Insurance for British car in France

[waremark]

My 21 year old daughter will be taking her British registered car to France for 6 months, followed by 6 months in Spain.

Her existing insurer does not cover cars which will be overseas for more than 90 days. As a 21 year old, there are not many companies which offer insurance on sensible terms.

Does anyone have any suggestions for insurance cover suitable for a UK reg car spending most of a year in France and Spain?

[Marcellus]

A French one.... Provided she is "in the process" of registering it in France then there's no issue.

[mik100]

Stuartcollins.com should be ok. Also if you want european breakdown have a look at ADAC.de they cover the driver and not the car so you are covered in any car even a rental. They also do travel health insurance at a good rate.

[ESDavey]

Abbeygate are good for Spain

[frenchjag]

I have a 12 month green card with Stuart Collins. Excellent service.

[Lee UK]

I could give you a french insurance contact (mutuel de Poitiers) but they will only cover 30 days out of France

let me know if you want their details, they speak good english

they covered my UK reg car for 5 years, things might be a little different now tho re- Uk reg cars

[tonywilliams]

HIC are who I've just insured my UK registered Audi with for use in France 365 days a year. Slightly more expensive then Stuartcollins but the cover could be arranged over the phone so I didn't need to fill out forms and email them before cover could be arranged.

I do however have a couple of issues I need to discuss with HIC tomorrow.

[rdjohn]

tonywilliams said:

HIC are who I've just insured my UK registered Audi with for use in France 365 days a year. Slightly more expensive then Stuartcollins but the cover could be arranged over the phone so I didn't need to fill out forms and email them before cover could be arranged.

I do however have a couple of issues I need to discuss with HIC tomorrow.

The Devil is in the detail.

Buyer beware!

All the problems start if you ever need to claim. Do not treat it as buying legitimacy.

[waremark]

I went with HIC - cheaper than Stuart Collins and easier to deal with. Admiral would have extended their normal 90 day max outside the UK for £17.50 per week bit for a max of a further 12 weeks which was not enough for us.

Thanks for all the help.

[ted 191]

Am I correct in thinking in France it's the car that is insured and who drives it is irelevent.

[Fatt McMissile]

ted 191 said:

Am I correct in thinking in France it's the car that is insured and who drives it is irelevent.

As I understand it, you're right, it is the car that's insured here. Third party injury or damage done by a thief if it is stolen is insured too.

However, as in the UK, the owner earns a no claim bonus (or malus) and other habitual driver's records are also taken into account. The agreement or policy will have a clause that raises the excess, if for example an under 25 year old or new driver has an accident driving the car.

Its worth pointing out that anyone from the UK holidaying in mainland Europe should make sure that their UK insurance cover will be the same in Europe as at home. Some policies/companies only cover the minimum legal requirements of the country being visited and will not give any help in making a claim, against a French driver for example.

[lowdrag]

Locktons have insured my cars here for 13 years, all three on british plates. No qualms and they know that several are on SORN notices in the UK until they get taken back and Motted etc. They paid out on an accident when I was forced off the road with no qualms.

[Expatloon]

UK insurance companies like to play on customers ignorance but the fact is all motor insurance policies written it the EU by law cover the vehicle for minimum risks throughout the community for their duration so if your daughter is prepared to accept what is basically 3rd party cover then her existing insurance will cover her.

[mogv8]

lowdrag said:

Locktons have insured my cars here for 13 years, all three on british plates. No qualms and they know that several are on SORN notices in the UK until they get taken back and Motted etc. They paid out on an accident when I was forced off the road with no qualms.

That is interesting, I always thought to be legal on French roads on UK plates, the car had first to be legal in the UK.

In other words a SORN'd vehicle would be illegal on the road in both countries in the same way it would without an MOT or road tax.

Is that correct or am I missing a trick? Can you really SORN & cash in tax disc while a UK car is in France and still drive it?

[paulwirral]

i sorned a nissan cabstar for a year while building down there and just got the wife to tax it when i needed to get back , the way i read it is you only need road tax in england , probably illegal but worked for me !

[rdjohn]

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100512...

This is what the DVLA say; 12 months is the critical duration. That is a "black & white" rule and for standard cars is probably the best route I.e. export it to your new country. Better still sell it in the UK and buy a LHD car like your neighbour has.

For something special, returning the vehicle each year for MoT etc. and having a compliant insurer creates a very large grey area.

SORNing the vehicle is not the best way as it is not compliant with EU rules, the car must be taxed, MoT'd and insured for its home country.

[lowdrag]

mogv8 said:

That is interesting, I always thought to be legal on French roads on UK plates, the car had first to be legal in the UK.

In other words a SORN'd vehicle would be illegal on the road in both countries in the same way it would without an MOT or road tax.

Is that correct or am I missing a trick? Can you really SORN & cash in tax disc while a UK car is in France and still drive it?

Technically I guess not, but then laws are made to be broken and the number of speeding fines I've avoided by keeping UK plates are legion. Sadly that is now coming to an end since I've bought another Merc, this time from Germany, but the laws are now so strict I can't register it in the UK like the last Danish one. In those days they didn't care a toss about speedo in kms and which side the fog light was, but now it would have to be inspected. But I repeat that there are several insurers out there who on a nod and a wink basis take your money and smile, since their prices with a 12 month green card are far dearer than French insurance rates. I mean, the new C200 CDi is costing me around £27 pm any driver fully comp here at Le Mans, but for the old yr 2000 220cdi I was paying £60.

[Fatt McMissile]

lowdrag said:

I mean, the new C200 CDi is costing me around £27 pm any driver fully comp here at Le Mans, but for the old yr 2000 220cdi I was paying £60.

Am I understanding you right Lowdrag, is that £27 pm with a French insurer? Sounds a good deal, maybe you could recommend them....

[lowdrag]

Try assurland and les furets (compare the market in the UK) on the 'net. I got the price but in view of the stupid problems of the internet I went to the local agent (prefer someone to talk to) who said double that (it was Allianz who came out best). We got on well and he has now found out that the agents here can now match the internet price. The actual price was 31.81€ per month. HTH

[tonywilliams]

rdjohn said:

The Devil is in the detail.

Buyer beware!

All the problems start if you ever need to claim. Do not treat it as buying legitimacy.

I spoke to HIC and found the cover didn't include some things that I needed. I've since changed to Stuart Collins.