Suitable insurance for France and UK

Driving

Suitable insurance for France and UK

BobDee 07/05/2008, 14:11

Asking this for a friend currently in the UK. She has a UK registered car taxed and MOT'd, owns a property in France and one in UK. She aims to spend about 5 months a year in UK and seven in France. Currently has french insurance but that only allows 30 days in UK.

Anyone have any experience of a company UK or French that allows several months out of the country?

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

Bob T 07/05/2008, 14:27
If the car spends 7 months in France then should it not be French registered?

Bob T 24
http://bikesindordogne.blogspot.com/

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

BobDee 07/05/2008, 14:44

Hi Bob

Dont really want to start this topic all over again, but I think that if its fully UK taxed and MOT'd and the insurance company know all the facts, then it is legal.

bobD

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

powerdesal 07/05/2008, 14:57
I think you may find that the car in not necessarily the issue but....if your friend spends 7mths in France then she will be considered to be resident, ie more than 183 days. Such resident status will no doubt bring its own "issues".

Steve
Fujeirah Emirate, U.A.E + 50 (in France)
...........................................................................

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

Tandem_Pilot 07/05/2008, 15:14
My car is insured via the "What Car?" website - courtesy of Liverpool Victoria and allows foreign use (within the EU) if the car is registered in the UK and

"is not kept abroad for more than 180 consecutive days"

Your interpretation of this may vary with the company's Big Smile [:D]

Regards

Alex

Milton Keynes and the Haute Vienne

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

Benjamin 07/05/2008, 17:15

Tandem_Pilot wrote:

"is not kept abroad for more than 180 consecutive days"

Your interpretation of this may vary with the company's

Not car insurance but medical insurance. Many years ago I found myself rushed into Nantes hospital.

The first thing my UK travel insurance provider asked for was proof of the date (in my case a copy of a ferry ticket) that I had entered France so I suppose if you weren't here permanently for more than the stated time limit you could " get away " with it.

Make sure that you aren't invalidating your insurance.

Benjamin

St Malo 1-New evidence suggests mis-trial

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

nectarine 07/05/2008, 17:35
Saga insurance allows an unlimited amount of time out of the country, 364 days, as long as you are resident in the UK. I suppose there's a technicality about whether your friend is UK or French resident but if she is stating that her French house is a holiday home then she could get Saga insurance for extensive European coverage. I believe they are the onlly company that do this (and I asked around a lot!).

If you look like your passport picture, then you probably need the holiday.

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

ErnieY 07/05/2008, 18:11
Loath as I am to resurrect what is a widely covered topic but this car is already illegal both in UK and France.

Contrary to what many believe (and a great many practice) it's not a "pick-n-mix" choice, a vehicle must be fully road legal in the country where it is registered. Therefore, if it is to remain on UK plates, this means Tax & MOT and UK insurance, exactly as if it were being used in UK. The fact that it is temporarily in France for several month's of the year, or anywhere for that matter, does not negate that.

There is another overriding problem though:

Leaving aside all the above, plus the the additional issues which arise if your friend is considered Franch resident, and the (worthless) French insurance, the maximum period a car may remain in France before requiring to be re-registered is 6 month's so on that basis alone it will become illegal.

As Nectarine says she could insure with with Saga although there are potential pitfalls to this.

Alternatively the complete and proper solution would be to register the car in France and switch the insurance to another company which does not impose limits on foreign, i.e. UK, use.

My doctor said one drink per day, I can live with that !

Re: Suitable insurance for France and UK

Bob T 07/05/2008, 19:15

BobDee wrote:
Hi Bob

Dont really want to start this topic all over again, but I think that if its fully UK taxed and MOT'd and the insurance company know all the facts, then it is legal.

bobD

Not the case if the French law says that a car must be registered here if it is here for more than 6 months. Insurance companies do not have a remit to make sure that drivers comply with the law. They do have a remit to take money and make a profit for the company.

Bob T 24
http://bikesindordogne.blogspot.com/

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