Insurance requirements are there to make sure premiums are fair for everyone.

Do'nt tell them and in case of an accident you are effectively uninsured, with the bonus that the insurance company could come after the insured persons for their losses.

I've had direct experience of a similar case.

Firstly, it's likely the insurance company will only deal with the policyholder, unless the second driver has been specifically named as able to make contract changes, not just named as another driver. So any changes to the existing policy or a renewal thereof may need to be initaited by the policyholder directly. If you can't do that then let it lapse and take out a new policy.

Secondly, most insurance companies will not provide cover for someone who is not a UK resident, even if they have a UK licence, as a permanent named driver. They would have to be added on as a temporary driver each time they visit the UK.

So my advice would be to be honest and driect with the insurer, explaining the situation and see what they say. the cost of the policy may well increase significantly as a result.

The better alternative would be for the second driver to take out a policy in his name, and declare that the vehicle owner if someone else. He might find it is cheaper if he were to become the keeper of the car and change keeper details witht he DVLA. The keeper is not necessarily the owner anyway.

Some insurers will give a no-claim discount based on being a named driver on someone else's policy, so this could be used if the second driver does not have his own NCD.

As has been said only the Policy holder can speak with the insurer. Most Companies will not insure a policy holder who doesn't reside in the UK

The other UK resident can insure the car, they don't have to be the registered owner in order to do so