Car insurance - UK vs EU driving license

rmcgandara

I was under the impression that under EU laws UK insurance companies should not discriminate price-wise between UK and EU driving license.
is this assumption correct or not?

I have car insurance renewal at the end of this month, I have done all comparison sites and some brokers and the cheapest was always around £550.

main driver is my wife (5y UK driving license, 5y NCB). I always been second driver using my Portuguese driving license.

This time I tried changing my driving license as UK on the simulators and both Sheilas Wheels and esure came up at around £330. and this value didn't change if I put 0y UK driving license (as if I was a new driver) or if I put 15y UK driving license (as if I exchange my PT to UK license).

Thanks

Ricardo

forgotmyname

Did Sheila's Wheels and Esure come back at £330 and £550 just for the licence change?

Or other insurers wanted £550 with an EU licence and SW/Esure didnt quote for a non UK one?

They could argue its not discrimination for the licence itself,. But a genuine assessment on the risk of a non UK licence holder. Who may have been driving on the opposite side of the road for many years.

rmcgandara

Hi forgotmyname

it is the second option: other insurers wanted 550 with EU license and SW/esure didnt quote for a non UK one. - This is part of my Q because I was under the impression that they could not discriminate.

If you find me the data where I can search for accidents in UK caused by EU drivers license holders that would be an interesting analysis.

Then I can easily exchange my driving license to a UK license and SW/esure would insure me as if by magic I could now "have learned" to drive on this side of the road...

also they are not taking in consideration that I have been driving in UK as second driver (only because my wife commutes to work so she needs to be first driver) for the past 4-5 years, therefore I am proficient in driving on this side of the road.

mind you that I think that by exchanging my EU driving license for an UK driving license keep the original date of my driving license (circa 1998).

just doesn't make sense that I can exchange my EU driving license for a UK driving license without having to pass any test and SW/esure are not accepting a EU driving license and are treating EU drivers as not equal to UK...

but still my initial Q is unanswered

Are, under EU laws, UK insurance companies allowed to discriminate price-wise between UK and EU driving license?

forgotmyname

They are not discrimating. You dont fit their customer profile.

If they choose not to insure any red cars then they can do that. If they think a driver with an EU licence is risky then they dont have to quote you.

I cannot get insurance for my daughter on my car who recently passed her test. Not discrimation. Just too much of a risk for a new driver and modified car.

If you exchange your licence for a UK one. The question maybe how long have you had a UK licence. A= less than a month. What will the premiums be then?

Doesnt make sense, That about sums it up all around. Insurance doesnt to us mere mortals who pay for it.

If i add an accident prone younger sister or even my mum with a couple of claims to my clean sheet. My premiums are reduced.
Where is the sense in that?

On paper you appear to be more of a risk with an EU licence and they charge more to cover that risk. Dont think there is a law against that.

vaio

Customer profiles is fine and a commercial matter but the OP raises a valid point.....

Insurers can't discriminate against people based on ethnic origin, sexuality, disability and more recently gender. This applies *even* if there is statistical evidence that a particular group do make more claims.

The rules of the EU say that there should be free movement of goods, services & people and it's certainly arguable that the loading applied to EU licence holders is hindering the free movement of people.

Trouble is that the monolithic insurance industry will carry on (as they did with gender) until someone CBA and has the time & money to take it to a court high enough to make a binding decision.

I won't hold my breath.......