Insurance on a UK plated 308 overseas

[Car Mad Dave]

I know this topic has been covered in different guises around the pistonheads boards but would welcome any thoughts on this one.

I'm looking to buy a UK registered 308 but would like to garage and use it as a w/e car abroad (I'm working in Europe for the next 18 months). Previous posts I have found on the topic suggest using Stuart Collins as they will issue a UK policy with an extended 12 month green card. Spoke to them today and they siad yes they do, but not for Ferrari's!

I also spoke to Footman James who would only insure if 'abroad' was a second home and car not there all the time.

Any ideas as my only other alternative is to export and reregister, which seems really OTT given the timescale.

Any suggestions, ideas gratefully received.

Thanks, CMD

[christer]

Where in Europe? Too far to take an occasional trip back? I ask because I seem to remember that my classic car insurance some years ago specified that the car could only be out of the country for 3 months at a time, but there was no limit to total time out each year......

[Car Mad Dave]

location is Czech Republic so, in an ideal world, I'm not that keen to commit to returning to the UK every 3 months, but will explore your helpful suggestion as one possible solution. Thanks, CMD.

[MogulBoy]

I ran a Scooby on UK plates in Switzerland for a year under the "unlimited 3-month trips" idea but in truth, I never went back to the UK during that year.

There was always a lingering doubt in my mind that the insurance that I was paying about a grand a year may have been invalid if there was ever a reason to put a claim though it and although I felt better than if I was truly 'un-insured', it still felt uncomfortable...

I would be interested to know if there are any solutions that offer more peace of mind as I would consider doing the same again but with Switzerland being outside the EU, there's still the thorny issue of whether or not the car should legally be imported over here as there would be import duty to pay for me.

Presumably this would not be an issue for the OP who's going to be in a fellow member state...

[jumplead]

Can you not insure the car in the local country on its VIN number rather than the VRN? I know of people who have done that here before they have gone through the process of SVAing the vehicle to register it in the UK. Not sure how long you are allowed to do that here for (guess its 6-12 months before the SVA process) or if you can even do that abroad.

[Car Mad Dave]

Insuring on the VIN sounds interesting, I'll try and find out. CMD