Temp Car Insurance to get Irish car back to IRE

sparkie_e

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone has any solutions to my problem, I have an Irish Reg car here currently here in the UK as i brought it over me when i started work. I cancelled the policy to save my self a few pound as the car wasnt going to be used, however this weekend I am driving it back to Ireland to give it back to the bank. So does any one have any solutions how i could get insured temporarily?

Thanks!

Atlantic Dawn

If you are already insured in another car and your policy has cover for driving other cars you don't own just temporarily "sell" the car to a mate and then drive it back and have mate "sell" car back to you.

sparkie_e

problem is i dont have any current insurance

galwaytt

sparkie_e wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Just wondering if anyone has any solutions to my problem, I have an Irish Reg car here currently here in the UK as i brought it over me when i started work. I cancelled the policy to save my self a few pound as the car wasnt going to be used, however this weekend I am driving it back to Ireland to give it back to the bank. So does any one have any solutions how i could get insured temporarily?

Thanks!

Two thoughts
1. It might be cheaper to just get a car transport company to bring the car over altogether, and forget driving, fuel, insurance, ferries,time off work, etc. Crosbie Transcar, or similar?
2. The Nuclear Option: Think like a Bank....tell them you and car are in UK, and you're broke, and thst THEY'LL have to arrange correction.

CiniO

Buy a policy in Ireland and cancel it within 14 days.
You will only pay a small premium, proportional to no of days insured.

sparkie_e

Galwaytt Id go with the latter! but already bought me ticket!

CiniO, Ill do that mate ill insure on the thursday and cancel on the friday!

Cheers Lads!

Tinkerbell4484

Go with axa,they give you 7 days to pay your 1st instalment while still providing you with cover,

CiniO

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

Go with axa,they give you 7 days to pay your 1st instalment while still providing you with cover,

So you can buy a policy, cancel it 2 days later, and then only be charged later for those 2 days??? Sounds greats.

sparkie_e

Tinkerbell4484 wrote:

Go with axa,they give you 7 days to pay your 1st instalment while still providing you with cover,.

Sounds brilliant, will certainty do that!

Thanks Again Lads!

CiniO

sparkie_e wrote: »

Sounds brilliant, will certainty do that!

Thanks Again Lads!

Sorry I edited my post now.
It was supposed to be a question.

I know you can get one with Aviva, pay first instalment online with your credit card, and then cancel policy within up to 14 days, and get a refund (minus small charge).
But I was actually asking about AXA, as I just don't know.

sparkie_e

CiniO wrote: »

Sorry I edited my post now.
It was supposed to be a question.

I know you can get one with Aviva, pay first instalment online with your credit card, and then cancel policy within up to 14 days, and get a refund (minus small charge).
But I was actually asking about AXA, as I just don't know.

ah ok, but if aviva do it too, its all good, as long as i get some kind of insurance and can then cancel it

CiniO

sparkie_e wrote: »

ah ok, but if aviva do it too, its all good, as long as i get some kind of insurance and can then cancel it

AFAIK every insurance company is obliged to offer you 14 days cancellation.
However the best you want to find, is the company which will charge you as little as possible up front.
They also might apply some transaction charges I suppose.

Also bear in mind, that in case of a claim, you will be responsible for the full year's premium.

sparkie_e

CiniO wrote: »

AFAIK every insurance company is obliged to offer you 14 days cancellation.
However the best you want to find, is the company which will charge you as little as possible up front.
They also might apply some transaction charges I suppose.

Also bear in mind, that in case of a claim, you will be responsible for the full year's premium.

Heres hoping to driving safely! 4 years and never had 1 incident!

I dont mind a small charge, if its under €100 im happy

Del2005

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

If you are already insured in another car and your policy has cover for driving other cars you don't own just temporarily "sell" the car to a mate and then drive it back and have mate "sell" car back to you.

You may get away with that over here and I really hope you can't. But the UK cops won't believe it anymore than I do and the OP will be walking with large fines and points.

If the OP was involved in a crash they could end up liable for any payout.

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

You may get away with that over here and I really hope you can't. But the UK cops won't believe it anymore than I do and the OP will be walking with large fines and points.

If the OP was involved in a crash they could end up liable for any payout.

Nonsense... Why would be that?

OP already explained he doesn't have insurance at all, but assuming hypothetical situation, what's wrong with selling a car to a friend and then driving it on your own policy using "driving other cars" extension?

UK cops wouldn't have any choice to believe it or not. They would just have to accept the fact all is legit.

wcarey1975

CiniO wrote: »

Nonsense... Why would be that?

OP already explained he doesn't have insurance at all, but assuming hypothetical situation, what's wrong with selling a car to a friend and then driving it on your own policy using "driving other cars" extension?

UK cops wouldn't have any choice to believe it or not. They would just have to accept the fact all is legit.

Not 100% sure but the driving of other cars bit I think the 'other car' has to be insured also under another policy. I might be way off on this but that's how it was explained to me many moons ago.

W

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

Nonsense... Why would be that?

OP already explained he doesn't have insurance at all, but assuming hypothetical situation, what's wrong with selling a car to a friend and then driving it on your own policy using "driving other cars" extension?

UK cops wouldn't have any choice to believe it or not. They would just have to accept the fact all is legit.

If a 'mate' asked me if he could register his car in my name just to get around Insurance etc I wouldn't think of him as a 'mate' anymore.

I don't know what his policy covers ?
What if he gets drunk for example and runs someone down, am I partially liable because I let him drive 'my' car ?
Will I start getting speeding fines in the Door, if hes stuck for cash now will he admit that they were driving the car at the time of the offences ?

Also, I believe for most policies that car needs to have Insurance on it for your Driving other cars extension to be valid, a few exceptions but not many.

Anyways, myself I'd never ask a friend to do that, I'd sort it out myself, properly, f*ck knows what could happen.

CiniO

keithclancy wrote: »

If a 'mate' asked me if he could register his car in my name just to get around Insurance etc I wouldn't think of him as a 'mate' anymore.

I don't know what his policy covers ?
What if he gets drunk for example and runs someone down, am I partially liable because I let him drive 'my' car ?
Will I start getting speeding fines in the Door, if hes stuck for cash now will he admit that they were driving the car at the time of the offences ?

Also, I believe for most policies that car needs to have Insurance on it for your Driving other cars extension to be valid, a few exceptions but not many.

Anyways, myself I'd never ask a friend to do that, I'd sort it out myself, properly, f*ck knows what could happen.

That's absolutely true.
Risk in on both sides.
Also your mate might f.e. after you sell a car to him and fill in paperwork, request the car from you and never give it back. He might ring gards that you have stolen it from him.

So yes - you need a really trustworthy person and you have to trustworthy as well.
I would probably have 2 or 3 really close friends like that who I could trust enough to do that.

With insurance companies requiring other cars to be insured, it's pretty rare as we already discussed it here. All policies I had so far didn't require it.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

Nonsense... Why would be that?

OP already explained he doesn't have insurance at all, but assuming hypothetical situation, what's wrong with selling a car to a friend and then driving it on your own policy using "driving other cars" extension?

UK cops wouldn't have any choice to believe it or not. They would just have to accept the fact all is legit.

The OP doesn't even own the car. How can you "sell" something you don't own. On top of the risks to your mate that keithclancy brought up.

sparkie_e wrote: »

, however this weekend I am driving it back to Ireland to give it back to the bank.

Also the police and insurance companies didn't come down in the last shower. Why would somebody buy a car and then let the ex owner drive it out of the country? Your advising the OP to commit insurance fraud if they follow the sell and drive suggestion.

The take out a policy and cancel is playing the insurance companies at their own game, but is again open to risk as AFAIK the 14 day cooling off doesn't apply if you use the policy and the OP will have used the policy to drive home. Also to make sure the policy is valid they'll have to give their UK address and say they are bringing it home.

They may loose out on a some of the their policy. But at least they are legally allowed to drive and if they are involved in an RTC the other party(s) are in a better position and isn't that the whole point of insurance.

CiniO

I can't agree with most of what you said.

Del2005 wrote: »

The OP doesn't even own the car. How can you "sell" something you don't own. On top of the risks to your mate that keithclancy brought up.

Where did he say he doesn't own the car?
I read the whole thread, and I didn't see anything which would say he is not the car registered keeper and owner.

Also the police and insurance companies didn't come down in the last shower. Why would somebody buy a car and then let the ex owner drive it out of the country?

And why not?
To be honest it's non of the insurance company neither police business. If paperwork is done (transfer of ownership) they can't say anything, as everything is legit.
If insurance policy allows someone to drive other cars which doesn't belong to him, fact that car was just sold to someone and is being driven by previous owner is irrelevant.

Your advising the OP to commit insurance fraud if they follow the sell and drive suggestion.

What freud. All would be by the rules. From the moment someone sells a car to other person, then this car doesn't belong to the seller anymore, and therefore seller can drive it on "driving other cars extension" to his policy. Where's the fraud?

The take out a policy and cancel is playing the insurance companies at their own game, but is again open to risk as AFAIK the 14 day cooling off doesn't apply if you use the policy and the OP will have used the policy to drive home.

Never heard about it, that you can't use the policy to be able to cancel it within statutory 14 days.
If you make a claim - then yes - you are liable for full annual premium.
But just driving a car, doesn't prohibit you to cancel policy within 14 days and get refund.

Also to make sure the policy is valid they'll have to give their UK address and say they are bringing it home.

That's actually might be true. If OP is not resident in Ireland, there might be a problem obtaining insurance in Ireland.

MidlandsM

here's a REAL solution -

if you can get the car to holyhead or birkenhead,you can drive the car onto the ferry from the port there after you have it transported there. you'll be off the public road then, so no insurance worries.

Then have a friend/pal/family memeber meet you at Dub port to drive it home.

Put the transportation job of the car (to holyhead or birkenhead or pembroke/fishguard etc) up on shiply.com, usually it costs approx £1 a mile door to door. You could arrange to travel with the car with the driver in the cab for free too.

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

That's absolutely true.
Risk in on both sides.
Also your mate might f.e. after you sell a car to him and fill in paperwork, request the car from you and never give it back. He might ring gards that you have stolen it from him.

So yes - you need a really trustworthy person and you have to trustworthy as well.
I would probably have 2 or 3 really close friends like that who I could trust enough to do that.

With insurance companies requiring other cars to be insured, it's pretty rare as we already discussed it here. All policies I had so far didn't require it.

I still don't think so, E.G:

https://services.aviva.ie/tng/aib/AIBPolicyBooklet.pdf

Using your car abroad
We will automatically extend your policy to include the terms of endorsement
PC69, providing policy cover within the EU, for 31 days in any ‘period of
insurance’ for your car.
The following cover does not apply when you are using your car abroad.
• Driving other cars under Section 2 D (page 18)

http://www.libertyinsurance.ie/documents/motor_policy_roi.pdf

Foreign use
Your policy provides the minimum cover you need by law to use the vehicle in:
a any country which is a member of the European Union; and
b any other country which has made arrangements to meet the minimum
insurance requirements of the Commission of the European Union.
We will automatically extend this to provide your full policy cover (as shown in
the schedule) for these countries for up to 93 days in any one period of insurance.
The following cover does not apply while you are using your car abroad.
Foreign use
Your policy provides the minimum cover you need by law to use the vehicle in:
a any country which is a member of the European Union; and
b any other country which has made arrangements to meet the minimum
insurance requirements of the Commission of the European Union.
We will automatically extend this to provide your full policy cover (as shown in
the schedule) for these countries for up to 93 days in any one period of insurance.
The following cover does not apply while you are using your car abroad.
• Driving other cars (Section 2 – Liability to other people)

AFAIK theres an EU regulation covering Third Party only minimum cover within the EU, however there is no such provision for other people driving your car abroad or indeed you driving other peoples cars, you need to check.

If you have no such cover then it is very much the Police and Insurance companies business as Third Party Insurance is a minimum requirement.

CiniO

MidlandsM wrote: »

here's a REAL solution -

if you can get the car to holyhead or birkenhead,you can drive the car onto the ferry from the port there after you have it transported there. you'll be off the public road then, so no insurance worries.

Then have a friend/pal/family memeber meet you at Dub port to drive it home.

Put the transportation job of the car (to holyhead or birkenhead or pembroke/fishguard etc) up on shiply.com, usually it costs approx £1 a mile door to door. You could arrange to travel with the car with the driver in the cab for free too.

Are you sure driving in a port without insurance is within the law?


But actually what you proposed seems to be a very simple option as well if you extend it.
Instead of using towing company in UK, he can ask a friend to come over to UK to drive a car from his place all the way to the port and then from Dublin to place of destination in Ireland. All within "driving other cars" extension.

the_syco

CiniO wrote: »

All within "driving other cars" extension.

If you read the policy, you'll see that it states that you can drive other cars that are insured... but in this case, if the other car wasn't insured, he wouldn't be insured to drive it.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

Are you sure driving in a port without insurance is within the law?


But actually what you proposed seems to be a very simple option as well if you extend it.
Instead of using towing company in UK, he can ask a friend to come over to UK to drive a car from his place all the way to the port and then from Dublin to place of destination in Ireland. All within "driving other cars" extension.

I checked before and my policy only allowed driving other cars in RoI, had to temp transfer to drive a mates RoI car across the boarder.

CiniO

keithclancy wrote: »

I still don't think so, E.G:

https://services.aviva.ie/tng/aib/AIBPolicyBooklet.pdf



http://www.libertyinsurance.ie/documents/motor_policy_roi.pdf



AFAIK theres an EU regulation covering Third Party only minimum cover within the EU, however there is no such provision for other people driving your car abroad or indeed you driving other peoples cars, you need to check.

If you have no such cover then it is very much the Police and Insurance companies business as Third Party Insurance is a minimum requirement.

That's a fair point.
However my policy (from Allianz) doesn't have such limitation.
I can use "driving other cars" extension also when abroad. I was also told I can use it on foreign registered cars when abroad.
So it all depends on an insurer.

Your examples from aviva and liberty show you can't use them in OPs case.

CiniO

the_syco wrote: »

If you read the policy, you'll see that it states that you can drive other cars that are insured... but in this case, if the other car wasn't insured, he wouldn't be insured to drive it.

Some policies require it, some don't.
We had a discussion here some time ago, and it was revealed, that it's actually minority of policies which require other car to be insured.
My own policy (Allianz) doesn't require it.

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

That's a fair point.
However my policy (from Allianz) doesn't have such limitation.
I can use "driving other cars" extension also when abroad. I was also told I can use it on foreign registered cars when abroad.
So it all depends on an insurer.

Your examples from aviva and liberty show you can't use them in OPs case.

Well they do state:

http://www.allianz.ie/Car-Insurance/FAQs/Motor_Policy_Document_1210.pdf

We will also provide the minimum legal insurance required to comply with the laws relating to
the compulsory insurance of motor vehicles in any other country in respect of which the
Commission of the European Union is satisfied that arrangements have been made to meet the
requirements of Article 7 (2) of the EC Directive on insurance of civil liabilities arising from the
use of motor vehicles (No.72/166/CEE).

http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/other/l22028_en.htm

- in so far as is possible, as to the details of the insurance of the vehicle, as they normally appear on the green card, which are in the possession of the person having custody of the vehicle, to the extent that these details are required by the Member State in whose territory the vehicle is normally based.

also:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/other/l22028_en.htm

Each national insurance bureau is required to centralise and communicate to other national insurance bureaux information on accidents caused in their territory by vehicles of other Member States (such as particulars of vehicle insurance).

Not possible as the plate is not registered to any Insurance policy.


I'd check, you've be crazy to assume your covered, if you were stopped and you had a bit of paper with a different reg number it could go very wrong.

All Insurers are fine until theres a claim, they've covered their asses by saying they comply with the directive.

If it were me I'd get it in writing

CiniO

keithclancy wrote: »

Well they do state:

http://www.allianz.ie/Car-Insurance/FAQs/Motor_Policy_Document_1210.pdf



http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/other/l22028_en.htm


also:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/other/l22028_en.htm



Not possible as the plate is not registered to any Insurance policy.


I'd check, you've be crazy to assume your covered, if you were stopped and you had a bit of paper with a different reg number it could go very wrong.

All Insurers are fine until theres a claim, they've covered their asses by saying they comply with the directive.

If it were me I'd get it in writing

I respect your research, but I'm afraid you are wrong here:
Your quotation from Allianz policy was incomplete. Here's all relevant text:

We will subject to the terms, conditions and exceptions and endorsements of this policy provide
insurance for death, injury, loss or damage as expressed in the policy, schedule or certificate of
motor insurance happening during the period of insurance anywhere in the Republic of Ireland,
Northern Ireland, Great Britain, The Isle of Man, The Channel Islands or on the Continent of
Europe. The insurance also operates during the course of sea transit (including loading and
unloading) between ports within the territories named.
We will also provide the minimum legal insurance required to comply with the laws relating to
the compulsory insurance of motor vehicles in any other country in respect of which the
Commission of the European Union is satisfied that arrangements have been made to meet the
requirements of Article 7 (2) of the EC Directive on insurance of civil liabilities arising from the
use of motor vehicles (No.72/166/CEE).

This means they provide their full cover in any country in the Continent of Europe (red text), and they will provide minimum required cover anywhere else (outside Europe - green text).

Also see below part of my correspondence with them in relation to this from few years ago:

CiniO
4. Endorsement nr 4. allows me to drive other cars, with third party cover. Does this cover also applies while I'm abroad, and driving car registered abroad (within EU)?

(...)
Allianz
4) Endorsement 4. The driving of other cars, this allows you to drive other privately insurance vehicles with the owners permission, this covers you in the E.U also.

One thing you are right.
There could be a problem when you got pulled over by policeman somewhere abroad, and you just show a insurance cert for vehicle with different reg. no. However f.e. in my certificate it says something like that:
Vehicles insured:
1. Vehicle bearing reg no. XXXXXX
2. Any other vehicle driven by the insured provided it's not owned by him .............

This pretty much could be problematic especially for some policeman who doesn't understand English but I doubt anyone would try to prosecute you for driving without insurance if he wasn't sure you were.

I would have no doubts about the cover, as if accident happened, there would be no tricks Insurance company could use to refuse to pay for the claim.

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

I respect your research, but I'm afraid you are wrong here:
Your quotation from Allianz policy was incomplete. Here's all relevant text:

The first bit is research, but the second bit is directly from Solvit, 2 years back I wanted to take a Dutch car back to the Netherlands from the UK (Cheap LHD with BPM Already paid)

Hmm ... Interesting!, I had the very same question about driving a Dutch Vehicle not belonging to me abroad to the Netherlands, It had no Insurance on it, my Insurance company said I was covered but it wasn't clear if I was on an Irish License.

I opened a case with Solvit and they said that my License was a full EU License so that was no problem, however driving a car with no Insurance on the plate was outside the conditions of the Directive.

To comply the directive I would need to register the car on my policy, otherwise they couldn't comply, this read as 'does not compute' to the Insurance company a they said I was insured to drive any Dutch car, but the situation with the car being uninsured abroad was a rare one.

So basically ... Allianz are not in compliance with the Directive, they offer insurance abroad with no way to link it back to the driver

Think I'll open another case, would save me a lot of hassle !

Thanks Cinio

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

.

This pretty much could be problematic especially for some policeman who doesn't understand English but I doubt anyone would try to prosecute you for driving without insurance if he wasn't sure you were.

Your coming from the wrong direction. Motoring isn't covered by normal laws, see the EU ruling on incriminating yourself etc., which comes down to motoring is a privilege not a right.

A police person will lift a car they don't think is insured, if it's allowed in that country, or they'll arrest the driver till the driver proves that they are insured. Insurance evasion is a big issue and only getting bigger.

I'd like to see you proving to a police officer, who doesn't read or speak any language you do, that the car you are driving is insured by a piece of paper in English that they can't read.

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

Your coming from the wrong direction. Motoring isn't covered by normal laws, see the EU ruling on incriminating yourself etc., which comes down to motoring is a privilege not a right.

A police person will lift a car they don't think is insured, if it's allowed in that country, or they'll arrest the driver till the driver proves that they are insured. Insurance evasion is a big issue and only getting bigger.

I'd like to see you proving to a police officer, who doesn't read or speak any language you do, that the car you are driving is insured by a piece of paper in English that they can't read.

So what different proof of insurance would you recommend to show for foreign policeman than just a piece of paper in your own language?

Trust me - policemans over continent have to deal with foreign drivers every day, and everyone have documents in it's own language. They wouldn't seize your car or arrest you until they were sure you are uninsured.

Imagine the situation - you go abroad, all paperwork fully legal, but you get stopped by local policeman and he seizes your car just because he is not sure if you are insured, as your insurance certificate is in language he doesn't understand.
What happens then - you get a lawyer, go to court, and win. Police force has to pay all charges for towing and keeping your car, and has to pay you compensation for your lost time. No policeman will risk that, as he will have problems then.

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

So what different proof of insurance would you recommend to show for foreign policeman than just a piece of paper in your own language?

Trust me - policemans over continent have to deal with foreign drivers every day, and everyone have documents in it's own language. They wouldn't seize your car or arrest you until they were sure you are uninsured.

Imagine the situation - you go abroad, all paperwork fully legal, but you get stopped by local policeman and he seizes your car just because he is not sure if you are insured, as your insurance certificate is in language he doesn't understand.
What happens then - you get a lawyer, go to court, and win. Police force has to pay all charges for towing and keeping your car, and has to pay you compensation for your lost time. No policeman will risk that, as he will have problems then.

No, I'm afraid thats not what happens, the Cops take your car and you pay the fines. They've followed 'the law' in their country, so then you have to take it to European Court, which is very expensive and very few people do it.

Most people that commute cross border in the Benelux region have Legal Insurance for that very reason (myself included)

The EU is a mess in reality, withs lots of conflicts in cross border rules.

All of the Insurance cards here are green cards now, so understandable by all Police, the language has nothing to do with it.

dhog4n

https://www.tempcover.com/

Try these guys. I used them a few times a while ago to get UK registered cars back to Ireland. Make sure they cover an Irish registered car before you pay though.

The UK police will have absolutely no sympathy for a convoluted explanation of your insurance details and may also query lack of tax if it is not current. Foreign cars are required to have up to date tax from their home countries to be legal on UK roads. It might not ping the ANPR though unless the plate is already flagged for some other reason.

They are empowered to lift your car straight away if you can't satisfy them that the car is insured, so make sure you have an answer to the question that stacks up.

CiniO

dhog4n wrote: »

The UK police will have absolutely no sympathy for a convoluted explanation of your insurance details and may also query lack of tax if it is not current. Foreign cars are required to have up to date tax from their home countries to be legal on UK roads.

Would you be able to show confirmation of this fact, in any UK legislation?
Because many people claim it as a fact, but no one yet was able to confirm this fact.
Generally this is not a requirement of "Convention on Road traffic from 1968 from Vienna" which regulates an international vehicle traffic, nearly all over Europe and way further.

CiniO

keithclancy wrote: »

No, I'm afraid thats not what happens, the Cops take your car and you pay the fines. They've followed 'the law' in their country, so then you have to take it to European Court, which is very expensive and very few people do it.

I'll ask here?
What law in their country? Does law in their country prohibits to use foreign vehicle and have foreign insurance confirmed by certificate in foreign language? Surely not!!!
I remember when I used to live in Poland before 2004 when Poland was not in EU yet, every time I was driving abroad, I had to make sure I have a green card, as this was the only confirmation of my insurance in foreign country. Since Poland joined EU in 2004, we were all told, EU regulations doesn't require us to carry green card anymore while driving within EU, and that normal insurance certificate (in Polish language) is good enough as a proof of insurance all over EU.
My experience seems to confirm it.

I've been stopped in Polish registered car some time ago in Germany, France, Slovakia, Italy and proof of insurance was never a problem. They actually barely ask for it.
We got stopped once in UK (my friend was driving car registered on his friend's father so insurance was on friends father name). Police asked why was insurance in different name, so we explained, that insurance was in the name of car owner as this is requirement in Poland. Policeman said that in that case driver was not covered as his name was not listed on certificate. We explained, that this policy covered anyone to drive a car, and that it's written on a certificate in Polish language. He agreed and let us go.
I also got stopped few times in Irish registered car on the continent, and never had any problems with proving I was insured. I wasn't actually even asked for insurance cert during most road checks.

Most people that commute cross border in the Benelux region have Legal Insurance for that very reason (myself included)

The EU is a mess in reality, withs lots of conflicts in cross border rules.

All of the Insurance cards here are green cards now, so understandable by all Police, the language has nothing to do with it.

That's actually strange I must say.

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

I'll ask here?
What law in their country? Does law in their country prohibits to use foreign vehicle and have foreign insurance confirmed by certificate in foreign language? Surely not!!!
I remember when I used to live in Poland before 2004 when Poland was not in EU yet, every time I was driving abroad, I had to make sure I have a green card, as this was the only confirmation of my insurance in foreign country. Since Poland joined EU in 2004, we were all told, EU regulations doesn't require us to carry green card anymore while driving within EU, and that normal insurance certificate (in Polish language) is good enough as a proof of insurance all over EU.
My experience seems to confirm it.

I've been stopped in Polish registered car some time ago in Germany, France, Slovakia, Italy and proof of insurance was never a problem. They actually barely ask for it.
We got stopped once in UK (my friend was driving car registered on his friend's father so insurance was on friends father name). Police asked why was insurance in different name, so we explained, that insurance was in the name of car owner as this is requirement in Poland. Policeman said that in that case driver was not covered as his name was not listed on certificate. We explained, that this policy covered anyone to drive a car, and that it's written on a certificate in Polish language. He agreed and let us go.
I also got stopped few times in Irish registered car on the continent, and never had any problems with proving I was insured. I wasn't actually even asked for insurance cert during most road checks.


That's actually strange I must say.

I can think of 5 incidents with various colleagues off the top of my head, one involved a rental car that was seized by Dutch customs simply because he was Dutch driving a car on German plates, of course he was perfectly road legal, but it took 3 weeks to sort out and he had to pay the rental costs for 6 weeks, to claim that back he'd have to take the Belastingdienst to court, which is time consuming and costly.

Nobody does it.

The Germans and Dutch are starting to target Eastern European cars now specifically at the border checkpoints, especially around Venlo, seen lots of them going up on Transporters.
The onus is on you to provide the information (green card), if you cannot do that they'll just lift your car, it'll take ages to get back and a lot of hassle.

Myself I just have a Green Card which anyone can read regardless of language.

Have also seen a Van getting seized at Harwich coming from Hoek van Holland, the guy had some story about it being his brothers van.

Never had hassle myself with the Car, only with Health Insurance and some other stuff.

I don't know where you get this "I'd sue them for costs" thing from, sue who ? Would you even know where to start ?

A few years ago it was fine, drove with my car on Irish plates, no issues. Now your logged by camera every single time you cross the border.


Commute across a border in Europe for a year and let me know how you get on, the EU is a bloody mess

I've learned that it doesn't matter diddly what they told you at home, countries still make up their own rules (or own interpretation) and theres very little harmonisation on a wide range of items, disputing it is usually very difficult, there is no EU ombudsman to sort it out (well there is but they have no teeth)

CiniO

keithclancy wrote: »

I can think of 5 incidents with various colleagues off the top of my head, one involved a rental car that was seized by Dutch customs simply because he was Dutch driving a car on German plates, of course he was perfectly road legal, but it took 3 weeks to sort out and he had to pay the rental costs for 6 weeks, to claim that back he'd have to take the Belastingdienst to court, which is time consuming and costly.

Maybe it's time consuming and costly, but if you say he was fully legal, then he should be 100% to win the case, and therefore it should be the other side to cover the legal costs. Or at least that's my understanding how it works.

The Germans and Dutch are starting to target Eastern European cars now specifically at the border checkpoints, especially around Venlo, seen lots of them going up on Transporters.
The onus is on you to provide the information (green card), if you cannot do that they'll just lift your car, it'll take ages to get back and a lot of hassle.

Myself I just have a Green Card which anyone can read regardless of language.

Have also seen a Van getting seized at Harwich coming from Hoek van Holland, the guy had some story about it being his brothers van.

Never had hassle myself with the Car, only with Health Insurance and some other stuff.

I don't know where you get this "I'd sue them for costs" thing from, sue who ? Would you even know where to start ?

I probably wouldn't know where to start, but I think it's very unlikely I will have to. However if something unfair happened to me, I would definitely do research and find out where to start. European countries are countries of Law, so there can't be just some "american sherriff style cops" doing whatever they want to do. They have to obey the law same as anyone else and they know it.

A few years ago it was fine, drove with my car on Irish plates, no issues. Now your logged by camera every single time you cross the border.

But that's probably about driving foreign registered vehicle in Netherland while living there. We were talking about something else.

Commute across a border in Europe for a year and let me know how you get on, the EU is a bloody mess

I had a friend from Poland who used to live in Belgium (Hasselt) for nearly 6 years. He only moved back to Poland recently. He had Polish registered car there. His girlfriend lived in Eindhoven, so he crossed the border few days a week. He never had a green card - just normal insurance certificate in Polish. He never had any hassle, even he said he was stopped by cops numerous of times.

I've learned that it doesn't matter diddly what they told you at home, countries still make up their own rules (or own interpretation) and theres very little harmonisation on a wide range of items, disputing it is usually very difficult, there is no EU ombudsman to sort it out (well there is but they have no teeth)

I don't know. I have nothing but positive experience of driving abroad, as nothing bad ever happened to me.
Generally with insurance, if you have a certificate with vehicle numberplate on in, I can't believe any police in any country denying it as a proof no matter what language it's written in.

However one thing I must admit. If I was trying to use my "driving other cars extension" from my Irish policy abroad, someone could get suspicious, as there's probably not such thing as "driving other cars" in any continental country, and therefore there wouldn't be any information about car driven on the insurance certificate. They also couldn't issue a green card for it, as it would be above the specification of greencard.
So even thought still legal, it could be hard to prove it was legal to foreign cop.
But I still doubt they would decide to confiscate the car.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

So even thought still legal, it could be hard to prove it was legal to foreign cop.
But I still doubt they would decide to confiscate the car.

Driving without insurance is a serious matter in all countries that require it, are there any that don't?, and I doubt a cop will let you drive away without knowing 100% you're insured.

What sort of trouble would they be in if you crashed into someone after they let you drive off and you don't have insurance.

keithclancy

CiniO wrote: »

Maybe it's time consuming and costly, but if you say he was fully legal, then he should be 100% to win the case, and therefore it should be the other side to cover the legal costs. Or at least that's my understanding how it works.

He did, but it still cost him time and money.

I probably wouldn't know where to start, but I think it's very unlikely I will have to. However if something unfair happened to me, I would definitely do research and find out where to start. European countries are countries of Law, so there can't be just some "american sherriff style cops" doing whatever they want to do. They have to obey the law same as anyone else and they know it.

Yes, they obey their own law but there are laws that are not modified to fit European legislation.

But that's probably about driving foreign registered vehicle in Netherland while living there. We were talking about something else.

He's Dutch, he wasn't living there, that was the whole issue.

I had a friend from Poland who used to live in Belgium (Hasselt) for nearly 6 years. He only moved back to Poland recently. He had Polish registered car there. His girlfriend lived in Eindhoven, so he crossed the border few days a week. He never had a green card - just normal insurance certificate in Polish. He never had any hassle, even he said he was stopped by cops numerous of times.

I think Belgium is a bit of an exception I live near there, the border crossing is still a bunch of run down old buildings, theres never anyone there.

I have a Polish Neighbour on my street, he's selling his car on PL plates because its too much hassle getting stopped all the time.
He's not going to import it because it costs way too much in Motor Tax.

I don't know. I have nothing but positive experience of driving abroad, as nothing bad ever happened to me.
Generally with insurance, if you have a certificate with vehicle numberplate on in, I can't believe any police in any country denying it as a proof no matter what language it's written in.

Indeed, I cross the border 8 times per week and haven't been stopped in around 2 years I'd say.

However one thing I must admit. If I was trying to use my "driving other cars extension" from my Irish policy abroad, someone could get suspicious, as there's probably not such thing as "driving other cars" in any continental country, and therefore there wouldn't be any information about car driven on the insurance certificate. They also couldn't issue a green card for it, as it would be above the specification of greencard.
So even thought still legal, it could be hard to prove it was legal to foreign cop.
But I still doubt they would decide to confiscate the car.

The main thing is that the cop wants to see that theres an Insurance Policy against the plate, otherwise theres absolutely no way for someone to lodge a claim if you drive off without giving them insurance details.

Depends on the cop really, but it makes no difference to them if they lift your car.

I think in your head you have this idea that contries in the EU have some sort of quick and speedy resolution process for problems.

In reality its the same everywhere, departments are run by slow Civil Servants

In the Netherlands I know for a fact the car must be Insured, you cannot have a Car with nothing attached to the plate parked on a public road for example.

CiniO

Del2005 wrote: »

Driving without insurance is a serious matter in all countries that require it, are there any that don't?, and I doubt a cop will let you drive away without knowing 100% you're insured.

What sort of trouble would they be in if you crashed into someone after they let you drive off and you don't have insurance.

As keithclancy said every country is bit different, and has it's own regulations.
Generally in my experience, driving without insurance is an Irish speciality, and doesn't happend that often in other EU countries (but I might be wrong about that). Therefore police wouldn't suspect anyone to be driving without insurance. They would rather assume everyone is insured and only if something is really suspicious they would investigate further.
All the times I was stopped in different EU countries, I was barely anytime asked for proof of insurance.
Last 2 roadchecks in Poland stopped in Irish registered car, was just a quick check on logbook and driving licence. He never asked for insurance. However last year one time he did, and took a quick 2 second glance at it. He didn't understand English so he didn't know anything from it anyway.
Also last year in Germany during roadcheck all he asked me was my Passport.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

As keithclancy said every country is bit different, and has it's own regulations.
Generally in my experience, driving without insurance is an Irish speciality, and doesn't happend that often in other EU countries (but I might be wrong about that).

There's a big one we're attached to part of which has the same problems. But that's properly due to most of our laws being based on their laws.

CiniO wrote: »

Therefore police wouldn't suspect anyone to be driving without insurance. They would rather assume everyone is insured and only if something is really suspicious they would investigate further.
All the times I was stopped in different EU countries, I was barely anytime asked for proof of insurance.
Last 2 roadchecks in Poland stopped in Irish registered car, was just a quick check on logbook and driving licence. He never asked for insurance. However last year one time he did, and took a quick 2 second glance at it. He didn't understand English so he didn't know anything from it anyway.
Also last year in Germany during roadcheck all he asked me was my Passport.

True most countries insure the car not the driver. But if your stopped and asked for insurance and can't provide adequate proof that the car is insured, with a cert with the cars reg on it, then no copper is going to give you the benefit of doubt as it wouldn't be worth their job if you crash down the road

MidlandsM

So, what did you do OP ?