callumalden

Hello friends, we are about to buy my first car. How exciting. Sharing with my partner who's been driving for years. I have a provisional, she's been driving for 7 years no problem. We're driving to Portugal, via Netherlands. And hopefully we'll settle in Portugal if/when we find a place that suits.

She'll be named Driver #1.

The car is a 1990 Volvo 240. Solid as a rock.

Anyway–� we're having so much trouble finding adequate insurance, for a UK Registered car. To travel to Europe for more than 3 months.

I've phoned lots of specialist insurers, as the car is 'vintage' (hah!) but no one wants to offer us continuous EU travel for more than 30 days, with a maximum of 90 days in most policies.

Can anyone please advise, what about Portuguese car insurance (on a UK Reg?).

We may or may not matriculate the Volvo once we find a place to stay in PT, that's for another day / post.

Thanks so much!

RichardHenshall

You may not yet realise that to matriculate the car free of 'taxes' you will have to have owned it for 12 months before importing it.

callumalden

Understood, we'll probably have to send it back to the UK in that case! Thanks for reminding me. Any thoughts re. insurance?

RichardHenshall

No ideas, sorry.

callumalden

I've just spoken to the very helpful, sunny, and highly recommended "IBEX Insure" a company based in Gibraltar. They will insure PT and Spanish 'based' cars with either UK, Portuguese or Spanish plates.

However, they won't cover us for the 4-8 weeks it'll take us to get to Portugal (we're holidaying in the Netherlands for a while!). They're not keen on insuring cars outside of either Spain or Portugal for more than 30 days!

Any thoughts most welcome.

gedscottish

Adrian Flux insurance will probably do it.

Forget Portuguese insurance unless you start process of matriculation.

brodev

If you are aged over 50 then Saga may cover you for up to 12 months. If not that old then Nationwide should cover you for up to 180 days and also Liverpool Victoria (who Nationwide use).

callumalden

Thanks to everyone for chipping in, we're both young drivers and don't benefit from NCB's, as neither of us have ever been sole named drivers! SO some interesting quotes today. Top one was £1600, that's 30 days... non-continuous 'foreign' travel. Crikey!

Went for Diamond in the end, primarily a 'women friendly' insurer. Which offers 90 days European Travel, and if you're extending your holidays... just like us, you can extend that for £20 a week. But this must be pre-arranged.

They were a delight to talk with, I highly recommend anyone in a similar situation give them a bell!

Talked to IBEX Insure in Gib' who seem to offer a longer term solution if/when we decide to emigrate.

Thanks again. I hope our findings are of use to someone out there.

nogard

NFU; National Farming Union, will provide cover for a whole year.

mikelincs

Your UK provisional license will NOT allow you to drive outside the UK, so you do have to bear that in mind when considering travelling abroad.

angie_329

Keith Michaels brokers do this - they are well known for expat insurance in uk and abroad.

https://www.keithmichaels.co.uk/spec...car-to-europe/

also found these online- not come across them before.

https://www.hertsinsurance.com/expats/

Rosemary

Is your partner happy to do all of the driving once you leave the UK? Could you take your driving test before leaving the UK?

Rosemary

callumalden

Don't worry! Sitting my test before we leave. In fact, it is a prerequisite! Thank you for mentioning this.

callumalden

Its funny, I read that elsewhere but was told NFU do not offer European Cover for more than 30 days continuous anymore. Sad, as I like the NFU.

callumalden

Rosemary- thank you. No she is not in any way or form 'happy' to be my long distance taxi driver, mainly due to me having too much control over the tape deck! I'll be passing my test before leaving the UK.

Wish me luck!