Gransnet forums

Chat

Australians needing UK car insurance

(36 Posts)
hondagirl Wed 11-Mar-15 10:20:52

I contribute to an expat forum here in Australia and this subject has come up. Someone said they had used the following companies:

www.duinsure.com/motor_insurance

www.dayinsure.com/

Just a word of caution - I have been given to understand that it is not legal to drive on a UK licence in the UK if you are not a permanent resident as the address on the licence is no longer valid. It might be worth checking this out with DVLA.

Eleanorre Sun 08-Mar-15 19:28:00

Thanks for the replies never thought about trying their Australian insurance company.

rosequartz Sun 08-Mar-15 17:30:04

www.moneymaxim.co.uk/short-term-car-insurance-uk-overseas-residents

It does say up to 75 on this site, but could be worth trying them.

rosequartz Sun 08-Mar-15 17:27:52

DD and SIL aren't resident here and both our insurance companies were happy to add them to our insurance for a few weeks when we explained that they were visiting from Australia.

Perhaps it is their age.

Australia has a system whereby basic 3rd party insurance is included with road tax, which seems like a good idea.

Anya Sun 08-Mar-15 15:04:53

Surely their Australian insurance company can give them European cover if they pay extra?

granjura Sun 08-Mar-15 14:44:31

We've tried before, but you have to be resident to be insured in the UK- so even if he borrows someone's address (yours perhaps) if anything happens the insurance will turn against them for false declaration. Sorry to say, but I don't think there is an answer here.

Eleanorre Sun 08-Mar-15 11:02:19

Thanks ,not sure about his licence he has ao Oz one as well , we used to put DS on our policy each year when he visited from the USA with no bother but perhaps the ages and the many years not living in the UK were a problem .

rosequartz Sun 08-Mar-15 10:05:54

We put DD and SIL on our car insurance whenever they come; DD has a UK driving licence but SIL does not. Our insurance company seems happy to do this for a couple of months for a fee. They send a new policy through, then another one when the period of change is up. However, they are younger.
Does DBIL have a renewed driving licence with a photo as he is over 70 - just a thought?

Eleanorre Sun 08-Mar-15 09:18:15

Thanks for that, they do have many years of UK driving behind them DBIL has a UK driving licence his wife only an Australian one.

Charleygirl Sun 08-Mar-15 08:54:36

I have an Australian friend, in his 40's now living in this country and he cannot get car insurance unless he pays at least £2000 a year because he has no driving history in this country except on his motorbike. There does not appear to be an answer to the problem.

Eleanorre Sun 08-Mar-15 08:49:16

I know this is a long shot but wondered if anyone has any advice . My DBIL and his wife have a mobile home in the UK and have visited for four months each summer from their home in Australia . They always buy and old car and run it while they are here then sell it when they go. Up until now a relative of theirs stuck them on his business insurance and that was fine but in hindsight they probably were not covered if he did not say they did not live in the UK. Now that route is not possible they are finding it impossible to get a company to insure them as they do not live here the rest of the year. We tried adding them to our car insurance and lending them one of our cars but on that basis we were turned down flat. They found a company for Australia residents but as DBIL is 77 they said he was too old . They have tried Saga and other companies and have had no luck. If they have to hire a car instead of using their own ( already bought ) they will curtail their holiday because of the expense. Where they live there is no public transport. We did try an insurance broker but he was not much help either. Any thoughts folks ?