car registration and insurance

Hi there!
I arrived in the UK on a spouse visa on July 14th and have just put a deposit down on the car I am buying tomorrow.  I only have a US license and am aware I have 12 months to obtain my UK license.
What i want to know is who's name should I register the car in....  my husband's or mine?
Also any advice on insurance would be very welcome....  which companies are cheaper for expats, etc. 
Am i right in thinking it's best to have the car registered in my husband's name and have the insurance under his name as well with me as the second driver or does it not make much difference expense wise?
thank you so much for your help....  i can't wait to be out on the road with my own independence!!!
McElliott

I don't think it really matter which name you put the car in. 

As for insurance, call GEICO!  I got a quote from a UK broker and a quote from the Geico expat department and the geico quote was 75% less than the UK quote!!

http://www.geico.com/information/aboutinsurance/overseas/overseas-locations/

Also, the premium is in US dollars.  The people who answer the phone are Americans in the UK and they are specifically set up to deal with expats.  It was really easy, and really affordable.

Hope that helps!
Jenny

I would like to thank you for that information!!

I am looking to buy a car off someone here in Hull while I am studying here for the year and I had no idea American companies had international car insurance.  This is something I will definitely be looking into!

I called Geico when I was bought a new car last week and they asked me a load of questions about where I worked and then decided that they werent sure if they could even insure me.  The woman wouldnt tell me what the critera was, but said she had to ask a supervisor and would send me something in the post if I met the mysterious critera.  I've been driving in the UK for 18 months, have had my license for a year and have current insurance with another company, so I'm not sure what their problem is, but just a heads up - it sounds like they dont insure "just anyone". 

Before I moved, I was insured in the US with Geico so they were the first company I called when I bought my car here. Their quote was ridiculously high despite my clean driving record. I ended up going with a UK company at WAY better rates.

This was in 2006, so YMMV.