Car insurance for US driver, friend's car in Scotland

First off, check with your own insurance company. Often they will have special riders for policies that can cover odd situations.

I already checked, my US insuror will not cover me.

Many laws are different in Scotland than in England and Wales, but I expect that there isn't much difference in car insurance rules. When my brother visits from Texas I contact my car insurer and arrange for him to be able to drive the car. They need to know how many accidents he has been involved in, how long he has had a driving license (they need copy), how many points and convictions he has, then I pay a very small premium and he is good to go.

I've done that with several insurers over the years and it has always been the same.....

good luck and enjoy the trip.

My experience is the same as Nigel's, except that my insurers have not asked to see a copy of my brother-in-law's driving licence. If he had kept his U.K. licence up to date, he could have been added permanently as an additional driver. Using his California licene, he is just added for the duration of the visit, although the length of visit does not seem to affect the small cost.

On our very first house exchange our U.K. Family discovered that their insurance wouldn't cover us nor could they include us on their policy. We didn't know it at the time but they shopped around and found a new policy that would allow us to be temporarily added to their policy. Later they said that it wasn't any trouble and they needed to find a better policy anyway. We were very appreciative for all the trouble they'd gone through to let us drive their car for a month.

I believe they just had us send them copies of our drivers licenses.

Thanks very much for the quick replies, Nigel, Bob and Mona.

It sounds like some insurors in UK will cover a licensed US driver for an extra fee and some won't. I'll pass that on.

My first trip was to visit them in England, and insurance would cover me. My second trip they'd moved to Scotland, and they were told their insurance would not cover me. Don't know if the insuror changed between the two trips. Was a bit weary last night else would have shared this then.

Your Scottish friend should ask his insurer if you are covered under his policy.q

I suspect that as long as you have valid US drivers license, the recommended International license and the express permission of your friend to drive his car, you should be covered. But have him confirm with his insurer. He may need to add extra coverage on his car.

@funpig: already noted that: their insurance does not cover me. They told me they'll shop around for an insuror who will.