Chaps
A colleague is from South Korea, and has been resident in this country since September 2002.
He has just purchased a car which will taxed and ready for collection on Monday. The car is a VW Polo for £5,000. The car is being taxed by the garage as they own it and no insurance is required.
Because of a misunderstanding or perhaps innocent ignorance, he has not changed his licence for a GB licence and is experiencing problems getting the car insured. He can change the swap on a straight swap basis, but the chances of doing this for Monday are well, it's the DVLA isn't it!
On a practical level, his options are:
1 - lose the car and £200 deposit - not facourite!
2 - ask the dealer to hang onto for a week or so.
3 - collect car, someone else drives back to Bath on their own insurance and park it on friend's drive or even better a garage (uninsured) until sorted.
Is 3 legal? Basic question, does the car have to be insured or the driver?
There is a further (cultural) pressure: his Korean in laws are visiting soon and are expecting to see a car. I know that we would work around, but that appears not to an option, and it really is a matter of "face".
All contributions welcomed.
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>Basic question: does the car have to be insured or the driver?
Basic answer: The driver has to be insured to drive the car.
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There are insurance companies who will insure a driver holding a foreign license. I did just that with Norwich Union (Direct Line also accepted foreign licenses) and I don't recall them asking me how long I had been in the country. I did say that I would be getting a UK license when I was able to, but I don't know if this made any difference to them covering me or not.
On the face of it, his situation seems very similar to mine. I am very enious of his license swap option though, I didn't have that and had to go through the full testing procedures. Regading #2, can't hurt to ask the dealer if they will hold the car, and maybe offer a token storage fee if they balk at the idea.
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It varies by country, but the chances are that he is no longer legal to drive here depending on how much he has been out of the country.
If he is legal (I doubt it), you should find Norwich Union will insure him and rate him as a UK provisional licence holder.
If he is not, then he has bigger problems. He needs to get a UK provisional, which will at least allow him to insure the car and even drive it hom, if someone sits with him. But he pretty much needs to pass his UK test quickly. (I am unconvinced that he can "swap" his licence. Lots of people think they can, they are frequently in for a shock. Do also bear in mind that the term "resident" is important. Do you mean "resident" or do you mean he's here a lot ?
3 - either the car can be insured for many people or one person can be insured for many cars. However, you have already been given the relevant answer "The driver has to be insured to drive the car." Be also careful since if he has no insurance in his own name the car is not insured against theft, fire or acccidental damage.
Frankly, I think he better get his UK Full licence sorted pdq.
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Thanks for the responses. I shall suggest that he tries Norwich Union.
In detailed response to Mark's post:
It varies by country, but the chances are that he is no longer legal to drive here depending on how much he has been out of the country.
Exactly. He (now) knows that he should have swapped his licence in the first 12 months. Korean nationals can drive here on their own licence for 1 year, but after that year they need to swap it for a GB licence. This option is open for a further 4 years.
If he is legal (I doubt it), you should find Norwich Union will insure him and rate him as a UK provisional licence holder. If he is not, then he has bigger problems. He needs to get a UK provisional, which will at least allow him to insure the car and even drive it hom, if someone sits with him. But he pretty much needs to pass his UK test quickly. (I am unconvinced that he can "swap" his licence. Lots of people think they can, they are frequently in for a shock.
Koreans are exempt from having to take the test as they come from a designated country as DVLA guidance. They can surrender home country licence in exchange for a GB licence, but need to produce passport, translation of licence and so on.
Do also bear in mind that the term"resident" is important. Do you mean "resident" or do you mean he's here a lot ?
He is resident and has a work permit and is making his life here.
3 - either the car can be insured for many people or one person can be insured for many cars. However, you have already been given the relevant answer "The driver has to be insured to drive the car." Be also careful since if he has no insurance in his own name the car is not insured against theft, fire or acccidental damage.
Definitely, so if he followed this path, he would need to tuck it away in a friend's drive / garage out of harm's way. At least. And get his licence sorted.
Frankly, I think he better get his UK Full licence sorted pdq.
Boy does he know it!!
Thanks again!
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Be careful that his Korean license is still valid. I cannot be swapped once it has expired (I don't know how long they run for).
He should have swapped withing 12 months of being 'resident'.
Martin
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Driving Licences eh? Well here goes ...
A Non-Resident to the UK may drive on their home countries licence, provided that their stay is LESS than a year or if consecutive, then no more than six calendar months. This is the same for International Driving permits etc.
If your friend is a resident of the UK, and he has been here for MORE than twelve months the he should not be driving on his non-UK licence since it is NOT legal. Remember that allowance is a temporary measure only. I don't *think* that the DVLA simply 'swap out' licences any more and more and more people are reuiqred to sit a test before they can get a UK licence - but I msut stress that I am NOT sure on this one, defintiely check with the DVLA.
Now, for someone ELSE to drive the vehicle the vehicle in question MUST have a schedule of insurance in force and the driver driving MUST have insurance himself - and invariably while driving this car they will only have Third Party only.
I am quite surprised that the dealership is taxing the vehicle without asking for your friend's certificate of insurance since it is a requirement placed on dealers to ensure that any vehicles that drive off their forecoaurts (especially new) are legal. On reflection, I'm guessing that this 'dealer' is a Third Party Joe Bloggs Autos place and NOT say a VW main dealer?
In any event though, your chum will need insurance for the said vehicle since your chum will be shown as the 'owner' and anyone else driving can ONLY drive your chum's vehicle if it has insurance already. If it is a matter of 'face' maybe he should hire a car for the day?
As for keeping hold of the car, I doubt there would be any problem in the garage keeping hold of it for the time being?
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Thanks ihpj. Very helpful. Believe me, lesson learnt regarding the licences and i'm anticipating two Koreans visiting a DVLA office shortly.
Garage is an outlet for a leasing company - cars are ex lease / PCP and as they own it, they can tax it.
Interesting point about the car needing to be insured regardless of who's driving it. Asking the garage to hang onto the car for a week or two is definitely looking favourite (and least complicated).
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by way of update, my man has got his GB licence (straight swop) and has insured the car which the garage held for him, in return for an increase in the deposit to £500. He's goign to pick it up this afternoon.
thanks for your help
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