Insurance after passing UK test

I just passed my UK driving test today, but my excitement was dampened after I called my insurance company. It turns out the cheapest quote after many calls and comparison sites is around 3 times as expensive (£1300) as when I'd been driving on my US licence. I have a 10 year old 1.8 litre petrol Passat, and I know the size and engine are to my disadvantage, but I am being treated as a complete beginner driver even if I have 10 years of experience.

I have been scouring the forums and found that many peoples' insurance went down immediately after passing the test so I wonder what I'm doing wrong. Is anyone willing to comment on how much their insurance cost after passing the test (size of car would help too)? Any tips are appreciated as I haven't found any info via the usual methods (Google, this forum etc...).

You may want to ask the companies if your no claim years from the US can transfer over...many companies will say yes if you have proof.

Thanks for the advice. I tried that, but the price is even taking that into account. I'm sure I'm not the only one in this boat.

Judging by the quotes I got when I passed my test earlier this year, that sounds about right.  I have an 11 year old Passat (1.9L diesel) and the cheapest quote I got was £1100 for the year.  I had tried using those comparison sites and got either outrageous quotes (some were over two grand!) or that they could not provide insurance to Northern Ireland drivers.  In the end, I went with a Northern Ireland-based company. 

Phone an insurance broker. I paid about half what you've been quoted. And it's since gone down to about half of that.

Call around for sure

Aviva <is that the name as I hold up to V's> were great when we had to get a new car our old insurance wanted to JACK our rate to high heaven..we canceled and got a refund...
Keep in mind this was a V8 Jag that was written off and went to a Volvo turbo but not as powerful or big of engine...Time to shop around

Called Aviva and DH said I had US license and no claims and clear license I could prove for 8 years and I had my provisional...The rate was MUCH cheaper I think we paid 550 for the year for both of us on this car.  It maybe cheaper because there are two of us but can't hurt to ask.

good luck!

Funny, almost exactly the same car. I just wish I had the diesel for the great motorway MPG. I called one broker today and there best was £1400, but I'll try some more tomorrow. The biggest problem seems to be the insurance companies have no way to take into account the previous experience from a US (or other non-transferable) licence alongside a new UK licence. It's just all algorithms on computers these days, so no flexibility.  Aviva sounds good. I hope they'll add the human touch and consider what the algorithm can not include.

I just bought a 2002 1.2 Corsa SXI. The cheapest insurance I found was through Tesco...1,700/year!!! They would have taken my US no claims into consideration (and only charged me approx 700/year) except that it has been over 2 years since I had it (I waited a while to get my license!!) If you have no claims for several years and it has been less than two years since you last had the insurance, call your previous insurance company and get proof. Then try companies and explain this to them. I hope this is helpful.

I had Nationwide in the states and my nice guy pulled my driving record and emailed me a pdf showing no tickets, no claims for 10 years.

The insurance here said as long as I had proof and I do! It cant hurt to go that route.

Ugh, I am currently dealing with this, too.

Just passed my theory test (today, in fact!), and am set to take my road test in October (although I hope to move it up -- I can't wait that long...my 1 year of residency is up in a few weeks, so it looks like I am in for a month or more of no driving...ugh)

I have a no-claims bonus from the US, which I hope I can get recognised here. I drive a P-reg Toyota Picnic minivan thing, which I just had MOT-ed. I am shuddering at the sight of some of these quotes. Looks like an insurance broker might be my best bet.

Phone an insurance broker. I paid about half what you've been quoted. And it's since gone down to about half of that.

This.  Do it.  It will save you a bundle.

I was pretty shocked when I got my quote too...I don't have my UK license yet (Just moved last month...!! still getting used to this whole "stick shift" thing!) but DH and I bought a car with the help of our in-laws and unfortunately DH doesn't have a UK drivers license...so after calling around, Directline was our cheapest option...at £1000 (including breakdown cover, without was £960).

SIGH! I was hoping that after a year here and after whenever I pass the practical in the next year...my policy would be cheaper but I guess that's not going to happen :-( :-(

My current car insurance is up for renewal at the beginning of Sept., but I'll have to stop driving the car at the same time (my one year is up, and my road test isn't until October) -- should I renew the insurance? Once I take the test my rate is going to rocket upward, and if I go through a broker then most likely I won't be continuing with the same company (Aviva) once I have my UK license.

Confused. Should I renew?

Once I take the test my rate is going to rocket upward, and if I go through a broker then most likely I won't be continuing with the same company (Aviva) once I have my UK license.

Why are you conviced of this?  I just got my UK license and there was no change in the premuim (however I have a 10-year no claims history)   I went through a broker and am with Aviva. 

If you called a broker now and explained your situation, they would be the best to give you advice.

Careful of what broker though, I called American Express, as they are a car insurance broker in the uk, and the best they could find for me was several hundred pounds higher then when I called Quinn Direct directly.  Still going to call around, but it looks like I'll be paying at least 1000 pounds even with my American driving record taken into account...