Cheap Car Insurance For UK Non Residents And Foreign Students

If you are a non resident working in UK currently, you may find it difficult to apply for car insurance from many UK motor insurers. That limits your driving options and you can only take public transport. However, if you job requires you to drive every day, you need to find a way to get car insurance for UK non residents. Some foreign workers and students from other European countries such as France, Germany etc are able to get around this restriction by insuring their vehicles in their home country and then drive all the way over here. However, if you are from the US or Asia, obviously this is not feasible so how?

Car Rental Insurance Non-UK Resident

It is true that many UK motor insurance companies prefer not to insure foreign drivers even if they want to buy a car registered with their name. In order to drive around in UK with valid motor insurance, some UK non residents have to rent a vehicle throughout the entire duration of their stay be it for a few days, weeks or even months. This is obviously very expensive compared to owning a car or van and buying normal car insurance for long term. For example, a one week rental car with insurance will cost you £150 while a 1 week car insurance quote for foreign students is only £50.

Note that it is illegal for foreigners to drive without any valid insurance cover or licence and you can be given penalty points, served a fine, banned from driving, or even imprisoned for repeat offenders.

UK car insurance companies such as Churchill, Aviva, Tesco etc are very particular about offering car insurance for UK non residents even if they have the necessary driving licence because most other countries in Europe and other parts of the world drive on the opposite side of the road. If you have not been driving for some time in UK, the risk of accident due to such unfamiliar driving conditions is greatly increased and the UK insurers do not want to deal with such claims and incur losses.

So eventually, if you do find car insurance quotes for UK non residents, the rates are going to be much higher compared to residents trying to insure the same vehicle and with the same number of years of driving experiences with no claims. There is no other to get around these higher foreign drivers' car insurance rates until you have been driving regularly on UK roads for at least a year.

Initially when you first arrive, start looking for vehicle rental companies with good offers for long term package deals such as 3 month car rentals complete with insurance coverage. Make sure your car rental companies provides the required insurance so that you do not need to separately look for motor insurance for foreigners.

After you have been renting vehicles for some time, say 6 months, try seeking for short term car insurance quotes for foreigners. State your experience driving on UK roads in your application and you will eventually get approved by one of the motor insurance companies such as Elephant Car Insurance Company, Norwich Union Car Insurance etc. If you get a valid offer, you will be able to buy your own vehicle in UK and stop expensive rentals.

Note that most UK insurers will only recognize a full UK driving licence or the European driving licence. If you do not have either, make sure you get an international driver's licence before trying to rent a vehicle or ask for car insurance quotes for non UK residents. Otherwise, you will get declined directly without recourse.

For example, there are many foreign students doing degree courses in UK for a few years and during their first year, they are allowed to drive on UK roads using their existing international drivers licence. If you possess an international or EU community driving licence, then you are allowed to drive any types of vehicle covered under that licence in UK.

However, it is advisable to exchange your licence for a full UK driving licence, or to take an UK driving test if you intend to stay for more than one year. Foreign driving licences from the following countries can be swapped directly for an equivalent UK licence:

• Switzerland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• British Virgin Islands
• Falkland Islands
• Barbados
• Canada
• Monaco
• Gibraltar
• Hong Kong
• Japan

To increase your success, try to base your quotes using a safer and low risk vehicle according to the Car Insurance Groupings compiled by the Association of British Insurers. The trick is always to minimize your risk profile such that an UK car insurer is willing to accept and insure you and your chosen vehicle.