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It’s illegal to drive on UK roads without car insurance. This applies even if you’re a non-UK resident or only visit briefly. So, if you need to drive while visiting the UK, you’ll have to arrange car insurance for non-UK licence holders. The only exception is if you’re driving a hire car, in which case car insurance will be included in your rental agreement.
Get the lowdown on everything you need to know about car insurance for non-UK residents, including what temporary insurance is available, with our comprehensive guide.
If you have an international driving licence, you can still drive in the UK, but you’ll need to ensure you have at least third party car insurance before doing so. This is because driving on UK roads without car insurance is a criminal offence.
In addition to ensuring you have non-resident car insurance, you must ensure the car:
You don’t need to worry about non-UK resident car insurance if you plan to hire a car while in the UK. That’s because insurance will be included in your rental agreement. However, it’s still worth checking what cover is included and taking out additional cover if needed, such as car hire excess insurance.
Short-term or temporary car insurance is a great option if you’ll only be in the UK for a while, or until you find your feet and are in a position to arrange a more long-term solution.
Taking out a temporary car insurance policy for non-UK residents means you don’t need to alter or adjust any other car insurance policies you might have, which keeps things simple. It also means any claims you have to make won’t impact someone else’s policy if you’re borrowing their car (as opposed to being added as a named driver to their policy).
Temporary car insurance for non-UK licence holders is usually quick to arrange and available for periods from one hour to 30 days, and if you need it for longer, you just need to renew it. These policies also offer fully comprehensive insurance, the highest level of cover, which protects you and your vehicle as well as third parties.
It’s important to note, though, that the cost of temporary car insurance for non-UK residents will be higher than for UK residents, even if you’re an excellent driver with a spotless driving record in your home country.
If temporary car insurance isn’t suitable for your needs, you still have other options as a non-UK resident.
If you’re borrowing a car from a friend or family member, asking them to add you to their policy as a named driver is another option. This option could be convenient for you if the car owner is willing. However, the downside is that it may increase the cost of their insurance, and if you make a claim, it could harm their no-claims discount, increasing the cost of their policy next year.
If you know you’ll be in the UK for a while, you can buy annual car insurance as a non-UK resident, but you may need to use a specialist provider. When searching for cover, you might also see car insurance for non-UK residents referred to as expat car insurance.
When searching for an annual policy, you’ll be picking between three different levels. These are:
If you’ve driven your own car to the UK, your car insurance policy should provide some cover, but it’s vital to check what is included before you drive on UK roads and how long that cover will last.
It may well be that your current insurance only offers cover overseas on a third-party basis. If your car is damaged, you would need to pay for repairs yourself, so you might want to consider upgrading to fully comprehensive car insurance. You might also find the cover duration is limited to a number of days.
Your insurer may give you a document known as a green card, which proves you have the minimum level of insurance to drive in the UK.
Unfortunately, car insurance for non-UK residents is typically more expensive, as they’re considered higher risk. For example, insurers argue overseas drivers may not be familiar with UK motoring rules and driving on the left side of the road, meaning there’s a greater chance of being involved in an accident.
To find the average cost of annual car insurance for non-UK residents, we ran quotes using our three personas: a 21-year-old, a 41-year-old and a 61-year-old. We then changed where they held their licence to see how that affected the car insurance quotes.
We found that the average quote for someone who has lived in the UK for six months and is driving on an EU licence was 24.62 per cent higher than for a UK resident with a UK licence.[1]
Meanwhile, someone driving on a European licence not issued in the EU paid 75.47 per cent more than UK residents, while quotes for international drivers (such as those from the US) were 75.85 per cent higher on average.
| Where licence was issued | Average premium for 21-year-old | Average premium for 41-year-old | Average premium for 61-year-old |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | £1,466.19 | £660.72 | £438.29 |
| EU | £1,871.49 | £842.96 | £519.93 |
| Europen (non-EU) | £2,794.00 | £1,457.05 | £505.42 |
| International | £2,794.00 | £1,450.17 | £515.04 |
As you can see, it’s not just where your licence was issued that affects the cost of your cover. Age plays a big part as well. Taking an average of the non-UK licence quotes, our 41-year-old driver would pay £1,250.06 for car insurance. The average non-UK quote for our 21-year-old driver is almost double that figure, while for our 61-year-old it’s nearly 59 per cent cheaper.
Other factors that affect the cost of your car insurance include:
To make sure you get the best value for money, it’s important to shop around for your non-UK resident car insurance, and compare the widest range of quotes possible.
Depending on your circumstances, you might get a better deal from a specialist insurance company that understands the needs of non-resident drivers.
Alternatively, if you intend to stay for the long-term, you can consider exchanging your international licence for a UK licence to cut costs.
This varies between insurance companies. If you’ve built up a no-claims bonus in your home country, it’s worth tracking down an insurance company that will take it into account when calculating your premium. It may be that you need to use a specialist car insurance company.
It’s also a good idea to get proof of your no-claims bonus from your insurance company in your home country to use as evidence when you arrange cover in the UK.
You should be able to use an international driving licence in the UK for up to 12 months, at least.
However, meeting the minimum age requirements for driving in the UK is essential. You need to be at least 17 years old to drive a car in the UK, which increases to 21 if you want to drive a lorry or bus.
The exact rules depend on where your driving licence was issued.
Depending on the issuing country, there may not be any urgent need to exchange your international driving licence for a full UK licence – especially if you’re from the EU.
However, if you know you’ll likely be here for a while, it may make sense to exchange it sooner rather than later (or take your driving test if you’re not from the EU or a designated country), as your car insurance will likely be cheaper with a UK licence.
If you need to drive for work, you’ll also find you may not be able to get a company car without a full UK licence.
The driving licence rules for each region are as follows:
If you have a full licence from the EU or EEC, you can continue using it in the UK until it runs out. You don’t have to exchange it or take a UK driving test in the meantime.
If your licence is from one of the countries listed below, you can keep using it in the UK for up to 12 months. After this point, you must exchange it for a UK driving licence. You won’t have to retake your test if the exchange occurs within five years of becoming a UK resident. The countries included in this list are:
If you have a licence from Jersey, Guernsey, Gibraltar, or the Isle of Man, you can also drive in the UK for 12 months with your existing licence before you exchange it for a UK driving licence.
If you have a driving licence that wasn’t issued in the EU or a designated country – like the United States – you can only use it in the UK for 12 months. It’s not possible to exchange these international licences for a UK licence, so if you want to carry on driving in the UK, you’ll need to pass a driving test.
To exchange an international driving licence for a UK driving licence, you’ll need to complete form D1 from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and post it along with your driving licence to the address instructed. You should then receive your new UK licence within three weeks.
An international driving permit and a UK driving licence enable UK motorists to drive in certain countries. However, it’s not a requirement for non-resident drivers to have an international driving permit to drive in the UK.
To drive on UK roads, non-UK residents simply need a valid driving licence, proof of insurance and identification, such as a passport.
Not only can you get car insurance as a non-UK resident – you must have cover in place before driving on UK roads. If you get caught driving without insurance in the UK, you may receive a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points on your licence.
It’s possible to get UK car insurance with a foreign licence. However, with a non-UK licence, you’ll pay an average of 36.62 per cent more for cover than a driver with a UK licence.
So long as your car is fully taxed in your home country and you have valid car insurance, you can drive it on UK roads for six months. After six months, you can carry on using it in the UK but will have to register it with the DVLA. You’ll also need to replace your registration plates.
If you only have a provisional international driving licence and want to drive in the UK, you’ll need to apply for a UK provisional licence. However, you’ll have to wait six months before taking your UK driving test and getting a full UK driving licence.
This ultimately comes down to your employer’s policy and their insurance arrangements. Insurance that covers a whole fleet may require all drivers to have UK licences.
If you can exchange your international licence for a UK one, getting a company car will likely be easier.
Thankfully, most drivers with an international driving licence can exchange it for a full UK driving licence without needing to take a driving test. This includes drivers with an EU licence or a licence from a designated country, such as Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.
The exceptions are those with non-exchangeable driving licences, like those from the United States. In these cases, you can only use your licence for 12 months, after which you’ll need to take a driving test to get a full UK licence.
You’ll also need to take a driving test if you only have a provisional international driving licence.
If you are no longer a resident of the UK, you can still get car insurance on your return – in fact, it’s a necessity. However, what insurance you take out will depend on how long you are back for.
Similarly, the cost of your expat car insurance will in-part be informed by whether or not you still have a UK driving licence.
