Sheila

[Sheiaweela]

I am coming to live in the UK and am concerned how i insure a car that i want to buy. Does any company accept my australian no claims bonus at all? Is there any insurance company any one could recommend please .... would so appreciate any good advice.......

[2farapart]

Well, I just insured my partner (she's from the US). I explained the situation to the broker, that she would be using her US license until ready to take her UK test, and that prior to being in the UK had no history of claims. I added her to my insurance and, to my surprise, my insurance only cost me £2 more this year than last - with fully comp cover for us both at £330 (we had a second quote that was closer to £500 - still short of the huge £1000 we expected to face). I imagine at that price they decided to honour her no-claims status from abroad even though unverifiable.

[2farapart]

Forgot to add: the broker I used was Swintons, and they gave me a policy offered by Aviva. Swintons isn't necessarily the cheapest out there either, so it's worth shopping around.

[BlueBelle]

I second Swintons. I have an Australian license and they were the only company that was willing to insure me as a named driver on my partner's policy without charging us a fortune - still slightly more expensive then usual (about £550), but nothing near the £1k+ we were expecting.

Worth noting, they also told me that the cost will remain relatively the same when I switch to a UK license until I've held the UK license for > 1 year.

[Joppa]

Aviva is a good insurance company to approach - directly or through an intermediary. You must phone and speak to an operator - don't use online quote (which will almost certainly reject you as being non-standard risk).
Another company known to be sympathetic to foreign drivers or recent arrivals is Direct Line. Again speak to them.

[WestCoastCanadianGirl]

Joppa, would it be helpful to bring a copy of my driving abstract from ICBC (insurance corproration of BC... the only provider of mandatory insurance cover in the province) to show the insurance company if/when I want to get car insurance? The abstract provides the date in which my license was issued back in the 1980's and details any driving offences for the past 5 years (it's clean and has been so for years).

[liam85]

How about the well advertised company:

Sheila's Wheels...

"For bonzer car insurance deals,
Girls get onto Sheilas' Wheels"

haha sorry couldn't resist

[Hepa]

Just a thought, Sheila's wheels, Australian company?? Might be worth a try

[Hepa]

Liam, Great minds think alike