Re: Car insurance
 

wrong. for the first six months that a foreign vehicle is in spain it may be covered by english insurance if it has tax and mot. until that 6 month period expires the documnet held by the owner will be in english as provided by the english company.

Re: Car insurance
 

I have an English registered car on English plates insured in Spain. The only clause I am aware of it must be legal in its country of origin. ie if it comes from the UK it must have tax and mot. The car can be in Spain but for only 6 months at any one time and if in Spain for longer than 6 months it must be kept off the road.

Oh and you have to prove when you came into the country. I am taking mine back out to Spain in two weeks and will keep the ferry crossing details as proof. If you cannot prove it your vehicle could be impounded until you can. I insured it in Spain because my UK insurance company said they would only insure it abroad for a maximum of 90 days.
As a point of fact Linea Directa would not insure my English plated car in Spain and I went with Knight's, but they were happy to insure my Spanish car for Spain and the UK. Both companies provided me with a policy in English and in Spanish.

I also have a spanish car in the UK and the same applies, my car must be legal in its point of origin. ie Spain.

Any insurance company that tells you, that you do not need tax and mot in Spain on an English car is lying, and saw you coming.

Re: Car insurance
 

I just noticed that SAGA advertise the fact that "Cover when driving in the European Union, at no extra cost and for an unlimited period." -I wonder what the premium is?


I would think it's more likely to be an Agent rather than the Insurer. There is a difference between BROKER/AGENT and UNDERWRITER.

Re: Car insurance
 

My insurance covers you for the European union but not if I am living in another country. You are merely covered as a visitor.

I am aware of the difference between a broker/agent and an underwriter but if you read the original post he referred to abbey gate insurance I have no idea if they are brokers or underwriters.

Whichever they are is irrelevant the fact is his car needs to be legal in its country of origin so whoever told him it doesn't is wrong.

Re: Car insurance
 

I merely pointed out that the 90 day period of cover for European use is flexible and some Insurance companies can even give you a full year. others may charge extra depending on the period. This is obviously to provide full normal insurance cover and not just the basic minimum Third Party only.

The original reference was to an outfit called Abbeygate who appear to me to be Agents. They may act as Agents for Lloyd's. Lloyd's is licenced to trade in Spain and is recognised as a valid insurer.

The overriding fact concerning driving a vehicle in any country is that you should be aware of the legal requirements of that country and abide by the law. It will be many years before a European wide agreement could ever be reached on Vehicle Testing. The UK Vehicle Testing (MOT) is quite rigorous and these days the fact that your vehicle carrying British Licence plates has been MOT'd can be seen by anybody using the Vehicle Licence website. http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk
Nowadays, when the MOT is carried out, the information is captured on computers and shared with the Insurers' Databases. It is now possible to obtain an Annual Road Tax online as before the Tax disc is issued, the computer will verify whether you have a current insurance. (I am unsure if this sharing of insurance knowledge has successfully been made on a cross European border situation)
The foregoing is just to provide some background concerning this subject. :beer:

Re: Car insurance
 

just out of interest, where is the abbygate website - the link posted earlier leads to a building company...

Re: Car insurance
 

We have insured two vehicles with this broker, based in Cadiz Province, for the last 3 years. The insurance is underwritten at Lloyds and documents are in Spanish and English. I have phone numbers and Email address if you are interested and would like to p.m. me.

We've found that rates are around the same as Linea Direct.

Re: Car insurance
 

I phoned for a quote 2 years running when my ins was due and never got a reply :( :( dont know what they would be like on a claim :D

Re: Car insurance
 

i called 11 companies today that claim they insure english plated vehicles in spain... and none were open - i was calling round at about 6pm when i got in from my erm.. walk ;)

Re: Car insurance
 

It was a bank holiday yesterday where I live due to the Octava fiesta so maybe that's their excuse too!

Re: Car insurance
 

narrrrrrr you live inlaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand ;) wont be that ;)

their answerphones said they only opened till 5.30pm ;)

some of the companies said "no only over 27"..

others said "no, only over 25..."


anyone want a uk plate escort - economical to drive home in.. ;) 200€ ?

Re: Car insurance
 

Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrr, you be right there lad :D