Does anyone know if, as a Canadian driving license holder, i can be put on my brothers English insurance policy?

When we arrived in Canada last year we surrendered our UK license in exchange for an Alberta license, the two have an agreement y'see and it saved us having to take a Canadian test. Now I know that we can hire a car no problem but was wondering if anyone knew whether a non UK license holder can be put on a private UK policy?

Reason i ask is that we are returning to the UK for a week in November and are planning to surprise the family but i could do with borrowing my brothers car for the week (my old Octy vRS ) but i can't ask him to check with his insurance company else the whole thing is blown!

Any ideas?

Mark

it will depend on the company, I think mine requires all licence holders to have UK licenses.

Well - This might help, BUT - when my mate married a canadian lady, she came over here but was unable to drive a manual car here, despite having a manual license in Canada. She still can't unless she takes a full UK driving test in a manual car.

Therefore, I suspect you'd be in the same boat.

The best solution may be to Hire a car for the week. I have family in Calgary and they get good deals when booking through the airline when they visit the uk.........It may cost about the same to put you on an Insurance in the uk

Well - This might help, BUT - when my mate married a canadian lady, she came over here but was unable to drive a manual car here, despite having a manual license in Canada. She still can't unless she takes a full UK driving test in a manual car.

Therefore, I suspect you'd be in the same boat.

You're quite correct Jason however according to the DVLA website if I can prove I have held a UK license, and the photocopy I have of my UK license kind of proves that and the Alberta License people actually sent my UK license back to DVLA, then I'm fine to drive a manual.

Should have "lost" my UK license and got a replacement before we came so i had one to hand in and one to keep. Hindsight is a wonderful thing......:(

Mark

Legally you can be covered , but it's up to the insurance company to decide if they want to add you or not.

The best solution may be to Hire a car for the week. I have family in Calgary and they get good deals when booking through the airline when they visit the uk.........It may cost about the same to put you on an Insurance in the uk

We may well end up doing that its just with all the running round we are gonna be doing ideally we need two cars which soon starts adding up. My thought was if i could steal my Bro's car for the week it would be cheaper, but it could be more hassle than its worth as you say :(

Thanks guys

Mark

I did wonder when you said you'd surrendered your license, if that was purely a "from now-on thing" - i.e there was still historical proof of a UK license, or you had literally been wiped clean off the DVLA database.

Sounds like you should be OK.

Legally you can be covered , but it's up to the insurance company to decide if they want to add you or not.

so there is a glimmer of hope then

thanks Dr Z

Mark