Uk car insurance - living and driving abroad ( Belgium)

rs232

I have just been offered a working contract in Brussles (initial 6 month but likely to be longer).
Incidentally my UK car insurance is due to renew two days before my working contract start date. So I would be driving to Belgium while covered by my current insurer.



How does it work in this case for the future?


Can extend my insure in the UK and keep the car all the time in a private garage in Brussels? Do insurances enforce a maximum amount of time I can be abroad? Can/would I instead insure in Belgium?


Any input you might have it's greatly appreciated!


Cheers

dacouch

Civilian job or is it connected to SHAPE HQ?

rs232

working for a bank so yes civilian.

[Deleted User]

Keep in mind that you can only use your foreign registered car in Belgium for 6 months before you have to get it registered there. Once you get it registered you won't be able to have UK insurance on it as every UK insurance company I know only insures UK registered cars.

sheramber

You should check with your insurance company what cover you will have. It may only be third party cover.

https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk/for-less-than-12-months

agrinnall

And if Brexit goes through while you are in Belgium and you're still driving on your UK insurance you'll need additional paperwork from your insurer to ensure your cover is valid.

[Deleted User]

agrinnall wrote: »

And if Brexit goes through while you are in Belgium and you're still driving on your UK insurance you'll need additional paperwork from your insurer to ensure your cover is valid.

Good point. Don't leave it to the last minute either, there will be a mad rush and huge backlog of British people trying to secure their right to drive.

Ireland experienced it recently when the original brexit date was getting close. Basically if you didn't apply a couple of months before you were stuffed.

rs232

Gosh this sounds difficult I think I will contact directly an insurer in Belgium.


What about MOT and Road taxes?

[Deleted User]

rs232 wrote: »

Gosh this sounds difficult I think I will contact directly an insurer in Belgium.

What about MOT and Road taxes?

A Belgian insurer will only cover you once you import the car to Belgium, i.e. get it re-registered as Belgian with new number plates and tax. You then tell the DVLA that you exported the car and get a refund on whatever tax you have left on it.

Your MOT will be valid in Belgium. Under the EU system if you get your car imported to Belgium (i.e. Belgian number plates) then you get the remainder of the MOT before you need to pass the Belgian test.

rs232

Thank you all for the information.
I'm more and more convinced it's a smarter idea to sell the car and forget about this.


A final question please. If I am to sell my car, I really don't want to lose my 25+ years of no claim discount as I will eventually go buying another vehicle at some point in the future, but not immediately (e.g. 1 year gap). How can I deal with this? Can I ask a certificate from the current insurer and re-use it at future time?

DCFC79

rs232 wrote: »

Thank you all for the information.
I'm more and more convinced it's a smarter idea to sell the car and forget about this.


A final question please. If I am to sell my car, I really don't want to lose my 25+ years of no claim discount as I will eventually go buying another vehicle at some point in the future, but not immediately (e.g. 1 year gap). How can I deal with this? Can I ask a certificate from the current insurer and re-use it at future time?

I agree it might be a good idea to sell the car.

You get confirmation of your no claims discount anyway, Ive always got it when the insurer sends the renewal confirmation as its listed on there.

1 year might be fine, will depend on the insurer you could be moving to.