Warning!! Don't let more than 2 years lapse on insurance in your own name!!
This may have changed again since but I don't think so. I went to Australia 8 years ago and had been insured with eagle star for 2 years in my own name (by the way they did give me a discount for being a named driver on my mothers car, lots of letters supplied to support this).
I rang Eagle star before I left and asked for my no claims discount in writing. I asked the receptionist how long it would last and she said 2 years.
In Australia for one year and decided to buy a car before the 2 years were out as didnt want to lose the NCD. Applied for my insurance through a broker, different insurer this time, when I said I hadnt been insured for a year and half, they said they couldnt insure me, but I argued the point and had to sign a waiver saying I hadn't had insurance in my own name for the past year and half.
Moved in with boyfriend a couple of years later and sold my car, insured myself again before the 2 years were up, and same messing around again.