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Short term car insurance for US license holders

I caught your article on buying a car for long visits to the U.K. I'm here and have hit an unexpected snag with insurance requirements.

Before coming, I checked with my local insurer, State Farm, and found that they didn't offer any over seas options. I decided to find insurance in country.

Now that I'm here, I find that short term insurance is available to many countries, but expressly not US license holders. Any tips for finding a willing insurer here in England or an American policy I could obtain to cover just the 3rd party liability on an inexpensive used car?

Thanks for any help with insurance info. Please don't feel compelled to suggest renting etc. My question is about insurance (this subject seems popular with trolls :)

Posted by
2 posts

Great idea, but I'll be purchasing private party. I'll certainly keep calling around on Monday to learn more if this post doesn't yield any results.

Posted by
11948 posts

Try Lloyds Underwriters

Is there legislation that prohibits carriers from issuing US drivers a policy, or is it simply a matter of the carriers you have contacted are not set up to write that kind of coverage?

Presumably there is something there like a DMV office that should be able to assist.

Posted by
2600 posts

On this government webpage https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/overview there is a link on how to find a broker: You may want to use an insurance broker.

There are numerous request on forums such as these from non-UK residents who have a plan to buy a car but then struggle to find insurance. I can’t recall anyone returning to post if they were successful in buying insurance.

If you do find a broker it won’t be cheap and will likely wipe out any savings you thought you made by buying a car.

Good luck.