Insuring a UK Citizen on a Polish registered car...

...is it possible?

This situation is quite complex, so any insight from anyone would be much appreciated.

I have accepted a completely daft challenge to drive a Fiat 126 from the UK to Mongolia this summer. Unfortunately, if that wasn't ridiculous enough, the Mongolian government is now slapping huge import taxes on cars coming into the country over 10 years old, so the plan is to take a year 2000 Polski Fiat 126.

In order to own this car with it still being registered in Poland (registering it in the UK - a legal necessity - would cost me a small fortune in modifications and tests) I am co-owning the car with a Polish friend. However, the UK insurance companies seem completely perplexed by this. Not only do they have no idea this car exists, they also seem very uncomfortable quoting me for a non-UK registered vehicle.

Does anybody have any idea if a Polish insurance company will insure me to drive this vehicle in Europe (outside Europe becomes a different matter entirely)? Or would they refuse insure a non-Pol outside of Poland?

Many thanks in advance.

Rob

If it's registered in Poland, it's probably a non-issue. As long as you can give a Polish address to them, I really can't imagine it would be much of an issue. The fact that you'll be listed as a co-owner should simplify things even more.

(Incidentally, Polish insurance works on the principle of the car being insured, not the individual. The individual still has to be named that posesses the insurance policy - but any other driver can happily drive the car without an issue. For instance, say you have a friend here who has accidentally got himself wasted in a pub. You can turn up and drive him home, entirely legally)

I like the sounds of that! Thank you Delphiandomine!

What a totally stupid idea... I love it....just the kind of thing that appeals to my twisted sense of adventure....I wish you luck mate , and if you are passing my way you have a free place to stay , and mechanical support....

Wildrover - I'd love that. I'm putting a website together gobidesserts.com - I'm afraid it is a little out of date - please excuse me. The Fiat 126 challenge is a new addition. I'll be adding lots over this weekend!

Anyway, go take a look and let me know if you're anywhere on route and we'll try and stop by. We may be able to make a little detour if you don't fit on it exactly.

I am just over the border from Germany , not far into Poland , about 100 kms from Szczecin , about 750 road miles from the UK.... If you have a Polish map there i am on the 173 route between the towns of Drawsko pomorskie and Polczyn zdroj ,nearest town to me is Ostrowice... I live on a small farm in a national park , so its quite pretty , and very peacefull... I bought this place after falling in love with Poland during long trips to Belarus and Russia in an old Landrover.. this area was about halfway between UK and Moscow so seemed like a good place to rest up.... You will be welcome here , and if i can help with your trip i will .. I shall now have a look at your website...

I've just realized that there may be a slight issue - they may not accept a person not registered in Poland as a co-owner. I'm really not sure of the rules in this respect - but Ben of the British in Poland blog will know the score.

But as long as the Polish friend gives you all the legal paperwork needed (car registration documents, letter confirming that you can use it and can take it across borders, insurance documents and any other ones) - then it's a non issue for you.

I would double and triple check what non-EU countries want, though.

Thanks Delphiandomine. We have already researched this aspect to some degree and believe it is completely legal. My friend has already done the same for a Frenchman who wanted to own a Polish car and has checked with the Polish VLA to make sure that we can do it on this occasion and they seemed to think it was OK.

My only concern at the moment is whether Polish insurance on the vehicle would cover it in the UK where our insurance rules are slightly different.

Yes it would - insurance in one EU country automatically gives you the minimum legal cover in all other EU countries: ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/citizens/travelling/your-car/insurance/index_en.html#5405_1

You clearly have time on your hands ;-)

But good luck with it !


You better be careful making sound so great or you could have a deluge :-)

I think it looks like a fantastic idea. Wouldn't reaching the Pacific make a slightly better challenge though?

Does challenge not mean that it is possible?

It was a challenge for me to get to the greengrocers before they closed this afternoon, but the tomatoes and parsley in my kitchen prove to me that it was possible. I didn't make it from Atlantic to Pacific though. I'd need more than some veg to rise to that challenge. A driving licence would be a good start, and a good quality automobile such as a nice Fiat 126p of course.

Its going to need some beefing up to cope with the roads east of Poland....i went that way in a Landrover with heavy duty suspension...which broke in Belarus.....!

Then I'm clearly bolloxed :D

No , you will be ok....a Fiat 126 is a bit lighter , with decent suspension it will cope ok , the roads are pretty bad out there tho , I went to Ukraine last year on a Harley , never again , well not on a motorcycle...!

My team mate (who lives in Krakow) says there is a rally every year from Krakow to Mongolia in nothing but 126s! So it must be possible!!! (OK so we're adding an extra 1000 miles of good roads because we're coming from the UK)

Anything is possible if you have a sense of adventure and put a bit of preparation in...go for it....!