car insurance with Cdn license? Any ideas?

Hi,
I've been in London about a year (year and 3 days) and need to buy a car/get insurance for a new post I'm taking up in Cornwall (any Cdns down in Cornwall!?)

I'm having the darnest time sorting out insurance and the whole license thing and wonder if anyone might have more of a clue.

I understand Canada is a 'designated country' meaning our license is good to use here for a full year from the time of our LAST entry into the UK. (not from the 1st time you enter, like it is for our American friends). This is a bonus - since it would mean, if I was American, that I'd now be 3 days past the deadline for applying for the UK one thus needing to start from scratch with a giant 'L'provisional license.

Problem is, in using your Canadian license you are classed as a visitor not a resident. And my experience this minute is that NO ONE will insure a visitor on a car!

Does anyone know of an insurance company that will, or can offer other words of wisdom. Help and thank you!!

Heather

I just asked my husband if it was possible to get insurance with a Canadian licence and he said.. "in Canada." I think he might be right.

The only thing I can think of is car rental agencies. They rent to foreigners so they must get insurance from somewhere. Check with them.

You may end up renting a car for a while.. you might have to trade in your licence.

trading in my license was the first thing I did. Easiest piece of british I.D I could get and then, wether you drive or not, you can get no-claim bonuses

Thanks for the advice. TUrns out AA will ensure on a Canadian license - not sure but suspect it might cost a little more but hopefully it will work.

If it doesn't, do you know what kind of hassle I face if I turn in my Canadian license and then at some point return to Canada? Am not planning to be here forever so don't want to be considered a complete newby when I go back - that test again - never if I can help it!

Thanks again,

- on another topic, anyone know of a reputable dealer for cheap used cars in London?

All I know about trading in your license is that you can only trade in for an Automatic license and not a 'full' one.

I've debated whether to change or not.

Yes, I realize you can only drive an automatic - until you take a test to certify you can drive a manual transmission.

I was wondering though about returning to Canada, how much hassle is it to get a Canadian license again once you've given yours up while living in the UK? Definitely a factor in my decision as to whether to give it up/trade it in for a UK one while living over here.

Cheers

That is why I haven't raded it in yet. I am not sure what happens... and there is no way I am going through that hell of graduated licensing in Ontario!
I missed it the first time 'round, I do not want to have to deal with it now.

I'm pretty sure you just trade it in for a Canadian license at that point. You might have to do a road test, but that's probably it. It depends, I think each province has different arrangements with different countries.

You only get an automatic licence if you can't prove you took your Canadian driving test on a manual tranmission. I couldn't, so I took some lessons here and took the test. I now have a full licence, not a graduated one.

To find out whether you could get your Canadian licence back after turning it in, you could call the provincial body that deals with it. They'll tell you.

but just tell the boys back in canada you lost your license.keep a photocopy of it before handing it in to the uk people

thanks
kev