Insurance for a visiting driver

[STUNO]

Has anyone got any useful advice ? I want to get car insurance while in the UK. So far the websites and call centres have proved hopeless, Their people have no knowledge outside the obvious "you have a New Zealand licence, we cannot help" Is there somewhere with a human at a desk / counter that I can speak to? I am in Dorset so popping up to Glasgow is probably not practical!

[Cavcraft]

Have you tried a car hire firm? I know it's probably not as much fun whizzing round in a new car but at least you'd be mobile.

[STUNO]

Good idea thanks Cavette, but 6 months hire may cause bankruptcy

[Cavcraft]

All the usual suspects like Day Insure etc no good?

[Wilko220]

What about seeing if an NZ insurance company will cover you in the UK? Would that be legal?

[xkjaguar]

try Adrian Flux if they are still going as they do all sorts of "odd" policies ie kits, reengined stuff and I always found them helpful on some of the strange shit i used to buy and drive

don't have their number but  a quick google should get it, also you talk to a person on the phone who generally has a bit of knowledge of "different" cars and expectations

[Junkman]

Lookee:

 

http://www.temporarycarinsurance.ws/temporary-car-insurance-with-new-zealand-licence.html

 

And there are more where this came from.

[John F]

Wooo! That insurance company looks as dodgy as fuck.

They have a Western Samoa / domain hack web address, their email contact links to a site selling property in Spain (& they don't give any other contact details), they explicitly state that they are a 'website developer not an insurance broker' in their disclaimer yet they require you to supply them with a whole range of personal details so they can give you a quote.

 

Avoidance recommended!

[Mr Lobster]

I think you'll struggle tbh. Car hire firms will do it without a problem but it won't be that cheap.

 

I suspect that part of the problem would be that as you are driving on a none EU licence, if they issue a 12 month policy then assuming you have already been here a week or two then your licence would expire and become invalid before the date that the policy expires (as you can only drive on a none EU licence for 12 months from the date you entered the UK and must leave for a minimum of six months before returning).

 

Worth trying Adrian Flux but even then I can't see it happening.

 

Are you borrowing a car from someone and could they add you to their policy I wonder...

[STUNO]

Thanks to all, I think that "unusual" co. that junkman referred me to may be a wee bit dodgy!

However discussions last night revealed that I DO already have a UK licence ! It has been expired for about 30 years but as it was an early computer issued one there may be a record still, in which case a renewal MIGHT be possible. It is on the way to me as we speak!

[John F]

The short answer is that it IS possible to drive in the UK on a foreign-issued licence: https://www.gov.uk/non-gb-driving-licence/y/visitor_to_gb/other

 

Some reputable companies will cover overseas visitors / temporary residents, see http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/caradvice/honestjohn/7922584/How-you-can-insure-visitors-from-overseas-on-you-car.html or Endsleigh Insurance subsidiary http://www.superquote.com/foreign-licence-international-insurance/foreign-licence-uk-driving-rules.htm

 

HTH.

[Volksy]

Good idea thanks Cavette, but 6 months hire may cause bankruptcy

 

Maybe not, I hired a car through enterprise for six months, including all costs apart form fuel for £8 per day, which worked out cheaper than leasing one on a normal contract hire. Have a chat with a couple of branches, they are all franchises so can offer different deals. Worth a go anyway!

[tabact]

You should be able to get a quote here http://www.duinsure.com/motor_insurance or give them a ring. Also Aviva underwrite a lot of the short term policies so they should be used to dealing with overseas licences. I'd be wary of using the UK licence as you are not a UK resident and potentially it could invalidate an insurance policy.

[STUNO]

That Endsleigh quoted me 836 pounds to insure a 900 pound Micra so not very impressed with that ! 

Long term hire at the sort of prices you give Volksy may not be too bad, and trouble free.

not desperate so I will see what happens when my old licence arrives. Will the number still come up ? It will be like winning a lottery. One other bright spark suggested carrying that and producing it to the police if stopped,"they will only tell you to renew it"

[John F]

Ouch! That's a lot - and I'm guessing, if your old licence expired 30 years ago, you're hardly a 'young driver'...! Perhaps it's because they don't have access to your driving record as you've been living abroad?

 

But it does prove that you can get insurance, so I'd give Adrian Flux, Footman James, etc. a call to see if they can help you.

[STUNO]

The saga gets funnier....A copy of my old UK licence was emailed to me, I sent a query to DVLA with the copy asking if this was still recorded, and I got the following reply.

Due to internet security concerns we are unable to tell you.

Geezuz H keerist!

I thought Dvla did just about all of their business on the bloody innernet.

Round the next has already started

[Mr Lobster]

Hang on, if you have the old paper Uk licence then as far as I remember then they don't expire until you are 75 if i remember correctly so that would still be legal to drive on.

[nigel bickle]

Herr Crustacean is correct in that 'old style' licences are still valid -unless you've moved?

Can you access the old address?   If so -you're in!

 

Its going to change next year (or year after) but if you do have a computer generated paper one, it should still be on the record.  

 

If you want to get it 're-issued' before you get here, pm me. I'll lend you an address...

[FredTransit]

Herr Crustacean is correct in that 'old style' licences are still valid -unless you've moved?

Can you access the old address? If so -you're in!

 

Its going to change next year (or year after) but if you do have a computer generated paper one, it should still be on the record.

 

If you want to get it 're-issued' before you get here, pm me. I'll lend you an address...

whats gonna change next year? I hear rimours of the pink license being/been withdrawn but nobody seems to come up with a definitive answer.....

[nigel bickle]

With you Fred- but the rumours seem reasonably concrete, and tend to make sense

 

If you still retain a paper one (cos you've not moved  etc etc) -you're becoming a flaming nuisance..

 

How can DVLA charge you  a replacement fee at least every 10 years, & how are they going to sneak ID details on (whilst making them compulsory to carry)?

[STUNO]

I did it ! The walls of the DVLA have been breeched, I DO have a UK driving licence still recorded and it can be renewed.

That will make life a lot easier !

[FredTransit]

all the more reason to hang on to the pink slip....