HELP!!!! car insurance query for my fiance`....

Hi all...I really hope someone can help me/us here because I'm about to pull my hair out!!!!

I'm a Brit and have my car insurance with Kwik Fit (underwriters Fortis insurance). My DF got his fiance` visa 2 weeks ago and has been in the UK since 23rd January 2008.

I called Kwik Fit last Saturday to get my DF added to the insurance....hmmmm, how confused was the adviser??? He didn't know what to do and said he would need to speak with the underwriters. I said that would be fine as he promised I'd get a call back within a couple hours.

The whole of Saturday went by with no call back, so, I called them Monday gone. Apparently no call back was made as there were some details they needed to know - 1) when did he arrive in the UK? and 2) is he a permenant UK resident?

I gave the date he arrived on his fiance` visa and explained that he has been granted residency so we can marry. This time the operator said that should be enough info for Fortis to make a decision.

Today I had to call them back!!!! Today they tell me my DF can't be added to the insurance policy as he's not a permenant UK resident!!!! huh? Now I may be having a bit of dim moment, but hasn't he already been granted residency so he can marry? I know it's not technically permenant, but still he's been given permission to reside here.

I must admit I lost my patience some and demanded I be given their definition of "permenant resident" and requested they put this in writing. I also added that when he was here last October they had no problem adding him temporarily - that lead me to ask they add him temporarily (till after we marry in 8 weeks), her response was "I'm sorry, I don't think we can add him for that length of time".....ARRRRGGGGHHHH, well surely she could have found out if it is possible!!!! No, no, no she has passed my query/request onto customer relations to deal with!!!! How can it be possible for him to drive in the UK on his US license for a year if he can't get insured? or is it my insurance provider that is substandard???

That was a bit of a rant and I thankyou all for reading so......please, please is there anyone that can offer some advice??     

Hiya

Some insurance companies have certain procedures and they stick to them and don't cover 'unusual' situations, vehicles or people - it's just the way it is -  for instance, some insurers will not insure high performance vehicles and some say they'll not cover vehicles being driven by under 25's fullstop etc etc.

Other insurance companies will be alot more flexible - and many will insure newly arrived immigrants once they provide letters from previous insurers etc and often give a percentage discount based on that previous 'foriegn' record.

Sounds like you've got one of the normal, 'bread and butter' insurance companies.

Try calling Adrian Flux - I've used them in the past as I have a USA F150 Truck - an absolute breeze to sort out. I'm sure they'll have experience with individuals as well who are from the states. I can't guarantee anything, but search out specialist insurance companies like them in case they cant - although I'd be surprised if that was the case.

Hope this helps
Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Some insurance companies are just utter idiots when it comes to insuring people who don't hold UK licenses - they just don't understand that we're here legally, and don't really care to learn the rules.    You may have to switch companies - that's what my husband did when I moved over on a fiancee visa in September '06.  We're now with Admiral.

Good luck! 

I work in insurance (travel) and theres been some confusion on the term "permanent" resident. As far as a lot of insurance companies are  concerned, if he is on a visa that doesn't require that person to return their home country once its ended (student/work visa etc) then thats not considering a "permanent" resident. However, if the visa is a settlement visa (fiance/flr/ilr) then thats not a problem. Try calling again and telling them he is on a settlement visa and it doesn't require him to leave the country once it expires

I wouldn't say he is on settlement until he has the spousal visa...

Vicky

I would change insurance companies!  I use Direct Line and have had no problems adding friends (including Canadians) for 3 months, 2 weeks, 1 day.  When my DH was here on his fiance visa, we added him no problem. They didn't even ask if he was a permanent resident they just explained that since he was on a us licence he would only be added for 1 year.  No sweat, and the premiums hardly moved too. 

I wouldn't say he is on settlement until he has the spousal visa...

Vicky

That's what I was thinking. 

Yes go for direct line, they don't ask for proof of residence but to get a low rate you need to get a letter from your previous insurance company for 2 years or more of no claims.  We just got ours and they can overnight the certificate to you for road tax.

I'll second the recommendation for Adrian Flux.  I can't speak for how things will go in this situation, but like Dennis I've found them to be helpful when it comes to insuring American vehicles here, so at least they are more likely to understand the situation, unlike some of the other big brokers ("Pontiac?   What make is that?  Could you spell it?"    )

ALL SORTED!!!! YAY!!!! 

The customer relations team called back today (wow, I actually got a call when I was supposed to!)...A massive apology was given to us. It would seem the information I gave in my 2 calls was not passed to the underwriters in full - hence their confusion and refusal.

After they spoke with my DF they totally understood our situation and were more than happy to add him to my existing policy...they even wavered the £25 administration charge!!!

So, we're now all happy and he can now chauffeur me around!! ha ha ha   

Thankyou to everyone for their advice...I have this strange feeling I shall be returning back to Direct Line when my policy is due for renewal.

http://www.travelnwork.info/2007/12/this-weeks-story-seems-to-be-about-car.html

I too have shared your frustrations.  I moved from the U.S in August 07 and if only I had known that GEICO had insurance available here.  I was insured with them while in the U.S. and was able to transition very smoothly.  I believe the same would apply even your future hubby was not insured with them while in the U.S.  The advantage is that they understand the way U.S. license laws and insurance work so they won't overcharge you for that.  We originally went with Marks & Spencers but that was a disaster when they didn't like my paperwork...and I do have a permanent resident visa. 

GEICO charges us (my wife and I on same policy) for one 1994 vehicle with minimum coverage about 600 pounds for the year.