New research has revealed Brits’ favourite European country to drive in while on holiday: England.
In a survey conducted by car hire excess insurance provider insurance4carhire, almost a quarter (24%) of respondents chose England as their favourite holiday driving location, with France in second place (17%).
“During a summer that has seen the staycation boom provide a welcome boost to the UK economy, our survey findings represent further good news for the country’s hospitality sector,” comments Sean Doolan from insurance4carhire.
“In fact, Great Britain performed strongly overall in our research, with fourth-placed Scotland (9%) beating both Germany (7%) and Italy (5%), and Wales (4%) tying with Portugal (4%).”
According to the research, Brits’ top 10 favourite European countries to drive in while on holiday are:
- England 24%
- France 17%
- Spain 13%
- Scotland 9%
- Germany 7%
- Italy 5%
- Wales 4%
- Portugal 4%
- Republic of Ireland 3%
- Northern Ireland 3%
British drivers’ holiday attractions
“Beautiful scenery” was far and away the clinching factor behind drivers’ favourite country – chosen by 47%. The findings suggest that, although UK residents appreciate the landscapes of both England and France, they find the former more attractive.
Perhaps surprisingly, the second most popular feature of Brits’ favourite country to drive in (cited by 16% of respondents) is a well-maintained road network.
“Given that they chose England as their preferred destination, a country in which the AA attended more than 600,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2025, the UK’s drivers appear to be a forgiving lot!” says Sean.
“We would suggest that any drivers hiring a car during their staycation should arrange their care hire excess insurance in advance to cover excess charges or repair costs if your hire car is damaged or stolen.
“While it might be convenient to purchase excess insurance at the rental desk, you could save money and find a more comprehensive policy that’s better suited to your needs by arranging cover before you travel.”
Survey of 250 UK travellers carried out via Toluna on 30 May 2026.
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