Invalid motor insurance in Amber Countries

[DebsD]

Morning all. We're due to travel to France to purchase a property and are staying in a rental property there for 6 months whilst we do so. We have a year long visa, medical insurance and thought we'd jumped through all the hoops and cut through all the red tape so all ready to go........until.......

Speaking to my insurance company they say if a country is on the UK Amber list and the FCDO office say essential travel only, the motor insurance is void. This is regardless of the fact that purchasing/ travelling to a main residence (we sold our house here so it will be our main residence) is essential travel. Of course, it's also legal to travel to an amber country.

I checked and it is in the small print. I also rang 2 other insurance brokers and they said exactly the same.

Just thought I'd share so other funsters could double check their policies.

 

[LesW]

Sounds fair to me, after all the amount of cars catching Covid is massive, garages can hardly cope.

You may suspect I have a very low opinion of insurance companies.

 

[glenn2926]

Perhaps AIBinsurance could shed some light on this very strange rule. How does the country being on our amber list make the vehicle more likely to have a claim against its insurance?

 

[DebsD]

Perhaps AIBinsurance could shed some light on this very strange rule. How does the country being on our amber list make the vehicle more likely to have a claim against its insurance?

It was AIB insurance that were adamant that every insurance company will be the same. I've been with them for several years but they wouldn't help

 

[glenn2926]

It was AIB insurance that were adamant that every insurance company will be the same. I've been with them for several years but they wouldn't help

I’m also insured with them. Perhaps not next time though. Could they tell you why the vehicle was more likely to claim when being used in an amber country?

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[elamessa]

I'm sure you will be able to insure your car in France on UK plates with a French address as a temporary measure or until you get your car registered in the french system.

 

[David and Sally]

Now the sun is out the insurance companies are selling umbrellas. Has one ever explained why about amber countries?

 

[sciac2001]

I hear today that Portugal may be moved to the amber list later today.

I wonder how would this insurance issue would affect motorhomers who arrived there when they were on the green list and plan to stay there for a while yet.

 

[DebsD]

I’m also insured with them. Perhaps not next time though. Could they tell you why the vehicle was more likely to claim when being used in an amber country?

I spoke with Darren and he basically said we shouldn't be travelling anyway so nobody will cover any vehicle to an amber country. When I asked why the risks were any higher, he just said because it's the way it is and again that we shouldn't be travelling so I've no idea where he's coming from.

 

[DebsD]

I'm sure you will be able to insure your car in France on UK plates with a French address as a temporary measure or until you get your car registered in the french system.

I've been down that route with local offices of Allianz in France and they won't insure until we arrive, and, they want a 12month contract as they call it. Not a major issue other than they also now insist that you've started the re-registration to French plates which isn't that easy post Brexit. Also, the motorhome will be returning to the UK to be sold so not really an option either.

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[David and Sally]

I spoke with Darren and he basically said we shouldn't be travelling anyway so nobody will cover any vehicle to an amber country. When I asked why the risks were any higher, he just said because it's the way it is and again that we shouldn't be travelling so I've no idea where he's coming from.

So, take your money for UK and European cover. Find an excuse to limit claims but no refund on the premiums to compensate for the lower risk.? Don’t insurance companies just take the biscuit?

 

[DebsD]

So, take your money for UK and European cover. Find an excuse to limit claims but no refund on the premiums to compensate for the lower risk.? Don’t insurance companies just take the biscuit?

Yep

 

[elamessa]

I've been down that route with local offices of Allianz in France and they won't insure until we arrive, and, they want a 12month contract as they call it. Not a major issue other than they also now insist that you've started the re-registration to French plates which isn't that easy post Brexit. Also, the motorhome will be returning to the UK to be sold so not really an option either.

Yes all assurance contracts in France are 12 month basis, Allianz is not who I would use (MAAF, AXA, MACIF, LA POSTE) to name but a few, but if you are returning the motorhome to the UK then it doesn't really matter to you. Good luck..

 

[Langtoftlad]

I've just renewed my van insurance, it specifically mentions EU coverage, and gave me a green card.
Green, Amber or Red status was not mentioned in the Key Facts document.
...and I'd have thought it would be a key fact if applicable.

 

[DebsD]

I've just renewed my van insurance, it specifically mentions EU coverage, and gave me a green card.
Green, Amber or Red status was not mentioned in the Key Facts document.
...and I'd have thought it would be a key fact if applicable.

It's not in the key facts of mine either but it's hidden in the small print. Weirdly, I also have a green card from them but apparently I shouldn't have

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[nicholsong]

I would have thought that if an insurance company has issued a 'Green Card' they would have to honour at least the Third Party cover in any country listed on it, unless they specifically advised the policyholder that cover was withdrawn. Even then could they withdraw cover if one is already in one of the countries listed. My opinion is they would be estopped from doing so on both points.

Geoff

 

[Phill D]

I find this absolutely shameful. The FCO is advising not preventing travel.

I would not have believed a vehicle insurance would even consider such things.
War zones probably, viral infections

 

[Speve]

I have just checked on our LV= and it seems to be the travel insurance will not cover the vehicle insurance still seems ok as there is no mention of travel to amber or red listed countries
it seems crazy that they will not cover you in an amber country whils you can drive in UK which to some other countries is red? They are taking the wee wee?

 

[Phill D]

I would not even have thought of asking or reading up I was that convinced that it would not be an issue.
As a result if I was on the mood to travel to an Amber listed country I may well have been without vehicle insurance.

 

[Ridgeway]

Surely if you've sold your house in the UK and have no address there then your insurance is already void and you need a policy in your new country ?

I'd sell the van in the UK and buy another once you arrive, that's gotta be easier.

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[Dorwyn]

I spoke with Darren and he basically said we shouldn't be travelling anyway so nobody will cover any vehicle to an amber country. When I asked why the risks were any higher, he just said because it's the way it is and again that we shouldn't be travelling so I've no idea where he's coming from.

Maybe some motorhomers will remember this company when renewal time comes?

Perhaps AIBinsurance could shed some light on this very strange rule. How does the country being on our amber list make the vehicle more likely to have a claim against its insurance?

 

[Blue Knight]

I find this absolutely shameful. The FCO is advising not preventing travel.

The insurance companies fall at the knees of the FCDO's travel advice for everything so 'advising against non essential travel' in FCDO speak means don't do it.

 

[Speve]

I have tried to ask the question on vehicle insurance whilst traveling to an Amber listed country and all that comes back is Travel insurance, it sounds to me that these companies are just confusing the issue to provide them with another get out on vehicle insuranceor just assuming because travel insurance won’t cover you that you will not be covered by your vehicle insurance for accident.all very confusing?

 

[Itsmcb]

Nationwide Flexplus travel insurance, both health and breakdown are still valid for amber countries.

 

[deleted79651]

Now the sun is out the insurance companies are selling umbrellas. Has one ever explained why about amber countries?

Whereas a Banker {i was one!] would sell you an umbrella during a drought, finance it with a loan, and then repossess the brolly during the Monsoon season ...

Steve ['I work in a Bank' is not a Spoonerism]

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[mapman]

Interesting article by Simon Calder in today’s Independent. Seems confusion may be due to travel insurance policies being dependent on advice from Foreign Office while the traffic light system is decided by the Department for Transport. It only mentions travel insurance unfortunately. Also clarifies the situation regarding transit from green country through amber to tunnel. Ok in 2020 but not any more. “ any presence in an amber or red country even in transit anoints the traveller with that country’s traffic light status”

 

[Geo]

I spoke with Darren and he basically said we shouldn't be travelling anyway so nobody will cover any vehicle to an amber country. When I asked why the risks were any higher, he just said because it's the way it is and again that we shouldn't be travelling so I've no idea where he's coming from.

Might I hazard a guess and suggest the reason being " Traveling not in accordance of the Foreign Office Advise"
A general catch all clause ?

 

[DebsD]

I would have thought that if an insurance company has issued a 'Green Card' they would have to honour at least the Third Party cover in any country listed on it, unless they specifically advised the policyholder that cover was withdrawn. Even then could they withdraw cover if one is already in one of the countries listed. My opinion is they would be estopped from doing so on both points.

Geoff

I would have thought that, especially since my green card was actually sent when no overseas travel was permitted except for essential reasons. I assumed that as ours was essential travel, and I told the insurance company why and where we were travelling, there wouldn't be a problem. Seems I was wrong but at no point did anyone tell me I shouldn't travel until I happened to see the small print the other week.

 

[DebsD]

Surely if you've sold your house in the UK and have no address there then your insurance is already void and you need a policy in your new country ?

I'd sell the van in the UK and buy another once you arrive, that's gotta be easier.

We are staying with family until we leave permanently which won't be for a while yet so I can still have UK insurance until we gain French residency. We will return to the UK later this year which is when selling cars and vans are planned.

 

[DebsD]

Maybe some motorhomers will remember this company when renewal time comes?

The amber isn't the issue per say; it's because the FCDO deem amber to be 'essential travel only'. The insurers say if a place is essential travel only, they won't cover you.