Car insurance question

benjus

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a good option for getting the best price for car insurance.

My last car insurance policy in the UK expired a little over 2 years ago with 4 years NCD. When I separated from my wife she took the car with her to France, and it was insured in my name with a French insurer. I have just contacted the French insurance company who confirmed that I now have 6 years NCD. I am a named driver on my mother's car and a member of several car sharing clubs, so I have been driving during this time.

I'm thinking of getting a car in the UK again, so I'm just wondering how best to insure it:

1. Find a company that will recognise my 6 years NCD from France (do most UK insurance companies accept NCD from other EU countries these days?)
2. Find a company that will recognise my old 4 years NCD. Most seem to disregard NCD after 2 years, although I've heard that some recognise it up to 3 years after the insurance expired.
3. Find a company that will insure me on the basis of being claim-free for several years, even though my NCD has expired. According to confused.com Admiral quotes a similar premium regardless of whether I put in 4 years NCD or expired NCD with 4 years claim-free.

Thanks for any advice.