Complicated

[maria0301]

Hi Bev, following on....can we insure our english car in France then 2 weeks later change it to cover our spanish car with spanish plates which we will then drive from the UK to France, and then change the plates to french ones. Cant get insurance in the UK.

[Bevdeforges]

OK, now you're getting complicated on me.

I suspect you're going to have to be resident in France to get French insurance on any car. I'd recommend that you talk to a French insurer, either in person or by phone. If you've got a bank account in France, maybe the bank's insurance can sort something out for you.
Cheers,
Bev

[maria0301]

I know its complicated for me as well!! We have an english car at the moment, are coming to live in France, then we want to swap our English car for a LHD spanish one from some ex-pats that are coming back to UK. So...we need insurance for the english car for 2 weeks, then insurance for the spanish car until we get the number plates changed to french ones. Have asked for quotes on the internet and asked for someont to call us but nothing...We will open a bank account when we get to France. Am I right in thinking the Insurance companies will insure any european car if the owner is resident in France.
Phew...

[Mame]

Originally Posted by maria0301

I know its complicated for me as well!! We have an english car at the moment, are coming to live in France, then we want to swap our English car for a LHD spanish one from some ex-pats that are coming back to UK. So...we need insurance for the english car for 2 weeks, then insurance for the spanish car until we get the number plates changed to french ones. Have asked for quotes on the internet and asked for someont to call us but nothing...We will open a bank account when we get to France. Am I right in thinking the Insurance companies will insure any european car if the owner is resident in France.
Phew...

Maria your English car should not be a problem. When we first came to Spain with our car we told our insurance company and they were happy with charging us an extra premium per month until we got a left hand drive.
When we make the move to Brittany from Spain hopefully we can use our green card till we get French insurance. I need to check with linea directa though.

[maria0301]

Hi Mame, our english insurance is Churchill and they only give us 1 month in France but thats ok cos I am sure we can get some car insurance through the French bank or something, the problem comes when we change our english car to a spanish one...I presume the French Insurance company will change the policy to cover our spanish car??

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by maria0301

Hi Mame, our english insurance is Churchill and they only give us 1 month in France but thats ok cos I am sure we can get some car insurance through the French bank or something, the problem comes when we change our english car to a spanish one...I presume the French Insurance company will change the policy to cover our spanish car??

You can always take the French approach to these things! Just go in and buy the insurance when you get to France (and a day or two before your UK insurance expires). Then, two weeks later, walk back into the agency and tell them you just traded cars and need to update your policy to cover it. They'll deal with it somehow.
Cheers,
Bev

[maria0301]

Thanks Bev, I thought that would be ok but just wanted to check it out. Cant wait for January 3rd now. In case you're lucky enough not to have any more questions from me I would like to wish you and everyone at the forum Merry Christmas and thanks for being there!