Insurance to drive in UK?

Tigger1603

Hi,

Another car question! I had decided it would be best to sell my Irish car and and buy a Northern Reg car up the north before I move to the UK in January to save me having to change the plates over.

However, when I went to get a quote in the UK the prices were sky high! I have my full license and 7 years no claims. I am female and 29 years old. However- as it is in the UK my no claims doesn't count and I don't have a UK license. I have quoted about 10 companies and the lowest I got was 2,500 pound with an 800 pound deposit!

I was then thinking maybe I could insure the car here where my no claims would count and I know FBD offer unlimited use in the EU to drive. However, they won't cover me in a NI reg car! And if I use my Irish car, I will have to change the plates over when I get there.. Catch 22 situation.. What can I do? Anything??

Henry Ford III

Your NCB should be recognised.

Tigger1603

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Your NCB should be recognised.

When I select the number of years no claims I have, a warning comes up saying No Claims Bonus must have been earned in the UK. It's the same for all of them

Tigger1603

OSI wrote: »

Ring, don't rely on online quotes.

I don't reckon that a few years no claims would take enough off of £2500, it only take off a couple hundred here. Would probably still be around £2000.

Marcusm

Tigger1603 wrote: »

When I select the number of years no claims I have, a warning comes up saying No Claims Bonus must have been earned in the UK. It's the same for all of them

The online comparison engines are for standardised proposals; you will either need to find a broker, checkout individual insurance company websites or get ringing around.

ONe of the other issues you are going to face is that you will not be resident in the UK until you move over, you might find it easier, if time permit, to use your Irish car for a month or so then drive it back, sell it and buy a UK reg'd car. If you buy a UK car before you move over, you will likely just get more hassle.

9935452

Tigger1603 wrote: »

Hi,

Another car question! I had decided it would be best to sell my Irish car and and buy a Northern Reg car up the north before I move to the UK in January to save me having to change the plates over.

However, when I went to get a quote in the UK the prices were sky high! I have my full license and 7 years no claims. I am female and 29 years old. However- as it is in the UK my no claims doesn't count and I don't have a UK license. I have quoted about 10 companies and the lowest I got was 2,500 pound with an 800 pound deposit!

I was then thinking maybe I could insure the car here where my no claims would count and I know FBD offer unlimited use in the EU to drive. However, they won't cover me in a NI reg car! And if I use my Irish car, I will have to change the plates over when I get there.. Catch 22 situation.. What can I do? Anything??

Is the move permanent?
I had a couple of friends in the similar situation over the last few years.
Having an irish license get a severe loading , so if you can swap if for an english one.
I wouldnt bring an irish car over indefinitely, . if the move is permanent , you could be voiding your insurance by telling them you are based in ireland, you wont be able to nct the car eithre.
english insurance companys will recognise your irish ncb but you will have to ring them

Tigger1603

9935452 wrote: »

Is the move permanent?
I had a couple of friends in the similar situation over the last few years.
Having an irish license get a severe loading , so if you can swap if for an english one.
I wouldnt bring an irish car over indefinitely, . if the move is permanent , you could be voiding your insurance by telling them you are based in ireland, you wont be able to nct the car eithre.
english insurance companys will recognise your irish ncb but you will have to ring them

Not sure yet! Kind of a trial for a new job so could be 3-6 months, or permanent if I do stay. I know insurance companies only really give 30 or 60 days abroad normally- that's why I was trying FBD as they cover you for unlimited use in the UK.

It's difficult to call them as I've already blown through 20 euro credit being on hold and never got to speak to anyone! I will keep trying though.

I've also been told that you don't need to inform insurance company about going to the UK- sure coming over and back from the border here would mean we pass through the UK quite often and never tell them.

So they automatically cover you for the 30 or 60 days- let's say I was in an accident on day 62- how would they know how long I've been there?

Or if all went well for the 60 days, and I called them and notified them that I was going to the UK on day 61, I could get another 60 days? I know this isn't technically above board, but it would just give me some time to find a car and sort out insurance on it.

biko

You can drive around UK for up to 6 months provided you have cover in home country. This includes valid NCT and tax.

https://www.gov.uk/importing-vehicles-into-the-uk/temporary-imports

9935452

Tigger1603 wrote: »

Not sure yet! Kind of a trial for a new job so could be 3-6 months, or permanent if I do stay. I know insurance companies only really give 30 or 60 days abroad normally- that's why I was trying FBD as they cover you for unlimited use in the UK.

It's difficult to call them as I've already blown through 20 euro credit being on hold and never got to speak to anyone! I will keep trying though.

I've also been told that you don't need to inform insurance company about going to the UK- sure coming over and back from the border here would mean we pass through the UK quite often and never tell them.

So they automatically cover you for the 30 or 60 days- let's say I was in an accident on day 62- how would they know how long I've been there?

Or if all went well for the 60 days, and I called them and notified them that I was going to the UK on day 61, I could get another 60 days? I know this isn't technically above board, but it would just give me some time to find a car and sort out insurance on it.

Walk into an FBD office , it will save you call credit, they will be able to tell you an lot of info. i find them very helpful.

Regarding having an accident on day 61/62, they will probably look for proof of when the car went over to the uk. Insurance companys will try to find any way of getting out of paying claims and that would be an easy one.

Stephenc66

Biko got in before me. Have you approached your own insurance company? If you can keep your own car until you have decided on the job.

Then you can look at buying a car in the UK. If you wanted to keep your Irish car just be aware that Importing a car in the UK means it must conform to type approval in the UK and be MOTd on import, this can be a problem with some Irish cars that only show speed/distance recorded in Kilometers

Stephenc66

Biko got in before me. You have six months before you must import the car or take it out of the UK. Have you approached your own insurance company? If you can keep your own car until you have decided on the job.

Then you can look at buying a car in the UK. If you wanted to keep your Irish car just be aware that Importing a car in the UK means it must conform to type approval in the UK and be MOTd on import, this can be a problem with some Irish cars that only show speed/distance recorded in Kilometers

CiniO

Tigger1603 wrote: »

Not sure yet! Kind of a trial for a new job so could be 3-6 months, or permanent if I do stay. I know insurance companies only really give 30 or 60 days abroad normally- that's why I was trying FBD as they cover you for unlimited use in the UK.

It's difficult to call them as I've already blown through 20 euro credit being on hold and never got to speak to anyone! I will keep trying though.

I've also been told that you don't need to inform insurance company about going to the UK- sure coming over and back from the border here would mean we pass through the UK quite often and never tell them.

So they automatically cover you for the 30 or 60 days- let's say I was in an accident on day 62- how would they know how long I've been there?

Or if all went well for the 60 days, and I called them and notified them that I was going to the UK on day 61, I could get another 60 days? I know this isn't technically above board, but it would just give me some time to find a car and sort out insurance on it.

All time limitations on cover you mentioned about 30 or 60 or 90 days which insurers tell us, apply to extra cover they provide on top of third party.
So f.e. if your insurer tells you policy is valid only 60 days in the UK or EU, that means that after 60 days you won't have cover for fire, theft, windscreen, own car damage, etc.
But you legally required third party cover, stays intact so you are road legal no matter how long you stay abroad.
THat's the EU law which insurers must obey.

Henry Ford III

CiniO wrote: »

All time limitations on cover you mentioned about 30 or 60 or 90 days which insurers tell us, apply to extra cover they provide on top of third party.
So f.e. if your insurer tells you policy is valid only 60 days in the UK or EU, that means that after 60 days you won't have cover for fire, theft, windscreen, own car damage, etc.
But you legally required third party cover, stays intact so you are road legal no matter how long you stay abroad.
THat's the EU law which insurers must obey.

Have you a link for this EU wide motor insurance law?

CiniO

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Have you a link for this EU wide motor insurance law?

http://ec.europa.eu/finance/insurance/consumer/motor/index_en.htm

Here are the details:

Under the Directive, subscribers to compulsory motor insurance policies in all EU countries are covered for motoring throughout the EU.

See below exact quotation from the directive:

(24)
All compulsory motor insurance policies should cover the entire territory of the Community.
(25)
Some insurance undertakings insert into insurance policies clauses to the effect that the contract will be cancelled if the vehicle remains outside the Member State of registration for longer than a specified period. This practice is in conflict with the principle set out in this Directive, according to which compulsory motor insurance should cover, on the basis of a single premium, the entire territory of the Community. It should therefore be specified that the insurance cover is to remain valid during the whole term of the contract, irrespective of whether the vehicle remains in another Member State for a particular period, without prejudice to the obligations under Member States’ national legislation with respect to the registration of vehicles.

And a like to the directive:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009L0103


Hope that answers your question.

sunnysoutheast

CiniO wrote: »

http://ec.europa.eu/finance/insurance/consumer/motor/index_en.htm

Here are the details:



See below exact quotation from the directive:


And a like to the directive:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009L0103


Hope that answers your question.

What if the policy holder has no remaining link to the original policy address in Ireland - i.e. has moved to the UK completely? The insurer would be able to void the policy for non-disclosure.

Tigger1603

Here are the details:



See below exact quotation from the directive:




Hope that answers your question.[/QUOTE]

Wow, thank you so much! You have no idea how much this helps me out. My insurance in up for renewal in Dec, so ill just carry on as there would be no deposit with the renewal. Then, if I find another car and sort out insurance, i can just cancel it, return the disc and won't lose a deposit. Perfect!

Tigger1603

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

What if the policy holder has no remaining link to the original policy address in Ireland - i.e. has moved to the UK completely? The insurer would be able to void the policy for non-disclosure.

I would have a link though- my insurance is currently addressed to my mothers home as I have been in college so didn't have the need to change it. I would be home for visits every month to 6 weeks

Tigger1603

Wow, thank you so much CiniO! You have no idea how much this helps me out. My insurance in up for renewal in Dec, so ill just carry on as there would be no deposit with the renewal. Then, if I find another car and sort out insurance, i can just cancel it, return the disc and won't lose a deposit. Perfect!

CiniO

sunnysoutheast wrote: »

What if the policy holder has no remaining link to the original policy address in Ireland - i.e. has moved to the UK completely? The insurer would be able to void the policy for non-disclosure.

First of all, no insurer is entitled to void a policy in case of third party claim.
In other words, even if you lied to them or didn't disclose some facts, they are still obliged to pay for third party claim, but they might be allowed to recoup the cost of the claim from policy holder.

In case of moving address to UK - I don't know.
Generally what I heard from many insurers, is that they would cancel a policy if you move your residency out of Ireland.
But residency is not as straight forward, so I can't really see how could they possibly prove that OP moved residency to UK only within few months from moving.
Once OP spends more than 183 days in a year in UK, he indeed might be considered resident there, and also this would automatically mean he is not resident in Ireland.
But if someone just moves abroad, I can't see how he could be considered not-resident in Ireland straight away.
In the end of the day, he can change his mind and move back to Ireland after 3 months, and that would mean he keeps his residency here for all the time.

To Elland Back

CiniO wrote: »

First of all, no insurer is entitled to void a policy in case of third party claim.

An insurer is perfectly entitled to void a policy in the event of misrepresentation. However, they must deal with a 3rd party claim where their policyholder (at the time) was liable, as insurer concerned. There is a difference

sunnysoutheast

It is probably also worth mentioning that many policies define the UK as within their "territorial limits" - as mine does - so effectively any restriction on foreign use won't come into play.

Tigger1603

To Elland Back wrote: »

An insurer is perfectly entitled to void a policy in the event of misrepresentation. However, they must deal with a 3rd party claim where their policyholder (at the time) was liable, as insurer concerned. There is a difference

I don't understand the difference of this and what CiniO said? He didn't say an insurer can't ever void a policy- he said that in the event of an accident, they couldn't void the policy on the spot and avoid dealing with the claim altogether.

afatbollix

I was able to check a box on the compare the market website that said my NCB came from a European country.

To Elland Back

Tigger1603 wrote: »

I don't understand the difference of this and what CiniO said? He didn't say an insurer can't ever void a policy- he said that in the event of an accident, they couldn't void the policy on the spot and avoid dealing with the claim altogether.

Voiding a policy means setting it aside as if it never existed. They can void a policy 'on the spot' for misrepresentation but must deal with the 3rd party claim.

The difference is that if they do not act on the misrepresentation, they are obliged to honour the contract, which would entitle the policyholder to claim for own damage and insist insurers see out the remainder of the period of cover

Tigger1603

To Elland Back wrote: »

Voiding a policy means setting it aside as if it never existed. They can void a policy 'on the spot' for misrepresentation but must deal with the 3rd party claim.

The difference is that if they do not act on the misrepresentation, they are obliged to honour the contract, which would entitle the policyholder to claim for own damage and insist insurers see out the remainder of the period of cover

What I meant when I said that they can't void 'on the spot' is that they can't just wash their hands of you, not deal with the claim and say your on your own.

Anyways, I'm planning on looking for a car and sorting insurance as soon as I can when I'm there. It's just a little extra protection that if it does take longer than 60 days to sort out and if I were to have an accident, I wouldn't be liable to come up with the 3rd party money straight away (although I'm aware insurer could try to get it back from me) and I wound't be charged with driving without the minimum 3rd party insurance