Insurance rules re how long a car can be outside the state

pow wow

Does anyone know what the rule is - regarding consecutive days or cumulative period? I'm talking about having a southern registered car up north for an extended period.

Thank you!

Keith C

Normally 30 days in any eu country but check with your insurer as they may vary

blastman

Just got my policy yesterday and it said 31 days in any EU country and some other designated countries (no idea what these countries are, though)

pow wow

Is that 31 days consecutively or no more than 31 days total in any one year?

zuutroy

My policy with QD is 90 days per year, but I think there might be something fishy about imposing this restriction from an EU law point. All of the guys I work with have their cars registered and insured in Germany, France, Holland indefinitely and they're insured all year round so why do we not have that luxury?

Bogger77

I'm with AXA, and have asked this, I got told for NI and GB, that it was unlimited. It's not as if we're getting cheap insurance from here. Mailand europe was 31 days, conseq, but can be extended.

pow wow

Thanks for that - it's way cheaper for me to insure in Cork than it is in Belfast and I'm not actually working up in Belfast for 6 months so I'd have to insure it here first anyway, plus I'd be up and down regularly so wanted to see if I could just keep the Irish insurance on it rather than cancelling mid policy and trying to get someone up there to cover me.

Seth Brundle

The only way to be sure of your 'foreign' cover is to get it in writing (not verbally!) from your insurance company.
Many companys want to be informed if you plan on being abroad for more than a few days (IIRC 20) before your cover reverts to a basic level.
However, if you were working up North then you could always claim to return home every few days!

oli_ro

Bogger77 wrote:

I'm with AXA, and have asked this, I got told for NI and GB, that it was unlimited. It's not as if we're getting cheap insurance from here. Mailand europe was 31 days, conseq, but can be extended.

Are you sure about this ? Do you have it in writing ?

According to the AA mag they are not allowed charge you extra for the coverage either!

oli_ro

Called Axa today and they confirmed that you are *not* allowed to drive in UK for more than 31 days, and even if you do so you need to let them know about the exact dates.

Seth Brundle

But does that rule encompass NI?