Car insurance for newcomers to the UK

airhostess

I just wanted to know if anyone else has experience of this, and if this is normal?

I have car insurance with Swiftcover, and I wanted to add my husband to the policy so he can drive our car also.

He only moved to the UK in February. Swiftcover asked if he'd lived in the UK for the last 4 years so I said no.

So they've refused him any insurance. For all they know, he could have 30 years no claims bonus and be coming to live here from say, France (this is not the case!) and they would STILL refuse him.

So do all newcomers to the UK need to take public transport for four years until they are able to drive here, or is this just Swiftcover being picky?

Needless to say, I won't be renewing with them...

dogbot

For all they know, he could have 30 years no claims bonus and be coming to live here from say, France (this is not the case!) and they would STILL refuse him.

For all they know, he could have 0 years no claims having been living in rural mongolia where he has mowed down and killed 30 people... this is the point!!

Swift cover is a company set up to deal only with standard risks that can be dealt with "swiftly"! They do not intend to deal with non standard risks because it presents less certainty and more administrative work.

Drivers who are new to the uk present a huge level of risk and few mainstream insurers will be willing to get involved in providing cover.

Find a local broker and they should be able to set up a new policy that covers you both - though you would need to cancel the swiftcover one of course and interrupt your own NCD building up. If he knows others who have come from his home country it might be an idea chatting to them to find out who the insured with. Getting him on a full UK licence will help.

airhostess

dogbot wrote: »

For all they know, he could have 0 years no claims having been living in rural mongolia where he has mowed down and killed 30 people... this is the point!!

True.. but they never asked the question. It was simply, 'has he lived here for over four years? No? Ahh sorry we can't do anything then.'

I will try a specialist broker. I'm not worried about my NCD as I have over 8 years worth and companies only tend to check if you have 6 years or more...

dacouch

Swift have done you a favour, as they have a really poor reputation for claims.

Make sure they do not penalise you for cancelling the policy

airhostess

I only went with them because Quidco cashback made it the cheapest!
I'm regretting it a bit now. As I paid for a year up front, they have me over a barrel a bit and won't give me back the pro rata rate for the months remaining on the policy. Are they allowed to do this? I can't see me agreeing to this in any of the Ts&Cs I signed when I took out the insurance...

dacouch

Generally if an Insurer won't offer cover for a driver or a new vehicle etc then most will give a pro rata refund.

Unfortunately Swift are a law unto themselves, ring and ask to speak to a supervisers and be polite, mention you will refer the matter to the Financial Services Authority and they may back down.

P.S Swift are owned by Axa so if you want to avoid any Swift associated companies then avoid Axa