CalgaryPete

Yes, there is so much to consider when choosing a place to live happily ever after. I prefer hats to wigs, particularly on blustery days. Peru has splendid hats plus llamas. England has delightful cheeses and fine ales plus llamas. I saw 3 different flavours of llama in a single garden in Belstone village in Devon just last weekend.

Piff Poff

Fab thread completely enjoying the read, good luck moving further north.

CalgaryPete

The check for renting the house failed, so we went to plan B and paid 6 months rent in advance. The estate agents that manage the let used Rentshield Direct for the checks. One problem was using a temporary address, here in Torrington. I had also included my previous permanent address in Canada, but I guess the current address is the one that counts. It might have been better not to have put the temporary address on the form, but they don't explain the details of the checking process so I don't know whether giving only the Canadian address would have helped. The other issue was the credit check, which was a problem because I have been out of the UK for 14 years.

There may be estate agents, letting agencies and private landlords that are more sensible when dealing with returning migrants, but for us the quickest way to resolve the problem was to pay 6 months rent, plus the deposit, in advance.

CalgaryPete

I was hoping that LV would accept foreign No Claims Discount. They bought Frizzells, the company that I used before moving to Canada. Frizzells used to insure a lot of civil servants some of whom would be posted abroad. They should be more willing to accept foreign NCD. No such luck. The only foreign NCD LV accept is for UK forces based in Germany. I was based in Germany at one time, but as I was less than a year old at the time I did very little driving.

Aviva are one of the few insurance companies that accept foreign NCD, but their quote was almost the same as the other companies that don't accept NCD.

Admiral offered what appeared to be a good price, until I noticed that it was only for 10 months cover. This does allow people to rebuild their NCD more quickly, but only if they stay with Admiral.

Axa have given the best quote so far for zero NCD.

I will try the farmers next (NFU Mutual). If I go with them I could get also get a discount on insurance for a muck spreader. Perfect for the city commuter.

feelbritish

Let us know what NFU said because that is who OH has been with for years before we moved to Canada and did not need the muck spreader (probably did enough of his own mucking!) and they insured house, car everything and were very good and we plan to re-join them when we return.

curleytops

Anyone seen If1 around today? I'm sure that's who she went with when she came back from Canada, she could keep you right.

Pete - Are you sure you wouldn't consider a career change? The muck spreader would come in handy and I'm sure Nyla would love a bash at sheep herding or some such thing

lf1

Yes, Curleytops, NFU were one of the few that would insure me while using a Cdn drivers license and they accepted copies of my Cdn claims history and driving record. I don't imagine my premium is the cheapest out there, but some companies automatically dismissed me because I didn't have a UK lic.
I also liked the fact that I could speak to a person that listened and understood my situation, rather than someone just checking boxes.

CalgaryPete

I am now insured with NFU Mutual. They accepted my Canadian No Claims history. But even with that NCD their price was still a little higher than Axa. There were 2 things that tipped the balance to NFU: They were happy to accept payment using my Canadian credit card and they were rated 1st out of 35 car insurance companies by Which.

(I have had no problems using my Canadian RBC credit card except for Axa, who wanted a card registered to a UK address.)

The cover from NFU cost me £462 for a year. That includes UK recovery with homestart and nationwide towing and protected no claims on a 6 year old Ford C Max family car. This price is based on the maximum 8 years no claims, so I assume it won't go down much in future years. Some of the quotes from other companies, such as Axa, were a similar price and would become cheaper as I build up no claims in the UK. So I could consider switching in future. Axa quoted £453 with zero no claims discount but they lost out because they wouldn't accept the Canadian credit card.

CalgaryPete

But Nyla is half Cattle Dog. She can't handle sheep! She's quite smart but I think she would struggle to get through the sheep herding exams. Collies can do all that clever coming bye and away and lying down. Nyla prefers a head on charge.

dunroving

You may find your insurance goes down the first year or two, due to you having driving experience in the UK. Many UK insurers give you credit for overseas NCB, but they charge you a higher premium because you have been living/driving overseas.

Mine started like yours at about £450+ then went down to something like £200 over the first two years back.

Cardienscarf

I went with NFU as well because they took into account my US no claims and I was able to speak to a real person who was willing (and able) to talk to me without a script. I'm paying about the same as you for high business mileage.

mikelincs

The speaking to a real person is something they do emphasise in their current TV ads.

CalgaryPete

That's encouraging. Thanks!

cheeky_monkey

This is all very interesting stuff..thanks..i am returning in May and had budgeted 125 notes per month for car insurance..so looks like i was way off the mark should be more like 40-45 instead.

lgabriel73

that seems a lot for insurance. Do you have a UK license or just a Canadian one?