UK expat with UK registered car - insurance help

brianposter

First thing to discover would seem to be whether your car minds having the battery disconnected.

Emmia

TELLIT01 said:

Emmia said:

CarolineNL said:

Ditzy_Mitzy said:

Hopefully the OP can confirm, however I read it as her wishing to leave the UK car at home in Blighty whilst she spends a couple of years in Holland or wherever she's off to.  The facility to drive the car whilst visiting would also be helpful.  

Correct, looking to leave the car in the UK while I'm abroad!

There are practical issues to consider, for example cars don't do well if they're left for many months without being driven - issues like the battery de-charging, rust, condensation in the fuel system, flat spotted tyres...

Do you have someone who will run the car / keep it maintained so it remains in a roadworthy condition? 

If you're not going to be back and driving it regularly (monthly) I'd probably sell your car, and hire a car when you're in the UK.

Very valid points raised by Emmia.  If it's going to be parked on a driveway, even getting somebody to start it up once a month and move it back and forward on the drive will be far better for it than just leaving it standing.  You will need to speak to your insurer about specific cover for your situation.  If the car will be off road make sure you register it as such https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn  to avoid authorities asking questions about no tax etc.

You'll need to make sure you un-SORN it before you use it though.

Tbh the battery is probably the least difficult element of this, trickle chargers etc., are available to keep those topped up, I'd worry more about the fuel system developing issues, the brakes rusting solid (and the car getting nicked/stripped of parts by local scallywags, who note it doesn't move)... and it also probably needs to be driven, moving it up and down a driveway is unlikely to do the engine etc., much good.

However, I can see having a vehicle ready to use when you're in the UK without the hassle of hiring is attractive.

@CarolineNL Are you planning to garage it, or leave it on a driveway? How will you get servicing and MOTs done?

Aretnap

If the car is not going to be used or kept on a road (or just driven up and down someone's driveway occasionally) look into laid up insurance, aka fire and theft only insurance. As the name suggests it covers the car against fire, theft etc, but not anything to do with road accidents. As a result it's usually much cheaper than normal car insurance, and I imagine insurers are more flexible about owners being outside the UK, as it's rather designed for people who are away from their cars for long periods. It doesn't count as insurance for thee purposes of the Road Traffic Act, so the car still needs to be kept off-road and SORNed while it's in force. 

Ditzy_Mitzy

I don't know if they're any good, and have no relationship with the company, but this broker seems to offer the sort of thing the OP might need:
Living Abroad with A Car in the UK | Keith Michaels Insurance

brianposter

A normal car under cover, brakes off, in gear and battery disconnected should survive perfectly well for 8 or 9 months but there are some cars which apparently do not like this treatment, so it as well to unearth any such problem before worrying about paperwork.

I would be surprised if the majority of policies specify that you have to be UK resident.