who can drive UK car

[beekeeper]

A friend of mine has said that if you drive a UK registered car to Portugal only the registered driver/owner can drive it whilst in Portugal,to me this sounds nonsense but knowing the Portuguese authorities does this story have any substance

[maccasa]

As I understand it, it is solely your own Insurnace which covers you and therefore what terms are on that (green card etc) - Call your Insurance co.

[Lesley Jean]

You also need to check that you are cover fully comp as some insurance companies only cover you for 3rd party when you drive abroad.

[beekeeper]

many tks all useful info

[Polli62]

When we had a UK reg car over in Portugal 18 months ago, our insurance driving in Portugal was fully comp any driver over 30yrs of age, but if anyone else was driving besides the registered owner we had to give authorisation by way of a written letter saying the named person could drive the car with the authority of the main policy owner & duly signed.

[shanagarry]

On another forum in the recent past there was post that told the story of a Brit with Portuguese residencia driving a relative's UK registered car and being taken to task by the GNR when stopped. It was deemed illegal because he was not in possession of a UK driving licence and as the UK insurance for that car, on that occasion, stipulated that to drive the car using that insurance cover required a full UK driving licence. Because he had taken on Portuguese resedencia status and surrendered his UK Driving Licence - he was not insured to drive that car.

He was fined €180 for the offence.