Insurance Cover for Personal Vehicle on move back to UK

[Falcon 269]

Morning

We're moving back to the UK permanently in May after being residents in Spain since 2004. We're bringing our 7-year old Adria with us as we intend to continue touring in Europe for many years to come. Obviously we will make the necessary changes to lights and instruments etc before re-registering it with DVLA.

We bought the vehicle new and - I hope - this means that we won't have to pay VAT or import duty on it as it is a personal possession. I realize there's been discussion on other threads about buying from the EU to import to the UK post-Brexit but I'm crossing fingers that this won't be a factor for us. If anyone knows otherwise, no doubt you'll say.

The main question concerns insurance. Our Spanish-underwritten policy expires at the end of April but we won't be travelling back before mid-May. It isn't feasible to renew and then cancel the existing Spanish policy.

Can anyone recommend a UK insurance broker who would initiate a policy on a Spanish registered vehicle (based on the VIN) and then convert and continue the policy on the new UK registration? I realize it's a long shot but with the wealth of experience here, I'm hoping someone has ideas that might be helpful.

Also, any recommendations on the best UK insurers to go with in the longer term?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[bobandjanie]

If it was me, I would carry on with the Spanish insurance company, maybe try and find one that has an office in the UK then swap over once you have it registered.

Spanish residents with property in the UK are having problems with insurance companies refusing them insurance, the ones that will are charging 40% more. Bob.

 

[pappajohn]

I can't imagine a UK insurer insuring on a Spanish address.

 

[bobandjanie]

I can't imagine a UK insurer insuring on a Spanish address.

Its residents that still own property in the UK that they rent out being refused insurance, we have more UK residents that own property in Spain that rent them out, if the Spanish do the same the cr#p will hit the fan. Bob.

 

[Lenny HB]

You can only insure on a vin for the purpose of driving home from the port & to a test centre. Also only a few companies will insure on a vin.

I think as you are moving back to the UK you will not be liable for vat. DVLA have changed the info again and not it only mentions bringing in vehicle from outside the UK.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Sundowners]

Have you enquired with abbygate?--they normally cover that sort of thing -- eg english reg in Portugal.
I believe they are based in Gibraltar??
You wouldn't insure on VIN as you have ES plates

 

[gus-lopez]

It isn't feasible to renew and then cancel the existing Spanish policy.

Don't you have at least 6 months before needing to change to UK plates so no point making it difficult for yourself.

If it was me, I would carry on with the Spanish insurance company, maybe try and find one that has an office in the UK then swap over once you have it registered.

Spanish residents with property in the UK are having problems with insurance companies refusing them insurance, the ones that will are charging 40% more. Bob.

What Bob said.

 

[Pugsy]

on Most Recommended Insurance Broker

Find the best local brokers to you based on independent customer reviews and feedback from the people with genuine customer experience through Most Recommend Insurance.

www.mostrecommendedinsurancebroker.co.uk

hi Falcon 269 i used this broker in Grimsby when i moved back in 2014,they insured me until i got my car changed over to uk plates. It took 6 months to sort it all and they were ok with that and i paid no import duty on the car ,which i bought new in spain.
might be of some help,good luck.

Cheers Cris.

 

[mikebeaches]

This broker helped me with some tricky continental insurance requirements: Advance Insurance

Motorhome Insurance | Advance Insurance

The underwriter for my policy is Ageas, whose parent company is, I believe, the largest motor insurer in Belgium:

Optima Motorhome

For motorhomes of all kinds, travelling in the UK or EU

www.ageasbroker.co.uk

Worth a call to Advance to see if they can help - they're fairly innovative.

 

[Falcon 269]

Thank you all for the advice offered.

Since we'll be relinquishing Spanish resident status when we leave, I'm not sure how long I can continue to rely on a Spanish-brokered policy providing me cover in the UK. It does, though, potentially offer a solution to getting the vehicle driven back to the UK and I could probably expect the cover to be valid for 90 days based on EU travel rules.

Is it typical to take 6 months to get a vehicle re-registered with DVLA? I thought it was a relatively swift process. What are the hurdles that drag it out that long?

I'm fairly hopeful that VAT won't be levied twice but since Brexit, we might be liable for import duty. What I'm hoping - and need to check - is that because this is a personal possession bought from new, if we drive it back and notify HMRC immediately on arrival, we might be exempt from import tax. That situation isn't clear on the HMRC website at present.

I will contact the specialist brokers recommended above and ask their advice.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

I wouldn't worry as any non spanish resident holiday home owners use vehicles all over europe without problems with the spanish insurance.
DVla? Where do you start? They aren't a lot of use,covid, they loose stuff,covid, they tell lies, covid. Also if you have a Spanish licence you have 6 months to change it ag least as that will also disappear for month's.

 

[Pugsy]

Hi, i had a renault kangoo(and still have it )which i bought new in Spain.The problem for me was getting the certificate of conformity, which i had to get from Renault in France, this took months,so took 6 months to complete the change-over.
Hopefully it will go smoother for you.Good luck with it all and you move back to the uk.

Cheers Cris.

 

[Lenny HB]

Is it typical to take 6 months to get a vehicle re-registered with DVLA? I thought it was a relatively swift process. What are the hurdles that drag it out that long?

In normal times a week to get your IVA from the VCA then DVLA take 3 to 4 weeks to process the registration.
With Covid VCA have been taking around 4 weeks & DVLA taking 2 or 3 weeks longer than normal.

If you have the certificate of conformity once you have changed the lights and speedo dial you can get it checked by any vat registered garage or MOT centre.
If you don't have the C of C you will need an IVA test that can take a while to organise and there are only a few test centres in the country.

 

[Falcon 269]

Thanks, Pugsy and Lenny HB. I think.

Once I cracked the code on VCA/IVA, I found lots of other stuff online about the process I need to follow. Nothing is ever simple, is it? However, at least I know what I'm in for now. I think I have a CoC in the original paperwork but if not, I have time to get one from the dealer we bought the vehicle from in 2014. Worst case, I'll have to go the IVA route on arrival in the UK.

Cheers!