Car Insurance - Can't insure second driver

MrEdinburgh

I am trying to insure my girlfriend on my car. She has US license but that is no long valid here so needs to sit her UK test.

Because she is now a provisional license driver, my insurers won't insure her on my car. It's 1.9 diesel, but they have deemed that too powerful.

This means she can't get any practice to pass her test.

Any suggestions, other than hiring a learner car from Arnold Clarke?

Thanks

Beckyy

I'm sure you can take out temporary provisional insurance policies purely for learning, I can't name any but I do think they exist. Maybe google will throw something up?

InsideInsurance

As above but if you've got the problem with her as a provisional driver you are likely to have even more problems when she actually passes her test.

Insurers vary massively on their approach to learner drivers and it varies massively also by the age of the learner. For example Admiral are happy to add either a provisional or just passed person to my insurance on a 3.5L/320bhp petrol car for only an extra £50 per year (less than an extra 10%)

If you decide to cancel and buy from someone who will accept her as both a learner and just passed be a little careful if its a broker as it is the insurers decision not the brokers and whilst the broker may have people on its panel that are willing to do both and so you see quotes from the AA (for example) in both scenarios you do need to check its the same insurer.

forgotmyname

Use the money to pay for some extra lessons.

From £9 a hour. + fuel + ££££ risks if it gets damaged whether at fault or not.

Just pay for more lessons.

Just spotted.. 10 miles are free. But then 30p per mile? But that includes the fuel.

I can see that costing more than some instructors if you pay for say 2 to 4 hours in one slot.

paddedjohn

Get her proper lessons, just because she had a USA licence it doesn't mean she is capable of passing the UK test. If she takes lessons then they will train her how to pass the way they want her to. The UK test is too regimented and if she just practices in your car before going in for it she may not get the experience she needs to pass.

jackyann

BSM used to do special lessons for people with licenses from other countries. I'm sure that a local instructor would be happy to teach specifically for that situation (and take her round roundabouts!)

Something my OH did years ago when I was learning was to give a running commentary as he drove (recommended as an occasional "checking" thing to do by Advanced Motorists I believe). I wonder if it would be helpful if you did that - tailored to her needs of course.