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Car insurance

Discussion in 'Life in the UK' started by missQT, Sep 11, 2017.

  1. missQT
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    missQT Member

    Hi all,
    I've been driving here in UK using my Phil's license for almost a year now.
    Today, I passed my practical driving exam so we were expecting that my insurance price will go down now that I will have a valid UK driver's license.
    But to our surprised, when we called our insurance provider they quoted us higher price coz it is showing in their system that I'm back to zero experience.
    Anyone got similar experience? How did you make your overseas driving experience counted so you can get lower insurance premium?
    Thanks.
  2. ChoiAndJohn
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    ChoiAndJohn Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    Quick answer. You can not. Your overseas experience is of no interest to a UK insurer.

    You are a new driver and you have just passed your test. Unfortunately, you start from zero like everyone else.
    • Agree Agree x 4
  3. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    shop around.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  4. John Surrey
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    John Surrey Well-Known Member

    Is that legal ?
  5. Bluebird71
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    Bluebird71 Well-Known Member

    Just wondering the same. I didn't think you could drive in the UK with just a Philippine licence?
  6. DJB
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    DJB Active Member

    I think its correct but only for 12 months
    • Agree Agree x 1
  7. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Why not? You can drive in the Philippines with just a British licence after all.
  8. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member



  9. Bluebird71
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    Bluebird71 Well-Known Member

    I may be wrong, but I thought the authorities decided if the quality of a country's driving tests was up to specific standards.

    Years ago, for example, the Egyptian driving test involved driving forwards 100 metres. The test became twice as difficult a few years later as you also had to drive backwards 20 metres.

    Anecdotal, I know, but my wife says the UK test is much more difficult than the Filipino test - so it made me suspect that their licences were not recognised in the U.K.
  10. Bluebird71
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    Bluebird71 Well-Known Member

  11. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    Only for a maximum of 3 months after your initial entry.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  12. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    On a recent trip back to UK, I had a rental car and was not able to add my wife as a named driver as they would not accept Philippines Driving License.
  13. bigmac
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    bigmac Well-Known Member Trusted Member

    i thought driving licences in the filis were an optional extra.
  14. John Surrey
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    John Surrey Well-Known Member

    It's legal as per:

    https://www.gov.uk/driving-nongb-licence

    1) I answered "resident", "full car and motorcycle", "any other country" = 12 months driving then you'll have to apply for a provisional license and take the uk test

    2)I answered "visitor", "full car and motorcycle", "any other country" = 12 months driving from when you last entered the uk - sorry @DavidAlma

    Easier to be a visitor.
  15. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    I was referring to Markham post about driving in Philippines with a UK license.
  16. John Surrey
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    John Surrey Well-Known Member

    Ahhh off topic!
  17. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    Nope, it's a reciprocal agreement although a British licence is only valid in the Philippines for 3 months from the very first date of entry whereas a Philippine licence is valid for a year in Britain. International "licences" are not needed in either case.
  18. Markham
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    Markham Guest

    I have twice used a Philippine licence to hire cars in the UK from Herz with no problem but I think your problem arose because the lead driver (ie you) holds a British licence and the secondary driver (your wife) doesn't.
  19. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    Why off topic?
  20. DavidAlma
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    DavidAlma Well-Known Member

    The rental company wasn't one of the major ones, probably why they didn't accept her license.

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