European Cover for car ? Can insurers check stay's length ?

bsun89

Hi,

I am considering staying over 90 days in France with a UK car, and it seems that very few insurers, if any offer that possibility.. (I read about Saga and LV, but these don't work for me)

1 -- Just wondering how, in practical terms, are insurance companies are able to check (or if isn't checked) the length of a car's stay abroad ? Has anyone faced such scenario ?
Assuming, for example, a hypothetical situation where I am already in France for 4 months with my UK covered car with no claim, and for some reason at that point I have an accident triggering a claim. How can they even check I have spent more than 90 days limits (per policy) ?

2 -- Has anyone been successful at extending coverage beyond 90 days EU cover at the likes of Admiral, Elephant, Diamond.. ? I really want to take a policy that enables me to stay 6 months but can't seem to find any

Thanks for any help you can provide on that

Angus_Og

Two minute Google

https://ajinsurance.co.uk/personal-insurance/car-insurance/european-car-insurance

But you could have done that yourself.

Best be on the ball if you are thinking of defrauding the insurance company.

DavidFx

bsun89 wrote: »

How can they even check I have spent more than 90 days limits (per policy) ?

(1) Asking for a copy of your Ferry/Eurotunnel Ticket


(2) ANPR cameras at Ferry/Eurotunnel boarding


(3) Credit/Debit Card statements to prove you purchased fuel in UK when you said your car was in the UK


and probably many more ....

Angus_Og wrote: »

Best be on the ball if you are thinking of defrauding the insurance company.

Car_54

DavidFx wrote: »

(1) Asking for a copy of your Ferry/Eurotunnel Ticket


(2) ANPR cameras at Ferry/Eurotunnel boarding


(3) Credit/Debit Card statements to prove you purchased fuel in UK when you said your car was in the UK


and probably many more ....

(1) is possible.
(2) Do such things exist? How would insurers have access?
(3) How would insurers access these? And even if they did, the statements don't show reg. numbers.


None of the above is intended to assist the OP to commit fraud.

bsun89

Thanks for these answers.

Already tried AJ unfortunately, but the quote seems like a joke (over 2000, while main insurers quotes are in the 700-800 pounds area for my car and profile|)

I am indeed not trying to bypass insurance policies or anything, just trying to understand. Because most policies state that they " provide the cover shown on your Certificate of Motor Insurance for a maximum of 90 days in a period of insurance in any country which is a member of the European Union (...) After 90 days we will provide the minimum insurance required in these countries", so I am either trying to get a sense of how it can be enforced.
Ideally I would like to have the likes of Admiral, Elephant etc.. agree upfront on giving 180 days so I don't have to worry about it ? Otherwise I'll either have to wear risk of having only third party for last 3 months, or get the car back to UK and just rent out locally..

iainscomputer

The easiest way around your dilemma is to travel back to the UK using your car.
I'm sure in the event of a claim you could be asked for your ferry/eurotunnel.
My friend had a travel insurance claim & was asked for his flight details to prove the length of time he was away.

jimbo6977

https://www.stuartcollins.com/

What you are proposing to do is not strictly legal for a variety of reasons (you are supposed to register the car in the host country and change your licence to the host country's licence, and probably other things), but thousands of people stay for 6 months, 9 months, a year, longer in other countries and forego the palaver without consequence all the time.

Car_54

jimbo6977 wrote: »

https://www.stuartcollins.com/

What you are proposing to do is not strictly legal for a variety of reasons (you are supposed to register the car in the host country and change your licence to the host country's licence, and probably other things), but thousands of people stay for 6 months, 9 months, a year, longer in other countries and forego the palaver without consequence all the time.

A UK licence is legal anywhere in the EU (including France) until you reach the age of 70, so ne need to change that.



That may change should Brexit happen.

societys_child

A friend and his missus moved to Ireland for an undetermined length of time.
A few days over 6 months his missus was stopped in her car by the Garda regarding how long she, or rather her car, been there, without registering the car.
She could prove that a couple of weeks earlier she'd been across the boarder to NI. This restarted the 6 months limit.

They asked about her husband, and his van . .

She was able to phone and warn him they were looking for him, but they caught up with him before he could get across to NI.


He got a fine, but instead of re-registering it he brought the van back to England. and I did him a part-ex for another van. He didn't want to keep the old once he knew it was on the radar.


Just shows, you never know who's watching.

knightstyle

Yes you can use your UK license permanently in France unless you are 70+ You can drive a UK registered car in France for six months if you live permanently in the UK, BUT no-one who lives in France can drive that car.
A French resident must change a UK car to French within a month of importing it, extension to this can be for three months if there are problems with the paperwork.
We have used our UK car in France for over 90 days by arranging insurance through a French broker.

dacouch

Do not under estimate how good Admiral are at detecting being defrauded.