falkirk Bairn

9 mths in Poland? Will she not have to register the car in Poland after 6 months and current insurance Co in UK might not cover 9 mths abroad in Poland. Might be better to leave the car in the UK! Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 12:36 Taking the car to Poland - Paul Robinson

Thanks for the replys. When I said 9 months, it's a teaching job, so she will return to the uk Christmas etc, so she won't have the car in Poland for a continuous 9 months. She wants to be able to take alot of things with her and do some exploring in her spare time. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 13:38 Taking the car to Poland - CGNorwich

Most Insurers will limit the number of months in any year car can be taken abroad. Need to check policy/speak to Insurers Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 14:01 Taking the car to Poland - brum

There are certain regs in Poland you need to clarify. From Nov to Feb it is compulsory to drive with headlights on all the time. For the locals at least it is also compulsory to fit winter tyres (you'd be foolish to drive on english "universal" tyres in winter). It is not legal to drive a RHD car for more than a certain period in Poland (I think its one month) - you need to check if you can get an exemption. I think you will also be required to insure the car locally for such a long period. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 14:38 Taking the car to Poland - CGNorwich

might make me think twice polandpoland.com/driving_poland.html Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 14:45 Taking the car to Poland - bell boy

good link cg hope op has read it Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 15:50 Taking the car to Poland - boxsterboy

Yes, excellent link CG. That might explain why driving standards over here are declining, seeing as there are so many Polish drivers on our roads now. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 15:58 Taking the car to Poland - b308

Yikes! I was wondering about going there but thats put me off altogether! I wonder why they are so so different to adjoining countries like the Czech Republic where I've never had any problems with driving standards of the locals? Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 16:01 Taking the car to Poland - Alanovich

Ref: boxsterboy's post. Is it just me that gets upset by unsubstantiated, sweeping generalisations like that? I live in a town which has allegedly got one of the highest Polish populations by percentage anywhere in the UK. I barely see any Polish registered cars around. I have never seen one driven badly. As opposed to the horrifically high number of British numbskulls in X5s driving like they've had both their eyes plucked out and their right foot welded to the throttle. Edited by Alanovich on 26/08/2009 at 16:01 Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 16:15 Taking the car to Poland - madf

Alanovich I like this talent you possess of being able to tell the nationality of a car driver from afar. Please tell me how to acquire it. :-) Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 16:23 Taking the car to Poland - geoff1248

Make sure that her MOT will still be valid when she returns to the UK in the car. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Wed 26 Aug 2009 16:37 Taking the car to Poland - Alanovich

It's something me and boxsterboy obviously share. I'm not letting you in on how we do it. So there. (But reading number plates helps.) Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 28 Aug 2009 17:35 Taking the car to Poland - Paul Robinson

Thanks for the replys, Ryanair is no good as they only allow 15kg baggage and charge £15 per kilo for excess. She has decided to go out by coach, nearly 24 hrs but cheap and they allow 40kg. Then back by Ryanair at Christmas and possibly back by car once she knows what the local conditions are like. Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Fri 28 Aug 2009 20:42 Taking the car to Poland - Paddler Ed

Insurers that will cover you for upto 6months continual time in Europe are: CIS LV Frizzell and that's it; MoreThan do do recovery cover, but most of them don't like it if you don't have a definite return date (ie a ferry booking) Hope that helps Reply | Report as offensive | Link