Long term european insurance for UK car

[andyr]

I'm intending to drive my car down to S of France in the summer, and I'm trying to find an insurer who would cover the car if I didn't drive the car back to the UK for (say) 18 months.

I know most (if not all?) UK insurers will only grant a max of 365 days EU insurance, and the ones I've spoken to say the car must return to the UK to renew (which I don't want to do).

The alternative is to find an EU insurer would will insure a UK registered car - but that may be impossible as I don't want to import the car into the EU long term.

I have the feeling that leaving a UK car in Europe for an extended period of time is impossible...unless....

Has anyone here managed to do this ?

[chris_gilmartin]

If you don't take it back into the UK within 12 months it may be deemed to be permanently exported, which I presume would mean you then have to re-import it https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk

Also you may be in breach of French domestic road traffic regulations, more info here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Car bon]

If you're over 50 then SAGA.

https://www.saga.co.uk/car-insurance/eu-cover?srsl...

[MDL111]

When I looked into this a few years ago I concluded that the car needs to return every 6 or 12 months to remain insured (and even then I was not sure if this would really hold up)
Probably easier to sell it and buy a comparable car locally

[andyr]

Thanks all for the replies, and the links…they were helpful.

Yes I think the conclusion is that it’s not possible without bending several rules to the point that the insurance may not pay out when needed.

Now I am trying to find a UK insurer who will allow more than 6 months abroad. I will try the saga one mentioned. Admiral will only give 6 months.

Trouble is 458s seem to be about 30% more expensive in the EU !

[JJ77]

Try Hiscox, you will need a broker referral and probably home insurance policy but they do longer Euro Cover.

[AinsleyB]

I also found out you need to have taxed it even though it will be out of the UK. Obviously an up to date MOT, but the road tax surprised me.

[Car bon]

Yes, the car has to be taxed regardless of location for the insurance to be valid.

Saga explicitly state that there's no duration limit on the European cover.

I guess you never really know until claim time how awkward they may get. The closest other insurance I know of is that for motorhomes which quote different prices for 'full time travellers' vs 'long stay touring'. The difference seems to be things like retaining a UK home and with some policies, not renting it out. Remaining UK tax resident. Not staying in the same place for the entire duration of the 'trip'. etc. The differences establishing that it is a long trip(s) and not a permanent thing.

[footsoldier]

Pretty sure that you can't keep UK registered car in France for more than 6 months out of every 12, in terms of French law.
Hence why insurers won't cover.

[F355GTS]

Locktons provide euro cover and I can't see any time restrictions in their terms

[mudnomad]

Stuart Collins offer insurance for UK cars being away for more than 6 months. They don't insure all makes and models though

[Car bon]

Good point on the 6 month limit - but I doubt that's the insurance reason as the limit is per country and wouldn't restrict a European policy.

Here's another broker that provide 365 cover - https://www.stuartcollins.com

and another specific to UK registered cars in France - https://www.ukplates-in-france.com

On the 6 month limit - I guess you'd need to establish exactly what it says. For example, is it you can't drive it for more than 6 months or can't keep it in the country.

My car usually spends under 1 month per year in the UK, but I do move around between France, Spain & Andorra.

[MDL111]

I think in Germany the rule is if you are resident in Germany then the car has to be registered here within 6 months. If you are not resident, then the car can temporarily be here - I am not sure how hat gets interpreted though.
As yours is a UK car, there is the additional issue of taxes (import duty, VAT etc) - as soon as money is involved, they usually look more closely if they find out....
There is a similar issue with German registered cars in Austria as in Austria there are high new car registration taxes, so a lot of people registered cars in Germany to use in Austria. I have heard from people that the authorities even check service history to see if the car was regularly serviced in Austria

[generationx]

mudnomad said:

Stuart Collins offer insurance for UK cars being away for more than 6 months. They don't insure all makes and models though

I've used SC for years, very good service and not eye-wateringly expensive. Their Ts & Cs state the car must have a current MOT so the car will obviously have to return to the UK at least once during that 18 months.

As for the importing and exporting points - yes, factually correct however I've been rattling about in UK-registered cars in Germany for over ten years and not once have I been stopped for this there or in any other parts of Europe. Just keep paper work in the car when travelling.

In fact in all that time I've only been stopped once and that was in Belgium for driving significantly faster than the speed limit as I thought the not at all obvious plain black BMW wanted a race...

[spikeyhead]

generationx said:

mudnomad said:

Stuart Collins offer insurance for UK cars being away for more than 6 months. They don't insure all makes and models though

I've used SC for years, very good service and not eye-wateringly expensive. Their Ts & Cs state the car must have a current MOT so the car will obviously have to return to the UK at least once during that 18 months.

As for the importing and exporting points - yes, factually correct however I've been rattling about in UK-registered cars in Germany for over ten years and not once have I been stopped for this there or in any other parts of Europe. Just keep paper work in the car when travelling.

In fact in all that time I've only been stopped once and that was in Belgium for driving significantly faster than the speed limit as I thought the not at all obvious plain black BMW wanted a race...

I used them when I was working in the Netherlands. I didn't keep my car out there for very long. An eight minute stroll to the office and a similar time on a bicycle to get into town meant it was pointless keeping it out there, but a colleague did, and their insurer was happy with the local equivalent of an MoT being done.