expat Brits need advice on UK/Europe car insurance
Feb 9th 2016, 4:48 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1
expat Brits need advice on UK/Europe car insurance
Hi
We are looking for some friendly advice.
We are expat Brits with current residence in New Zealand (NZ driving licenses). We have been traveling South & North America for the last 12 months, and plan on spending the next 12 months in Europe.
We need a car and were planning to buy one in the UK, registered to a parent's address, then use it for 3 months in the UK before heading into France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia.
So, any comments or advice on this plan?
- should we buy or would leasing be better?
- any insurance companies recommended as we have no UK residency?
- any other issues you can foresee?
Many thanks
Hamish
We are looking for some friendly advice.
We are expat Brits with current residence in New Zealand (NZ driving licenses). We have been traveling South & North America for the last 12 months, and plan on spending the next 12 months in Europe.
We need a car and were planning to buy one in the UK, registered to a parent's address, then use it for 3 months in the UK before heading into France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Croatia.
So, any comments or advice on this plan?
- should we buy or would leasing be better?
- any insurance companies recommended as we have no UK residency?
- any other issues you can foresee?
Many thanks
Hamish
Feb 9th 2016, 5:19 pm
#2
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: expat Brits need advice on UK/Europe car insurance
Used cars are much cheaper to buy in the UK - you can insure it there and get european wide coverage. The downside is that the steering wheel is on the wrong side for the rest of Europe but it's manageable.
Feb 9th 2016, 5:50 pm
#3
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,443
Re: expat Brits need advice on UK/Europe car insurance
Watch out for insurance policies that might only provide a limited period of coverage outside the UK, either limited per year, or per length of any one single trip.
Feb 10th 2016, 4:41 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 280
Re: expat Brits need advice on UK/Europe car insurance
LHD cars are a niche market in the UK, and it may be cheaper to buy a second hand LHD car than a comparable RHD model, though you might pay a little more to ensure it.
Watch out for insurance policies that might only provide a limited period of coverage outside the UK, either limited per year, or per length of any one single trip.
Watch out for insurance policies that might only provide a limited period of coverage outside the UK, either limited per year, or per length of any one single trip.
Feb 10th 2016, 4:53 am
#5
Return of bouncing girl!
Joined: Sep 2004
Location: The Fourth Reich
Posts: 4,931
Re: expat Brits need advice on UK/Europe car insurance
Very - it's a big shift in perspective when you're used to driving on the side of the car that's towards the centre of the road rather than the kerb side. Obviously it's doable, but long term I'd say it's definitely better to be driving a RHD car. Driving on the other side of the road comes much more easily if you're seated in the appropriate place!
Feb 10th 2016, 12:33 pm
#6
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,443
Re: expat Brits need advice on UK/Europe car insurance
Although there aren't many drive-thrus in the UK driving an LHD car would make it difficult every time you enter or leave a car park with a ticket and barrier payment system, .... unless you have a passenger or are an orangutan!
Last edited by Pulaski; Feb 10th 2016 at 12:42 pm.
