Insuring a car for an overseas visitor
Insuring a car for an overseas visitor
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Discussion

BigBen

Original Poster:

12,161 posts

261 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
quotequote all
Hello,

My sister in law is visiting from Australia in the near future and it would be useful to have her insured on one of our cars. This does not seem to be easy.

Have spoken to insurers and they are basically not interested. Can anyone suggest a specialist or similar?

Any suggestions

Ben

Fleckers

2,880 posts

232 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
quotequote all
Why not get fully comp for any driver ?

BigBen

Original Poster:

12,161 posts

261 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
quotequote all
Fleckers said:
Why not get fully comp for any driver ?
I don't think that is possible anymore, but will investigate thank you.

4Q

3,607 posts

175 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
quotequote all

Spleen

5,453 posts

152 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
quotequote all
BigBen said:
Hello,

My sister in law is visiting from Australia in the near future and it would be useful to have her insured on one of our cars. This does not seem to be easy.

Have spoken to insurers and they are basically not interested. Can anyone suggest a specialist or similar?

Any suggestions

Ben
Lockton Performance allow anyone over 35 to drive my F430 with my permission. Might be too niche though?

rallycross

13,762 posts

268 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
quotequote all
It’s virtually impossible unless paying a fortune only sensible answer is a hire car but current rates make that very expensive .

Uber app and an oyster card better option!

BigBen

Original Poster:

12,161 posts

261 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
quotequote all
rallycross said:
It’s virtually impossible unless paying a fortune only sensible answer is a hire car but current rates make that very expensive .

Uber app and an oyster card better option!
Looks like we have found somewhere that will do it for a fortune but still less than a hire car. I would share details but when I say we I mean the mrs and I wasn't really listening when she told me.

Blib

48,317 posts

228 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
quotequote all
BigBen said:
Looks like we have found somewhere that will do it for a fortune but still less than a hire car. I would share details but when I say we I mean the mrs and I wasn't really listening when she told me.
Top PHing! hehe

BigBen

Original Poster:

12,161 posts

261 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
quotequote all
Blib said:
BigBen said:
Looks like we have found somewhere that will do it for a fortune but still less than a hire car. I would share details but when I say we I mean the mrs and I wasn't really listening when she told me.
Top PHing! hehe
I realised that was rubbish way to leave a thread so did some sleuthing. She found a company / broker called Sterling Insurance who were able to sort something. I will report back after it has been paid for and the cover note issued but they definitely say they can do it!

Condado

119 posts

73 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
quotequote all
I have literally just done this, my son who lives in Australia has just spent 3 weeks back with us, I insured our second car for him for a grand total of £60 which included the usual £25 rip off admin charge.
It was painless, easy and done all online the insurer was Shiela wheels.
I will add my son has maintained his UK licence and kept it renewed so I don’t know if your relative only has OZ licence and if that would make a difference.

boyse7en

8,227 posts

196 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
quotequote all
Condado said:
I have literally just done this, my son who lives in Australia has just spent 3 weeks back with us, I insured our second car for him for a grand total of £60 which included the usual £25 rip off admin charge.
It was painless, easy and done all online the insurer was Shiela wheels.
I will add my son has maintained his UK licence and kept it renewed so I don’t know if your relative only has OZ licence and if that would make a difference.
I suspect its the fact he still has a UK licence. My sister is over from the USA and we couldn't get her added to my insurance.
Ended up hiring a Hyundai i10 from a local hire place (not a chain) for about £90 a week

C-J

413 posts

82 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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OP - 2 similar threads that I replied on this topic:
Long story short, Privilege (part of the Direct Line group I think) did allow - however I had to push and it depended who I spoke to on which day.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...



...below is my reply to a similar query back in Feb...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Driving on UK insurance with a foreign driving licence...


Similar situation a few years ago with relatives visiting from o/seas.
We were able to add to my wife's policy (standard/mainstream, not classic) with Privilege (part of the Direct Line group I think).

We actually activated it twice, once in one policy year, and again approx 6 months later. It did seem to depend which operator I spoke to. Answers ranged from 'No' to 'Yes for 30 days/year' to 'Yes for 90 days/year'. Curiously the 'No' was when we called to activate it the 2nd time, only to be told that it wasn't possible on their policies - they were adamant until I pointed out that they had been happy the previous year.

The price turned out to be very reasonable - premium increase for 90 days was 21, plus 26 admin fee so 47 total...although on the 2nd occasion one operator was insistent that it could only be done for 30days per instance, and that I'd have to call back on day 30 and pay 14 + 26 each month - I just called back later and spoke to someone else who was happy to set-up again a full 90 days for 47.

The point of the above ramblings is that had I not successfully done it once, on the 2nd occasion I would have been convinced that the company could not support - when they could. So worth asking repeatedly.

From memory the relative probably got a 1 year international driving permit, and the excess went quite high (just for when they were driving) to 750. Therefore I/they bought a separate excess policy for 40. Probably overkill, but worth it for peace-of-mind (for me anyway!)

ps: Last tip, do ensure they are aware that the pretty yellow painted photo machines are in fact speed cameras - our guest won an invite to a speed awareness course, which then required another relatives to accompany to translate!

blearyeyedboy

6,812 posts

210 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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Just to say: thanks for the thread.
I have family who visit from abroad and knowing this is possible is very helpful. Cheers!

glenmore3685

197 posts

148 months

Wednesday 29th June 2022
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I added my stepbrother who lives in the US (and has a US driving licence) for a week on my car and it was straightforward and not expensive. My insurer is Esure.