Cover for non UK residents

[selbyfork]

My sister, a UK citizen, has lived in Austria for 25 years and her current driving licence is still in her maiden name. She can't get it replaced as she is a non resident and as she visits me three or four times a year I wanted to put her on my insurance policy. I can't find any company that will add her on as she is not a permanent resident here and her licence is in the wrong name. Does anybody know if they can do this under EU law and does anybody know if there's a company that will accept her? Thanks.

[kempie]

There may be a company that will offer cover but, at present, EU legislation does not dictate that insurance companies in one member state must offer cover to a resident in another member state.

As to the licence issue; if, as it appears, your sister became normally resident in Austria before 1st July 1996, she would have been obliged at that time to exchange her driving licence for an equivalent licence issued by that country. This requirement has since been abolished, but if she was driving a car in Austria for the 14 years before that date, she would have done so illegally.

EU regs now say there is no need to exchange the licence and so you can drive in another member state on your original licence, as long as it is still valid. Not notifying a name change could be construed as invalidation (since it warrants a fine of �1000). It could well mean that the Austrian authorities class it as invalid.

For peace of mind, I would suggest that your sister confirms the status of her licence even if this means exchanging it for an Austrian licence (if the wrong name allows!).