Car insurance for foreign drivers in the UK

The rules around driving in the UK on a foreign licence can be confusing, and getting car insurance can make matters even more complicated. 

Read on to understand when you can drive on a non-UK licence and how to go about getting car insurance for foreign and international drivers in the UK.

Am I allowed to drive on an international licence in the UK?

Yes, you can drive on a full international licence in the UK for at least 12 months as long as you meet the minimum age requirements. This means you must be at least 17 years old to drive a car or motorcycle, and at least 21 years old to drive a bus or lorry.

Whether you can keep driving on an international licence in the UK for longer than 12 months and the action you need to take depends on where your driving licence was issued.

Do I need an international driving permit to drive in the UK?

You don’t need an international driving permit in addition to your licence, but it may come in useful for proving validity if your licence is not printed in English.

What if I have an international provisional licence? 

If you don’t have a full licence yet and want to drive in the UK, you must apply for a provisional UK licence. You can take a UK driving test once you’ve been in the country for 185 days (six months).

Can I get car insurance with an international driving licence? 

It is possible to get UK car insurance with a foreign driving licence, but it is often more expensive. International drivers are generally considered to be at higher risk of an accident and are therefore more likely to make a claim. 

As with all insurance policies, there are three levels of insurance cover available: Third party only (TPO) cover, third party, fire and theft (TPFT) and comprehensive cover.

Can I bring my own car to drive in the UK?

If you’re bringing your own car to the UK, your existing insurance policy should cover you for third party damage, but make sure you check. You may want to extend this cover to ensure your own vehicle would be protected if you were involved in an accident.

• If you are buying a car in this country, however, you will need to take out a UK car insurance policy

• You may be asked to provide evidence of your insurance cover, and your insurer may issue you a ‘green card’ document for this purpose

Find out more about car insurance for temporary imports.

Do I need car insurance if I am hiring a car? 

You will not need to take out your own insurance cover for a hire car, as this will be included in the cost of the rental.

You might want to consider buying a separate excess insurance product, which might be cheaper than taking the excess insurance provided by the hire car company.

How much does car insurance for foreign drivers cost? 

Car insurance for non-UK licence holders can be extremely expensive. Even if you have many years’ experience driving in your own country, holding a foreign licence could still affect your insurance costs in the UK. 

Insurers base their premiums on perceived risk and often consider international drivers to be at a higher risk of making a claim as they are not experienced on UK roads.

Many insurers will also ignore any no-claims years accrued on your foreign licence. With a no-claims bonus being worth up to 75% discount, starting from scratch once you start driving in the UK can push your premiums up.

How can I keep my insurance costs down if I have a non-UK licence? 

Thankfully, there are ways to save on your car insurance if you’re a non-UK licence holder.

For a start, it pays to shop around with specialist insurers. A number of these will welcome foreign licence holders, and some will even transfer your no-claims years, so you get a discount straight away.

You should also consider the level of insurance cover. You may expect third party only cover to be more affordable, as your insurer would only have to pay out for the other party’s repair costs in the event of a claim. 

However, over the years insurers have noted that third party only cover was increasingly being used as a cost-saving tactic by risky drivers. As a result, some have raised their prices accordingly. By considering a higher level of cover, such as comprehensive, you could save money while being better protected.

Temporary car insurance for international drivers in UK

Temporary car insurance may be worth considering as it typically offers cover for one to 30 days (some policies offer cover up to 90 days). This can be particularly handy if you’re borrowing someone else’s car while you’re visiting. 

How easy it is to get temporary insurance will depend on the country you’re coming from. You’ll find it easier if you are arriving from:

• The EU

• Australia

• New Zealand

• South Africa