Insurers who will cover non-UK licence holders

[markjmd]

Relative visiting from the US this August, holds a full US licence of course, and also an International Driving Permit.

My current insurer say they won't cover them as an additional driver, so I'm curious if anyone has personal experience or industry knowledge of any insurers who would. This will more likely be for future reference only, but depending on replies I may well opt to switch provider before my current 12 months is up (due for renewal quite soon anyway).

[NGee]

Can't realy help you with your question, but have you thought of getting your relative to hire a car whilst in the UK. Might work out cheaper and less hassle than involving existing insurance - and could save you a trip to the airport!!
Or just hire one locally on the days required.

[jondude]

Have you tried taking your request above the initial customer service clerk(s)?

I can remember when I imported a bike from the US I was being told it could not be insured until it had a UK plate....took it to some managers and they agreed to give cover using the frame number.

Always worth a try - if you have time to do this in writing then even better as there will be no 'sorry, we record all calls but not that one and so there is no record we ever said we will insure you'.

[Cooperman]

I have exactly the same problem. My Grandson is visiting from Canada in August and I can't get him insured to drive either my nor my wife's car whilst he is here. I had the same last year with a friend who was visiting from the USA. Both originally had UK licences, but now have Canadian and Arizona licences respectively.
My insurer told me that they have no way of checking on driving offences, accident history or 'status', whatever that means.
The result is a need to pay for a hire car.

[markjmd]

Thanks all for the replies. Looks like we'll probably be going down the hiring route too then.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

The big players seem to be less bothered by this. Aviva & Zurich are quite flexible, and Allianz too from memory.

[NNH]

I insured my American wife on my Bell policy before she got round to doing her UK test.

[tvrfan007]

My wife's family regularly use our cars when they come over from South Africa. Admiral and Aviva both supported it.

Aviva just had an upper boundary of other people being insured on your policy in a calendar year of like 30 days or something.