trying to lease a car in the UK...need insurance first?

Hi all,
I've been searching the boards but can't seem to come up with anything so I'm hoping someone can help.... my husband and I are looking to lease a car (we're only here for 2 years so buying a car doesn't really work for us--we don't want to worry about trying to sell it when it's time to move back home). We visited a dealer yesterday who can work out a lease for us but basically told us that without having insurance he couldn't lease us a car.
This is where we are confused, how do we get insurance for a car we don't have? Can we just go back to the dealership with a quote for the car we're planning on getting?

Hi

What you'll need to do is call and ring around various - read many! - insurance companies and get a quote for the car you are thinking of leasing. There's quite a few threads here about insurance of cars and within them, some recommendations etc. I'd say give them a call first.

Keep in mind that after one year, you will need to pass the UK's driving test as you USA licenses will then not be valid. Whilst you drive on your USA licenses, the insurance companies will most likely substantially increase your premium - as you'll not be seen (via the insurance algorithms) as an experienced UK driver(s).

Perhaps once you work out those elements, you can evaluate the total costs of the lease, any maintainance (if not part of the lease deal) the insurance and having to take lessons/take theory and practical UK driving test(s) to see if it's worth going this route or, not purchasing a car and using public transport or taxi's for getting around.

Good luck!

Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi
What you'll need to do is call and ring around various - read many! - insurance companies and get a quote for the car you are thinking of leasing. There's quite a few threads here about insurance of cars and within them, some recommendations etc. I'd say give them a call first.

Yes, we found a few suggestions in a couple of threads we read yesterday (aviva, direct line, etc.) we're going to try geico since we used them in the US and a few posters mentioned they were able to get coverage. And, we'll try to take advantage of using me as the policy holder so that the premium is cheaper!  We also have checked www.confused.com [nofollow] (recommended by the salesman at the dealership) so we've been able to see various quotes from a variety of companies (nothing less than £1500 though and that's with a box fitted to our car to keep track of our driving).

Keep in mind that after one year, you will need to pass the UK's driving test as you USA licenses will then not be valid. Whilst you drive on your USA licenses, the insurance companies will most likely substantially increase your premium - as you'll not be seen (via the insurance algorithms) as an experienced UK driver(s).

Yup, we know we'll have to get UK licences eventually and based on the quotes we've seen, they're already taking into account that we're "inexperienced" drivers.

Perhaps once you work out those elements, you can evaluate the total costs of the lease, any maintenance (if not part of the lease deal) the insurance and having to take lessons/take theory and practical UK driving test(s) to see if it's worth going this route or, not purchasing a car and using public transport or taxi's for getting around.

Not having a car is not an option unfortunately, we're in Chester so there is not tube service like in London; we're also living in a residential area, not necessarily close to public transport. We can do public transport but with a young daughter (8 month-old to be exact), we want to be able to do our errands without worrying about missing a bus or waiting for a taxi.

Thanks DtM for all your input. With any luck we'll get this sorted out before the holidays! 

Yup, we know we'll have to get UK licences eventually and based on the quotes we've seen, they're already taking into account that we're "inexperienced" drivers.

It's a good idea to get started on getting a UK licence as soon as you can - you will need to pass all of the UK driving tests, both theory and practical, and if you don't pass them within 12 months of arriving in the UK, your US licence will become invalid to drive on in the UK and you will be treated like a learner driver (i.e. you must be accompanied at all times by a driver over age 21 who has held a full UK licence for 3 years, you must display Learner plates on the car and you will not be allowed to drive on motorways).

it's a very good idea to take some driving lessons in preparation- not to learn how to drive, but to learn how to pass the test, as it is very strict (even down to how you hold the steering wheel and what order you do things while driving) and can be difficult to pass (the average first-time pass rate is only about 45%). It can potentially take a few months just to prepare for and pass the tests (especially if you fail first time) so the earlier you start, the more likely you will pass the tests before the 12 months are up.

I leased a car last month, and didn't run into the insurance before leasing thing. But I also came there in my own car, so they probably just (rightfully) assumed that if I had my own car, I had insurance.

I was able to insure with Geico, and the price I'm paying with them is incredibly cheap, even for experienced UK drivers. The only insurance company that was at all close (and still hundreds higher per year) was Aviva. They're not on any of the comparison sites, so ring them (don't use the website) and see what you get from them.

If you're only here for two years, maybe get car insurance as part of your deal with your employer, if possible?

Also, I echo strongly the prepare well in advance to get your UK licence. The test is definitely nothing at all like American tests - much more strenuous and strict. After I passed mine, I was told that it was considered to be the most difficult driving test in the world. Not sure it is that, but it is definitely up there. Allow six months to get everything done - provisional, theory, lessons, practical exam.

I have an amazing instructor who has taught a few Americans and drove a truck in Germany - he's used to switching sides of the car and road - but he's in Manchester and I'm not sure he'd go to Chester, but he might. Let me know if you'd like his info!

Also, I echo strongly the prepare well in advance to get your UK licence. The test is definitely nothing at all like American tests - much more strenuous and strict. After I passed mine, I was told that it was considered to be the most difficult driving test in the world. Not sure it is that, but it is definitely up there. Allow six months to get everything done - provisional, theory, lessons, practical exam. 

Agreed.  I passed on my first test and took everything as quickly as I could, but it still took me about seven months at least to get through my process.  I don't think it's usually that bad, but there were lengthy queues just to get dates for each stage (including ones I thought would be easy like taking my written test), and then it turned out the main examiner at my testing place was on long-term sick leave, but they kept scheduling his slots anyway, so each time I approached my test date, they sent me a letter rescheduling it.  It was maddening--especially since my job required me to drive and have a car, and their delays pushed me past my license expiring.  I was stuck in this horrible place of choosing between breaking the law or possibly losing my job that had taken me ages to find.  It was horrible!

Also, the common call here is to call a broker for insurance.  I found one who was willing to work with my US no fault claim, which took a nice chunk off the costs.  I started in the beginning with USAA though, which I was already connected to in the US--they have a London office.  If you have any military ties in your family, that's a place to look too.

While it's true you won't do well in your initial time here on finding cheap car insurance, I've actually heard many people say their insurance went up when the added their UK license.  Many were counted as experienced drivers even as foreign ones, but when you get your license, you suddenly become someone with only one month of having a license and pay the same as teenagers.  Insurance is such a pain at times!

Dealing with traffic in the UK is definitely more challenging than in the US. i live in Manchester and have lived in England all my life. I am used to it as i drive every day but i can see how it might be quite scary for a new driver. I have driven a lot in the US as well and it is oh so much more relaxing. Even big freeways around LA are easy compared to the M60 on a bad day but then its all down to space which we dont have enough of which makes many British drivers so much more territorial and dare i say,aggressive. Then of course there is the stick shift ...!

I keep on bringing up 'car share' on here like I'm on commission(not) but that may work for you. Try Zipcar. The way it works is when you need a car it is parked and you just hop in and use it and then return it to its parking place. I'll have to check and see if they are in Chester. Other than that you may come out well on a long term rental car. See Enterprise rent a car.
Good luck.

http://www.citycarclub.co.uk/

http://www.wecar.com/faqs/

Dealing with traffic in the UK is definitely more challenging than in the US. i live in Manchester and have lived in England all my life. I am used to it as i drive every day but i can see how it might be quite scary for a new driver. I have driven a lot in the US as well and it is oh so much more relaxing. Even big freeways around LA are easy compared to the M60 on a bad day but then its all down to space which we dont have enough of which makes many British drivers so much more territorial and dare i say,aggressive. Then of course there is the stick shift ...!

They're not as aggressive as in NYC. But what I still don't get (and was penalised for on my driving test) is turning in front of someone when you need to make them slow down. Annoys the hell out of me every time.

What I struggle with most is all the cars parked on the side of the roads, making it very narrow to get past when there's traffic in both directions. (I'm in Chorlton, and it is a nightmare with that in places here) Oh, and pedestrians just crossing in front of moving cars on dark rainy nights...wearing black. Bicyclists too.

And to think, everyone thought Switzerland was horrible because you shared the roads with the trams and the "right of priority" (essentially someone coming from a road on the right has the priority over you unless you're on a priority road...they don't even need to hesitate and can just shoot out and do what they want). Piece of cake compared to some of the things I've encountered in Manchester!

I keep on bringing up 'car share' on here like I'm on commission(not) but that may work for you. Try Zipcar. The way it works is when you need a car it is parked and you just hop in and use it and then return it to its parking place. I'll have to check and see if they are in Chester. Other than that you may come out well on a long term rental car. See Enterprise rent a car.
Good luck.

http://www.citycarclub.co.uk/

http://www.wecar.com/faqs/

The problem with these is that you need to have a UK licence for at least a year (sometimes 2 years) in order to use their service.

Not if you are still able to drive on your US license.

Not if you are still able to drive on your US license.

True, but it is definitely not a long term solution anyway if you need to commute.

But people should be aware of this, before they base things on the availability and rely on it.

But what I still don't get (and was penalised for on my driving test) is turning in front of someone when you need to make them slow down. 

Not sure what you mean by this.

Not sure what you mean by this.

Think they are referring to how you fail the test if you cause someone to brake behind you so they wouldn't hit you if they kept going at the same speed.  I don't personally have an issue with this.  If you can't pull out with an adequate amount of time to get up to speed, then you should wait until there's a larger gap.  That's just good driving.  What if someone was distracted for a moment and didn't hit their brakes?  Boom, accident that you just caused.

The problem with these is that you need to have a UK licence for at least a year (sometimes 2 years) in order to use their service.

On one of these sites it specifically says you can obtain a car with an out of the country drivers license.
Sorry I'm not motivated to go and find the site unless you ask me.

Remember, although not practical, that it easier to pass the test in some parts of Scotland.