Insurance when new to UK?

[Big Tav]

Hi guys,

I just bought a BMW 1 series for my Mrs (She is from Scotland but been in Australia with me last 10 years) and we tried to get insurance for both of us to drive it. BMW Insurance will insure her but not me as I haven't held a UK licence for more than a year.

We both have maximum NCB and no accidents etc. My licence is currently being exchanged at the DVLA for a UK one and I should have it this week. We got here on the 2/12/10.

Can anyone suggest anyone I should try that will insure me too?

Cheers.

[KeyR1]

check your license issue date as sometimes the DVLA will recognise you license and give you one issued Uk from your current start date

so it won't read as a new license so you will not get penalised as a new driver. On the flip side just phone companies direclty as online won't recognise anything you just wrote

[Pints]

I was faced with this about 8 years ago when I moved to the UK. The only insurance co. who would look at me at the time (and also allowed me to use up to 2 years NCB from my home country) was Norwich Union. I went with them and then sorted out getting my licence converted to UK.

Unfortunately, I lost 2 years on the "starting date" on my licence when the DVLA changed it. Barstewards.

[redtwin]

Norwich Union for me also. Accepted my NCB (letterhead from ins company stating years covered etc) from the US when I moved. Direct Line said they would also, but then backtracked and stated it would only be on low insurance group cars. Of course they only told me this after I had bought my group 15 BMW and it was sat on my drive.

Luckily NU came to the rescue before panic set in with the thought of having bought a car I could not insure.

[Alex@POD]

I changed my license to a UK one a few years ago, and had a quote of £1000 a year for an Astravan, from a van insurer, as "I only had my license for a week". I challenged this and asked about the validity of 10 years driving previously in France with a french license (not inviting jokes here, stick to the point people), and after a talk with the manager they got it down to £450ish.

I'm sure most places will be fine with it if you explain it on the phone...

[Fleckers]

Alex@POD said:

and after a talk with the manager they got it down to £450ish.

I'm sure most places will be fine with it if you explain it on the phone...

I think this is the reason, you spoke to the manager, not a brain dead script junkie who does not give toss.........

see if you can get proofof insurance from the land down under to prove you did keep driving and had not in fact been in prison