HELP needed: Car insurance for foreigner

joljols

Hi,
I moved to the uk in April 2010. I now want to buy a car and am looking for insurance options. I haven't had any car insurance for myself in the Netherlands (where I am from) but have had my drivers license for 8 years. After spending a lot of time trying to tweak the quotes internet comparison websites give me I thought perhaps here people could help me.
I am a 26 male working as a Research Scientist, had my drivers license for 8 years, have 0 years no claims and have never had an accident. The car I am interested in is a 1996 Vauxhall Combo 3-door van costing only 595 pounds.
The lowest quote I can find just for me is 650 pounds, but with my girlfriend who has had her drivers license for 6 years and is 26 it is 760.
Is this really as low as it can get? In the netherlands it would cost about 250... I hope somebody can help me.
Thank you.

Jolle

dacouch

Try a car as it would be cheaper.

What relationship are you putting your girlfriend down as

DCFC79

Definitely try a car, is there any reason why you want the combo

joljols

Thanks. I want a van/combo because of the extra space, but if I find a car that has enough space that is fine as well. I didn't know there is a difference in insurance costs between the two.

I am not married not officially partnered with my girlfriend so for my '
Marital status' I have to say 'single' and for my girlfriend i also have to say 'single' and 'Relation to proposer' none... Any advice on that?

I also tried a quote on a volvo v70 car, which was even higher. What brand and type of car would be very cheap to insure? I really don't care as long as it drives and is cheaper than this!

Thanks!

mikey72

You may not get a much better price.
UK insurance is a lot dearer than europe.
Have you had a quote for the car version of the van?

vaio

As Mikey says European insurance tends to be much cheaper than UK so I don’t think you’ll save a lot by moving to a car and even if you did it would still be x 2 or 3 what it would cost in Holland.

If you have moved permanently to the UK you are stuck with it.

If your move could be argued to be only temporary and you still have an address in Holland and go home a couple of times a year then you could look at buying a Dutch car and insuring it in Holland as a Dutch insurance policy will automatically cover you over here.

My kid brother is a German resident and that’s what he did when he was sent back to the UK on a two year training course. This also gives the added bonus that it makes you immune to speed cameras and parking tickets but I suspect the BB eurocrats have plans to alter that (if they haven’t already)

joljols

Thanks vaio for your message. I think I will move back to the Netherlands in a year or so. I definitely visit family and friends in the netherlands, I think at least 5 times a year. I am not registered at any city council in the Netherlands anymore, I don't know if that is necessary. Perhaps I could register myself in Amsterdam where my parents live. What do you think?

vaio

If you are only here for a year and go home every couple of months I’d certainly get a dutch car & insurance

maninthestreet

Are those quotes for Comprehensiive or TPFT? If the former, then try TPFT.