Thai Driving In Uk On International Licence

[slippery when wet]

Hello.

I would like to appeal to your good selves as I have been looking for car insurance for my Thai wife in the UK.

She has recently arrived in the uk and would like to drive there on her International licence until she can pass her test as she needs to get to work and I am unable to take her as I will be at work myself.

She is an exceptional driver (for a thai) with many years experience so I have no quarms about her driving on the UK roads. However I will make sure that she has about 10 lessons prior to this so she is up to scratch.

However the insurance companies phoned so far charge silly money. Can anyone advise on a good insurance company in the UK that will insure her on an international licence at a price that is not through the roof.

Thanks

[Richb2004v2]

When my wife was first there ten years ago she drove and was insured on her Thai driving license for five years. It hardly effected the insurance at all. I couldn't believe it and thought that there must be a mistake. I don't see how a Thai could be allowed to dive on the Uk roads without a proper Uk license. I even called the police to confirm it and they said it was fine. Things might have changed as it has now been five or six years since she was there.

[kunash]

how about putting her as a named driver on your insurance?

[Richb2004v2]

how about putting her as a named driver on your insurance?

Yes, that's what we did.

[Soutpeel]

Believe she can drive for upto 1 year on a IDP and Thai DL, and therefore insurable for a period of 1 year after arrivng in the UK, after which she would be driving with no insurance/DL.....basically she has 12 months to get a UK drivers license...

[slippery when wet]

I am aware that she has 1 year in which to pass her test but in the meantime she needs to get to work.

Unfortunately I cant put her on my insurance on policy as my car is extremely powerfull and my no claims needs to stay there. However have ring around and quoted for a 1996 Ford escort 1.6 (just to get an idea of prices) prices in the recion of £1,700 for the year. This is with me as the main driver without any no claims as it will stay on my other car and her as a named driver. Still very silly money..hence the need for help and advice.

Thanks

[Soutpeel]

Unfortunately I cant put her on my insurance on policy as my car is extremely powerfull and my no claims needs to stay there.

Didnt you say "She is an exceptional driver"...

If she needs to get to work and a car/insurance is not an option my I suggest two possibilities:

1. You drive her to and from work in your extremely powerful car, which has a no claims

2. Tell her to get the bus

[slippery when wet]

Have you tried getting the bus in the UK lately at 5 in the morning????

[Soutpeel]

Have you tried getting the bus in the UK lately at 5 in the morning????

Well if the bus is no-go at 5 in morning...get your ar*e out of bed and give her a lift then in your extermely powerful car then.....

[taxer]

England does not accept IDL .. thai license (5 years) or dont drive. The Police will drill you, also google insurance? She can drive for 1 year on her Thai licence then ... boot .. ya oot. Goodluck.

[Soutpeel]

England does not accept IDL .. thai license (5 years) or dont drive. The Police will drill you, also google insurance? She can drive for 1 year on her Thai licence then ... boot .. ya oot. Goodluck.

Oh yes they do...up to 12 months after arriving in country,

PS there is no such thing as a IDL, Its a IDP for starters, its not a license anyway, and agreed the plods will not accept a IDL (IDP) on its own, cos its not a license, it needs to be accompanied by a legal driver license, ie a 5 year Thai license in this case.

[PattayaParent]

I am aware that she has 1 year in which to pass her test but in the meantime she needs to get to work.

Unfortunately I cant put her on my insurance on policy as my car is extremely powerfull and my no claims needs to stay there. However have ring around and quoted for a 1996 Ford escort 1.6 (just to get an idea of prices) prices in the recion of £1,700 for the year. This is with me as the main driver without any no claims as it will stay on my other car and her as a named driver. Still very silly money..hence the need for help and advice.

Thanks

Cost my mate 1,000 Quid for his Thai missus to drive a Ford Sierra when she was there some years ago.

[NALAK]

my misses had Thai international licence for her little motorbike, i searched through the web to find an insurance company to cover her. she got English provisional licence for her car lessons and that covered the 49 cc bike.. her first international licence for the bike covered her for any size bike, car, 7.5 truck, passenger bus. scary as she had never driven a car in her life.

if she has work permit she should be able to get UK provisnal licence, bit of hassle as you have to go in person to the office. thats how it used to be anyways.

[roamer]

Check this forum link and the links leading from it.

Here.

Be aware this is an area fraught with pitfalls, especially things like UK provisional licence incompatible with driving on Thai licence. Moving vehicle offence's count against the good character test if applying for UK citizenship etc.

Tesco tend to offer the best deals for non-UK licence holders, or did, heard something to the effect that they had altered length of residence requirements.

[taxer]

QUOTE (taxer @ 2010-05-16 09:18:12) England does not accept IDL .. thai license (5 years) or dont drive. The Police will drill you, also google insurance? She can drive for 1 year on her Thai licence then ... boot .. ya oot. Goodluck.

Oh yes they do...up to 12 months after arriving in country,

PS there is no such thing as a IDL, Its a IDP for starters, its not a license anyway, and agreed the plods will not accept a IDL (IDP) on its own, cos its not a license, it needs to be accompanied by a legal driver license, ie a 5 year Thai license in this case.

Read my message again ... I stated she cannot drive on IDL without a license from her home country or other. The Tha license is 12 months then you have to sit UK test. As for IDP pop into your local police station and see what they say, it MUST be accompanied with license from home country or other.....