Insurance to drive car back to the UK from Europe

[petermcpete]

Confusion!

 

I'm buying a car in Italy, that's on Irish plates, in September...

A sexy Triumph Toledo.

 

The issue I'm having is insurance. UK insurers will only offer me insurance that is valid when we reach the UK, and Irish insurers won't touch me as I have a UK address.

 

Any ideas? Someone here must have driven a car home from the continent here?!

[Schaefft]

Interested in the same for reasons...

[dougiefourspeed]

When I worked briefly for a car insurance firm (albeit some years ago) it was my understanding that it was EU law that car insurance policies taken out in any EU member state were automatically valid in any other member state for a minimum of 90 days.

 

I dealt with a couple of customers who were doing as you want to do and we insured the car via the VIN number until it was UK registered.

 

I don’t know if that is still the case but it certainly was then.

[petermcpete]

When I worked briefly for a car insurance firm (albeit some years ago) it was my understanding that it was EU law that car insurance policies taken out in any EU member state were automatically valid in any other member state for a minimum of 90 days.

 

I dealt with a couple of customers who were doing as you want to do and we insured the car via the VIN number until it was UK registered.

 

I don’t know if that is still the case but it certainly was then.

 

That is what this would suggest:

 

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-abroad

 

But all the UK insurers I've spoken to imply the below isn't the case, and that the insurance is only valid on UK soil (when registered on the VIN number)...

 

"Driving in the European Union (EU).

All UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third part cover to drive in other EU countries."

 

Hmmmm

[dougiefourspeed]

That is what this would suggest:

 

https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/driving-abroad

 

But all the UK insurers I've spoken to imply the below isn't the case, and that the insurance is only valid on UK soil (when registered on the VIN number)...

 

"Driving in the European Union (EU).

All UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third part cover to drive in other EU countries."

 

Hmmmm

On the basis that what you want to do is a little bit ‘specialist’ (it isn’t really but your average 19 year old in a call centre is probably not gonna know about this stuff) would it be worth going to a local insurance office like NFU or Swinton to talk to someone in person. You may find it gets you better results.

 

That is if any local branches still exist of course!

[Mrs6C]

Dollywobbler is probably your man to advise on recent experience in this area. You might then try Hagerty Insurance to arrange suitable cover for your trip. At least one of the Hagerty staff members is an AS member and they tend to be quite pragmatic about such things. DW has a 2CV like the one in your picture too.

 

Is that your Triumph Herald next to it? If so, do tell us more!

[Talbot]

Insure on the VIN in the uk on day 1, and then on day 2 tell them you're off to europe.

 

The fact that it's on Irish plates should have no relevance.

[lesapandre]

I used our friend Google...

 

Try this one.

 

https://www.acorninsure.co.uk/car-insurance/chassis-number-insurance/

[lesapandre]

Adrian Flux seems to do as well.

[lesapandre]

....

 

https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/chassis-number/

[lesapandre]

See which one will cover vin insurance abroad if any. I'd ring round.

[petermcpete]

I used our friend Google...

 

Try this one.

 

https://www.acorninsure.co.uk/car-insurance/chassis-number-insurance/

 

 

Adrian Flux seems to do as well.

 

 

....

 

https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/chassis-number/

 

 

See which one will cover vin insurance abroad if any. I'd ring round.

 

Thanks, but tried all them before. They all said the insurance would only be valid in the UK (and when driving to a pre-booked MOT)...

 

 

Insure on the VIN in the uk on day 1, and then on day 2 tell them you're off to europe.

 

The fact that it's on Irish plates should have no relevance.

 

This sounds like my best bet, provided I can find an insurer willing to insure on the VIN who doesn't insist the only driving on the policy is to an MOT to help register the car...

[Junkman]

ALL insurances on VIN cover the EU, because it's The Law.

Well, until soon that is.

[petermcpete]

Dollywobbler is probably your man to advise on recent experience in this area. You might then try Hagerty Insurance to arrange suitable cover for your trip. At least one of the Hagerty staff members is an AS member and they tend to be quite pragmatic about such things. DW has a 2CV like the one in your picture too.

 

Is that your Triumph Herald next to it? If so, do tell us more!

 

Excellent, i'll send him a message.

It was my Herald, but I sold it to a friend a few months back. I bought it from a thread on this website - it was Jersey registered - did a fair bit of work to it, got it MOT'd and registered, drove it and realised I wasn't that much of a fan! 

 

Replaced it with a Porsche 924s which had been off the road for 10 years and also needed some light* welding.