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Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - Clio87

Hi

I'm posting for a friend and would be grateful for any advice please.

They are ex partners who were living at the same address in the UK. One had car insurance policy in their name, with the other as a named driver. During the policy year, the main holder of the policy went to live temporarily abroad in Turkey (they don't know whne they will return). The partner who remained in the UK occasionally continues to drive the car, which is registered to his address.

The policy has come up for renewal. Do they need to declare that the main policy holder now lives outside the UK? If so, will they still be able to get insurance cover? Or what is the best way to deal with this now?

The car is owned by the person living abroad but used with their consent by the partner living in the UK.

Would it be wrong to just allow the policy to auto renew without informing the insurance company that one person now lives abroad and isn't regularly driving the car? I worry whether this would mean they might not pay any claim in the event of an accident or loss?

Many thanks.

Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - _

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.

Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - daveyjp

Insurance works on one very simple rule.

Everything you tell them to obtain a quote and take out a policy is the truth. When they find out it isn't the problems start.

Edited by daveyjp on 06/01/2022 at 07:57

Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - Grenache

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.

Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - Clio87

Hi all

Thanks very much for the helpful replies. I will relay them so that a decision can be taken by the parties involved.

Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - Palcouk

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

Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - Brit_in_Germany

If they are lucky, the insurance company may switch the policy from one driver to the other, at the request of the currently insured one.

Ford Fiesta - Car Insurance in UK - living abroad query - focussed

Rather than deal with the mainstream one-size-fits-all insurers you really need to contact a proper broker who is used to dealing with your situation who will give you proper advice that suits your situation not the insurance company.

One such broker is www.andrewcopeland.co.uk/

There are others.