Adding Foreign Licence Holders to UK Car Insurance

If you have visitors coming from overseas it might seem a great idea to add them to your car insurance - it gives them the independence to get out and about and saves you becoming an unpaid taxi driver.

However that may be easier said than done. Adding a driver from abroad to a UK car Insurance policy is something that many policies cannot cater for. They will only allow UK residents to be added.

Fortunately we can assist - in one of two ways.

If you know that this is likely to be an ongoing situation - say you have a relative who visits from time to time and you want to be able to allow them to use your car we have an insurer who offers policies that will allow a non UK licence holder to be an additional driver.

Please remember this is best done at renewal of your existing policy as otherwise you could face cancellation costs from your current insurer.

We can now help you find car insurance with cover for additional drivers from any country.

Simply call Sterling on 01279 940331. Their lines are open: Monday – Friday: 9am – 7pm, Saturday: 9am – 2pm and Sunday: 10am – 2pm.

For temporary visitors, rather than adding them to your policy an alternative is for them to take out Short Term Car Insurance for UK visitors. which covers them whilst they are behind the wheel of your car.

Only residents of certain countries (including Western Europe, America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) can take up this insurance however - see the individual company details by clicking the link above to see eligibility criteria.

Can my visitors drive my car in the UK using an Overseas Driving Licence?

Normally the answer is yes, but bear the following in mind:

• Visitors with a full and valid licence from a country in the EU or European Economic Area can drive for an indeterminate period.
• Visitors from other countries can drive for a year starting from when they last entered Great Britain.
• EU/EEA licence holders taking up residence in the UK can drive up to the age of 70 or for 3 years whichever is longer.
• Holders of licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Zimbabwe can drive for 12 months from when they become resident. They may also exchange their licence for a UK one within 5 years of becoming resident.
• Residents from other countries can drive for a year from when they became resident in GB.

For more information visit the www.gov.uk driving, transport and travel pages: Driving in Great Britain on a non-GB licence.

This content was last reviewed on 26/11/2024

Image courtesy of: Peter Holmes