Trouble getting international driver insured...

[Cosmic706]

Hi guys. First time poster. Looking for advice..

Can anybody explain to me clearly why I'm having such trouble getting my relative insured for his trip to UK (from Australia).

I was advised by my Insurance (1stCentral) that he cannot be added to my policy. No problem. Googled solutions... he can have a temporary cover note for my car. Great! Perfectly legal.

Webchat with 1stCentral (twice) and they say car cannot have two policies. Okay.

Relative phones specialist insurance provider in UK who will cover him on my vehicle, they say that two annual policies is a no, but 5 week cover is fine.

I go back to 1stCentral (phone this time...) and reask the question. They go away and conflab, come back to me saying well yes is is legal and it can be done, but it might invalidate my insurance. I asked why would it, and they gave me long meandering incoherent speech about confusion between the two insurance providers, and if he had a business policy that would be fine, but not two of the same policies, and if something goes wrong with his insurance that 1stCentral would have to get involved and that's when it gets confusing. So I'm no further forward really.

I don't believe for a minute they actually know why they are saying no. She even told me she knew she wasnt making much sense and she couldn't explain it.

So, was that actually a thinly veiled "we don't want you to, but we can't stop you?" ....

Can anybody decipher?

[akirk]

Cosmic706 said:

Hi guys. First time poster. Looking for advice..

Can anybody explain to me clearly why I'm having such trouble getting my relative insured for his trip to UK (from Australia).

I was advised by my Insurance (1stCentral) that he cannot be added to my policy. No problem. Googled solutions... he can have a temporary cover note for my car. Great! Perfectly legal.

Webchat with 1stCentral (twice) and they say car cannot have two policies. Okay.

Relative phones specialist insurance provider in UK who will cover him on my vehicle, they say that two annual policies is a no, but 5 week cover is fine.

I go back to 1stCentral (phone this time...) and reask the question. They go away and conflab, come back to me saying well yes is is legal and it can be done, but it might invalidate my insurance. I asked why would it, and they gave me long meandering incoherent speech about confusion between the two insurance providers, and if he had a business policy that would be fine, but not two of the same policies, and if something goes wrong with his insurance that 1stCentral would have to get involved and that's when it gets confusing. So I'm no further forward really.

I don't believe for a minute they actually know why they are saying no. She even told me she knew she wasnt making much sense and she couldn't explain it.

So, was that actually a thinly veiled "we don't want you to, but we can't stop you?" ....

Can anybody decipher?

there are a lot of UK policies (more expensive ones) which offer the ability to drive any car under fully comprehensive insurance... I have had a number over the years.
With any of these I would be covered on your car even though we don't know each other - in fact I would be covered on every car in the UK

Additionally, there are companies such as Cuvva who offer short term insurance - used it quite a bit when out driving with friends and we swap cars - any time their policy is in force, there will be two policies active on that car. While the first option wouldn't name the other cars (any car is valid) something like Cuvva will specify the car meaning that there will be more than one policy specifically against that car...

So, it is totally valid / legal / normal to have more than one policy covering a car

So - keep your insurance as it is
Let your relative take out a separate policy
No need to inform your insurance company - after all as above, anyone could have a policy against your car without your knowing...
carry on with life

The only confusion there can be is where a driver could be covered by either / more than one policy, e.g.
- A has a car with insurance allowing any driver fully comp.
- B has insurance for a different car, but allowing him to drive any car fully comp
If B drives A's car and has an accident, which policy should be used? Both policies cover that use, but usually there will be a priority clause, and usually (though not always) the car owner's policy would be used as B's policy will cover them where there is no other cover, meaning that A's cover takes priority
That is about the only confusion there can be and won't apply to you...

[Truckosaurus]

I added my brother to my insurance when he borrowed my car when he was living in South Africa without any issue.

He still had a UK driving licence which I believe is the key thing (although Lord Knows what address his licence was registered at).

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Cosmic706 said:

Webchat with 1stCentral (twice) and they say car cannot have two policies. Okay.

Did you speak to the same idiot twice, or two different idiots. Of course you can! It's absolutely none of their business if you want to lend your car to someone who wishes to insure it themselves on another policy.

[roadsmash]

Cosmic706 said:

I was advised by my Insurance (1stCentral)

Here’s your problem.

[HocusPocus]

Had a similar issue before. Problem is UK insurers are all shy about adding motor cover for certain nationals where PI damage cost levels are high, eg US and Aus nationals. Was cheaper to get visitors to hire a car in the UK, and saved me weeks trying to push water uphill with insurers.