Insuring a car in France so a friend can drive it back to UK

[Bluesgirl]

So I have a tricky situation.

I was working in France for the Winter season and drove over there. I've flown home for a brief visit and now everything's shut out there, there's no point in me going back - except my car's there. Apparently my insurance in invalid as I've left the car in France. I can't insure a friend on my insurance to drive it back and her insurance won't cover her. I need her to be covered for 72 hours max. Any suggestions?

[loafer123]

A quick search gives this;

https://www.tempcover.com/temporary-car-insurance/...

You may need to insure yourself with your friend as an additional driver?

[sunbeam alpine]

If it's a brief visit, don't you have a return ticket? I think that it would be simplest/cheapest to go get the car yourself.

[Bluesgirl]

Thanks Loafer123, but I've already looked at short-term cover and the one I found is the same type of thing as provided in your link - you have to start and end the journey in the UK during the insurance period.

In my case the car has already left the UK, it's sitting in a car-park in France, apparently not covered by insurance and waiting to be brought home.

[Bluesgirl]

Yes, Sunbeam, but with new restrictions being brought in every day, due to Coronavirus, I may have trouble getting there or getting back again. It seems sensible for my friend to drive it back as she needs transport anyway. (I haven't mentioned that my dog is also sitting in France waiting to be brought home - excellent timing on my part!)

[sunbeam alpine]

I appreciate that it's not answering the question you asked, but if you popped back out to France and drove it back, how would your insurance know you had ever been in the UK. Surely you would be covered?

Failing this, have you considered getting the car transported? I pay an average of €700 to get cars shipped up from Italy to Belgium.

[sunbeam alpine]

Bluesgirl said:

Yes, Sunbeam, but with new restrictions being brought in every day, due to Coronavirus, I may have trouble getting there or getting back again. It seems sensible for my friend to drive it back as she needs transport anyway. (I haven't mentioned that my dog is also sitting in France waiting to be brought home - excellent timing on my part!)

Sorry - I posted again while you were posting this.

Do you have a return ticket and are the flights still running?

As far as I am aware, all countries, even if they're in lockdown, are allowing foreign nationals to return home, so travel shouldn't be a problem from your point of view, so long as you can get to where your car is. The UK will always let UK nationals back in...

[Bluesgirl]

No, if I fly out or get the SkiTrain, they wouldn't know - I'm just trying to avoid the hassle.

[Big-Bo-Beep]

question is, is your car insured , will it show up on the database ? https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/

if it shows up as insured you can nominate an insured driver to drive it back to the uk [ third party only though ]

[Bluesgirl]

sunbeam alpine said:

Sorry - I posted again while you were posting this.

Do you have a return ticket and are the flights still running?

As far as I am aware, all countries, even if they're in lockdown, are allowing foreign nationals to return home, so travel shouldn't be a problem from your point of view, so long as you can get to where your car is. The UK will always let UK nationals back in...

I thought the same, but my friend has told me that in Spain at least, people are being told to stay in their accommodation or face a €500 fine. I imagine France could introduce the same thing at any time. That could just be a rumour - it sounds strange not to let other nationalities return to their own countries.

If I can't sort out the insurance for her in the morning somehow, I think I'll get the train down and keep my fingers crossed.

[Bluesgirl]

Big-Bo-Beep said:

question is, is your car insured , will it show up on the database ? https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/

if it shows up as insured you can nominate an insured driver to drive it back to the uk [ third party only though ]

She's insured on her own car (in the UK) and any other car with permission, but I don't think that applies to cars outside the UK. Mine is insured on that link. Thank you for that.

[sunbeam alpine]

Bluesgirl said:

Big-Bo-Beep said:

question is, is your car insured , will it show up on the database ? https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/

if it shows up as insured you can nominate an insured driver to drive it back to the uk [ third party only though ]

She's insured on her own car (in the UK) and any other car with permission, but I don't think that applies to cars outside the UK. Mine is insured on that link. Thank you for that.

In most european countries, it is the car, not the driver/owner which is insured. It might be worth checking the green card you got from your insurance company. If your friend should take it upon herself to drive back (carefully) I'm sure that -
a) She has an absolutely tiny chance of being stopped, as long as she respects the speed limits
b) Should she be stopped, presenting a valid insurance green card will be enough to satisfy the police.

You need to take your own view on how risky this may be.

I have done something similar - travelled down to France to pick up a mate (and his car) after he joined the €750 club a few years back. The police checked my licence when I arrived at the police station but didn't ask about insurance.

[Bluesgirl]

That's really helpful, Sunbeam, thank you.

[sunbeam alpine]

I fear your options have become severely limited over the last couple of hours.

Your only chance may be getting your friend to drive out now that France has gone into lockdown. They are reporting that foreign nationals are permitted to leave the country. In addition, it has been reported that police will not be carrying out traffic stops to minimise person to person contact.

[Bluesgirl]

Quick update:

Car loaded to the nines with 2 girls, dog and 3 lots of luggage for a season in the Alps left Tignes first thing on Monday, pit stop at the vet for worming treatment (dog only), leg it to Calais and ferry booked for first thing Tuesday morning. They arrived chez moi at Tuesday lunchtime where they dispersed in the direction of Devon and Somerset. Much relief all round and the dog has taken up her usual position in front of the Aga.

Many thanks for all your helpful suggestions.

(Being excellent to one another indeed, tho' no partying on for the time being.)

[sunbeam alpine]

Great news!