Driving Fiance's Mom's car.

Hey everyone I have a question about driving in the UK.  I know we are allowed to drive for a year in the UK.  I am here on a visitors visa  and my future Mother-in-Law has offered to let me borrow her car.  From what I have read on the forums I need to have insurance to do so.  Can she just add me as a driver to her policy with a foreign license?  I am not the registered owner so is that a problem? 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Yes, she would need to add you to her insurance in order for you to drive her car.

I'm not sure how much they would charge for you to be insured with a foreign licence... she would have to ask her insurance company and see what the options are. Usually extra drivers can either be added to the annual policy or just be insured for a certain period of time (i.e. a few days or weeks) - you'd probably have to see what the different costs are for this.

It doesn't matter that you are not the registered owner, because you would just be an extra named driver on the owner's insurance (I believe the policy holder has to be the registered owner, but this won't be relevant to you as you will not be taking out your own policy).

Thanks Ksand you have helped me out quite a bit today!  Will the time I drive count towards the 12 month rule, since I am technically just a visitor at this point?   We are hoping the insurance isn't to much and I can drive around our little town!  lol

Thanks Ksand you have helped me out quite a bit today!

No problem:) - happy to help .

Btw, I see you're in Lincolnshire... I just moved to Lincoln in September, so I don't think I'm too far from you .

Will the time I drive count towards the 12 month rule, since I am technically just a visitor at this point? 

No, the 12 months starts from when you move here on a visa that allows you to live in the UK... so it will start when you arrive on your spousal visa.

Great! Thank you for all the information Ksand.  I am going to keep my fingers and toes crossed that it won't be to expensive.

 Yes, I am in Holbeach, so I think you are about an hour from me.  Where did you move from? 

Hi LizIvatt,

The actual amount charged will vary depending on the type of car in question as well. Insurance rates fluctuate wildly at the best of times and lately, for many the amount wanted for insurance has been insane.

If you find the quote is excessive, just thinking practically, if the renewal is due soon, to ask your mum in law to be, if you could all perhaps sit down and find as many quotes as possible with you included to try and find the best deal ?

If the policy isn't up for renewal soon, then perhaps you'll only have the option to stump up the money, but at least you'll be covered

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

There is 4 months remaining on the policy.  So we shall see what the quote is.  It is a small car, Citroen or something like that. 

Thank you for your help everyone!

Oh, I have a question and hopefully I won't have to make a new post.  Does anyone know of a good airline for one-way travel?

Yes, I am in Holbeach, so I think you are about an hour from me.  Where did you move from? 

I moved from Bristol (which is where I'm from originally), but I've now moved 4 times in the last year for work!

I spent 6 months in Exeter, then 5 months in Shrewsbury and I've been in Lincoln for 2 months now (it's a permanent posting though, so I should be here for a while).

Oh, I have a question and hopefully I won't have to make a new post.  Does anyone know of a good airline for one-way travel?

I don't know of a specific airline that is good, but you may well find that a return ticket is cheaper than a one-way, so that's something to bear in mind (in the summer I booked a round-trip to the US for £600, but a one-way ticket was almost £800!).

If you're only going to travel one-way, you can always just use the outbound leg and not turn up for the inbound flight, or if it's a flight to/from the US, you could use the return ticket to go back home for a visit a few months later .

Oh, I have a question and hopefully I won't have to make a new post.  Does anyone know of a good airline for one-way travel?

If you have any FF miles stockpiled somewhere or can open up a credit card to get one, I would recommend a one-way award ticket. For 20-30k miles, depending on the airline, you can get a one way ticket transatlantic in coach on most major US airlines. If you have a little more (usually about 50k miles), you might even be able to get a business class award ticket. The extra baggage allowance most airlines have for biz class alone makes it worthwhile (along with the nicer flight and better night's sleep). American, Delta and Continenal/United all let you book a one-way flight using miles for the half the miles necessary for a round trip.

Alternatively, look into Iceland Air and Iceland Express. They have limited cities that they service but they do usually have cheaper one way fares.

Thank you AimLess, however I don't have any FF miles at this time.  I know I have read somewhere on the forums of Airline or a site that deals in One-Way travel.  I just can't seem to remember where it was. 

Liz

I havent heard of any sites specialising in one way travel, but I got a great deal on a one-way flight on Vayama.com when I moved over.

OK, now I am a little confused.  My Mom in Law phoned her insurance company and they said I need to have a international drivers permit?  I did a google search and it looks like that is just for citizens of UK?  Any help will be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks Mirrajay! I will look at their website.

I think AAA does them.

You should not have to get an international driver's permit (which are not just for citizens of the UK), but if you choose to get one, AAA does offer them.

When I was here on my visitor visa to visit my now DH he called around to several different insurances......they would not insure me on his car because I was not a resident, was only staying a short time and they would not insure me with only my valid Idaho license........only after we married and I got my Spousal visa, then a provisional license was he able to add me to his policy with his insurance company......this was last year and not sure if anything has changed.....just my experience....