Another car insurance question.

knightstyle

Further to my other thread on transferring my no claims bonus to the UK from France, having spent 3 days on the net and phone, can I legally insure my UK reg. car with my old French company? The French company say this is OK. Will I be able to tax the car using the French policy?

vusys1

I thought you could not insure a car that is registered/based in the UK with a non uk insurer??

the same as UK insurers will not insure cars registered/based in the E.U, thinks is something to do with an EU directive to stop a UK based insurers selling sell car insurance in E.U countrys

if this is wrong I sure someone will advise.

bouncydog1

Not sure that is quite correct as EU insurers are allowed to sell insurance into UK through Freedom of Services - Collingwood for instance, are based in Gibraltar.

I do know though, that if I try and get insurance through a UK based insurer via a website it won't let me as my reg no isn't recognised - live offshore - although if I approach them direct this isn't usually a problem.

However, I don't know enough about it for full comment, although I am sure that one of the experts will be able to advise the position.

vusys1

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

Not sure that is quite correct as EU insurers are allowed to sell insurance into UK through Freedom of Services - Collingwood for instance, are based in Gibraltar.

only because we wont give it back to Spain

knightstyle

Thanks for the replies, I know there are lots of cars in France with UK reg. plates and French insurance. We still have a house in France so no probs. with a French address. But is it legal and can I tax the car with it?

Inactive

vusys1 wrote: »

I thought you could not insure a car that is registered/based in the UK with a non uk insurer??

the same as UK insurers will not insure cars registered/based in the E.U, thinks is something to do with an EU directive to stop a UK based insurers selling sell car insurance in E.U countrys

if this is wrong I sure someone will advise.

I thought that the UK was part of the EU.;)

Inactive

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

Not sure that is quite correct as EU insurers are allowed to sell insurance into UK through Freedom of Services - Collingwood for instance, are based in Gibraltar.

.

Indeed, and Gibralter is not even in the EU.

Probably a nice little tax fiddle.;)

Dan_Smith

knightstyle wrote: »

We have just returned to the UK but still have a house in France so :-
First we need to insure our just purchased UK reg. car with more than 90 days cover for our visits to France.
Second, the company must recognize our no claims bonus from our old French insurance company, MAAF.

knightstyle wrote: »

Further to my other thread on transferring my no claims bonus to the UK from France, having spent 3 days on the net and phone, can I legally insure my UK reg. car with my old French company? The French company say this is OK. Will I be able to tax the car using the French policy?

knightstyle wrote: »

is it legal and can I tax the car with it?

NO your French insurer (MAAF) is wrong! When driving here in the UK with a UK registered car, your car insurance policy will only be valid if the insurer is a member of the MIB. UK registered cars must be insured by a insurance company who is a member of the MIB (Sec 145 Road Traffic Act 1988).

I've had a look at the members of the MID and your French insurer MAAF is not listed.
http://www.mib.org.uk/Company+Information/en/Members/Default.htm?Selection=M

Look at this thread I found where someone was caught out because of this:
http://www.totalfrance.com/france/forum/viewtopic.php?t=89686&highlight=

bouncydog1

I think you will find that Gib enjoys some special sort of status having joined the EU with the UK in 1973.

knightstyle

Many thanks Dan Smith for a good reply confirming my worst fears. Will have to go to Saga and pay the full amount, no NCB!!!!
How painful is that.
By the way I am amazed at the lack of information out there. I contacted 6 brokers and only one got back with a clear reply within 24 hours, the others either didn't reply or waffled without giving me a definitive answer.

bouncydog1

Very helpful Dan - thank you. It appears that insurers who are on the database also include offshore island vehicles (as I've checked all of ours) - this is new as last time I checked they weren't on.