I'd just like to ask the related question about doing it in reverse, because like I said I've had advice with the underwriter from my insurance that only people with Canadian or US licences are covered if I let them drive my car.

I got the impression they didn't really care although I'm sure they would if it was wrecked and I claimed.

Has anyone gotten advice from their insurer about letting foreign visitors use their car?

Yes, our company would not allow a UK friend of ours, who was visiting, to drive our vehicle on a UK licence.

He ended up hiring a car for about 5 days while he was here.

No. An International Drivers License is just a translation of your original license. If the language of your license is the same as the language of the country where you intend to use it, it has no value at all.

I visited my parents in the UK three years ago and was put onto their car insurance without any problem. Last year, their insurance company said they could not insure a driver who holds a foreign license because the rules had changed.

Just to throw one more example in, my hubby went back to the UK last summer and got cover on his brother's car for about £100 for a month or two.

So - it seems there is little consistency!

OMG is there a flaw in the UK model? Isnt everybody usually complaining that Canada seems to lag behind the UK in most aspects.
Im shocked.

It’s possible that when the UK takes a backward step, and it’s a big enough step back, Canada seems to catch up…

Did I mention post padding already?

Well no, they're basically the same, insurers in either country don't allow you to do it, it seems.

My insurance company told me today that we're allowed to let our family from the UK drive our vehicles.

In other words:

a) Who the hell knows?

and b) keep asking until somebody tells you what you wanted to hear in the first place!!

Make a note of the person's name you spoke to, time, date and ask them to confirm in writing.

I have it via email [but thanks for the a55 covering tip!]

We visited the UK twice last year and both times we where put on my mums car insurance legally In October we where only able to be on the insurance for 2 out of the 3 weeks at a cost of 70 pounds. I think it may be down to the insurance company.