Taking your car abroad.

Deaf_Leopard

Hi.

I am going to take my car abroad for a period of at least 3 months, probably longer.

Do I need to inform the DVLA? What do I do about insurance? If I get normal breakdown cover for Europe is it still valid?

Also a non British national will probably be driving the car while I'm over there. Would it be a good idea to add them on to the insurance, or would that be expensive?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

scotsblood

Speak to insurers, they may not provide overseas cover for such an extended period and they may not cover those with non-uk driving licences.

What breakdown cover do you have? You will need to speak to them as well, most have only limited cover for overseas use on a UK policy.

DVLA don't care unless you are intending to permanently export the car.

Remember if you run out of MOT time whilst abroad you need to have BOOKED A TEST APPOINTMENT for as soon as practical following your return and carry evidence of the booking when you arrive back in the uk.
It is an offence to use or keep the car on the highway without and the automatic numberplate recognition systems at ports will set bells ringing!

C_Ronaldo

Just inform your insurers that your going away and see about getting some breakdown cover

reduceditem

There is no real way for an insurer to know exactly when you left the country (most ferry operators do not give you a ticket). Just keep a few receipts from the country you're in to prove you're there in the result of a claim. Road tax is important. You need valid UK road tax to drive abroad so make sure it isn't gonna run out while you are away. If it is you can renew up to 8 weeks in advance. If its more than eight weeks you could cash in the one you've got and buy another one or do it online so at least its sitting waiting for you at home. Your friend needs his own insurance just like in the UK. Buy a reflective vest, a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle before you go.

Jamp

reduceditem wrote: »

There is no real way for an insurer to know exactly when you left the country (most ferry operators do not give you a ticket).

Are you SURE about this? Surely the ferry operators keep records of their own as you have to give your reg plate when booking? And won't the police/immigration have records from ANPR?

Deaf_Leopard

MOT was done last week.
Tax is due in October which is a problem I'll deal with later, online should be fine.

Just checked my insurance (Swiftcover) in more detail. I am only covered for EU for 72 hrs. Any extra days I have to buy at £8 for the first fortnight and £1 a day after that which will be £94 extra until the end of July, when my insurance expires, when I will still be abroad. I think that's expensive and I'm sure that ther insurers let you have lots more 'free' days which will bring down the cost considerably.

I went to Swinton who quoted me £545 for 90 days abroad cover for a year from the day I go abroad.

I think what I really need is cover from some kind of abroad specialists who cover either Spanish expats or people with caravans who spend a long time abroad. I'm going to try the Camping Club now as their policy offers up to 180 days abroad which is easily enough.

I have breakdown cover but I'm not sure if it covers Europe, I've lost the documents and I've forgotten who my policy is with, which isnt clever, but I'll sort that after the insurance!

Jamp

Liverpool Victoria also do 180 days. That's as good as you'll get except Stuart Collins who do expat cover you describe but sit down before you hear the price.

jamesn_2

Check your policy wording - I think insurers will normally cover you abroad even if it is only third party. The extra cost is normally to give you the same cover abroad as you have at home.

jno

Stuart Collins is only the broker offering a 12 month UK insurance policy. The cover he offers is actually an AXA policy, and you could call them directly. I did this to see if would be any cheaper but actually it worked out more expensive.

I think, but am not 100% sure that by law all insurance policies are supposed to cover you for 12 months in an EU country but with THIRD PARTY RISKS ONLY. Perhaps someone could check this out?

The AA also offered this AXA policy but it is difficult to find on their website - their quote was actually more than Stuart Collins for the same AXA policy.

Expats in Spain have it easier:
If you're going to Spain you can get local cover from Knight's Insurance Brokers: http://www.knight-insurance.com/
- they have a local office in Mallorca: http://www.directinsurancesl.com/engindexnew.html

Many British expats in Spain never take their UK registered cars home opting for a local Spanish MOT (called the "ITV") which qualifies their car as roadworthy. They can then get local insurance cover - incredible as they don't have to pay Spanish road tax as they don't have a Spanish registered car. Loopholes!

Maybe someone should contact these Spanish insurances to see ifthey offer a 12 month green card for a roadworthiness certificate from any EU country - might be worth investigating.

reduceditem

Jamp...YES I am sure about it. As I said before, check out the cost to insure your car IN THE COUNTRY YOU ARE GOING TO which is often way cheaper than extending British cover.

jno

More links to search for in Google about this topic:

Abbey Gate Insurance UK
Footman James (supposedly cheaper than Stuart Collins)

Spain:
Ibex Insurance (Gibraltar)

France / Portugal / Spain:
Andrew Copeland