Import Car Insurance

Import Car Insurance Policy Features

Your import insurance policy could include the following features.

GREY IMPORTS

This term refers to cars that have been imported from overseas privately, rather than by the manufacturer. Many grey imports come from Japan, and thus do not meet European emissions or safety standards, so you will need to bring this in as a personal import. In order to do this, and be able to get an insurance policy, you will need to ensure your car goes through the Basic Individual Vehicle Approval Test.

Insurers can often see grey imports as more of a risk due to their usually increased power and risk of theft. You can help to reduce your premium by ensuring your car is locked away and stored safely in a garage or secure car park. Find out more about Grey Imports Cover.

PARALLEL IMPORTS

A parallel import is a car that has been brought in from an EU country where the specifications are either identical or very similar. Insurers consider these types of imports as much less risky due to the fact that they meet EU standards. The rules on parallel imports after Brexit are still to be ironed out.

Q PLATED CARS

Imported cars are seen as non-standard by insurers, which means that these cars require a specialist type of cover regardless of whether it has been modified or not. If the vehicle has been modified from manufacture standard, it is likely to get a Q plate. The Q plate usually applies to kit cars and rebuilds, or any time when the age of the vehicle is not certain, due to the presence of non-original parts or a gap in its documented history. Read more about Q Plated Import Cars.

COMPETITIVE QUOTES

Insuring an imported car will often be more expensive due to the perceived increase in risk by brokers. Having said that, speaking with an import car insurance specialist will be somewhat of a safeguard against exorbitant costs. Importing a vehicle into the UK can be fraught with issues, so the last thing you want is issues with your insurance. You need to work with a broker you trust, and one that can offer you all the necessary import insurance policy features for the most competitive price.

How Can You Reduce Your Premium?

The best way to save money on your imported car insurance is to opt for a broker that specialises in this type of cover. Choose an insurer that understands the unique risks you face and can work to design a bespoke policy that covers you for your specific case. For example, you may only use your imported car for track days or demonstrations, in which case you can opt for limited mileage or agreed mileage cover – this means you will pay a reduced sum as long as you keep below an agreed mileage limit, the logic being that less time on the road means fewer chances of getting into an accident.

Another way to keep costs to a minimum is to buy a car that has as few modifications to the factory standard as possible. Increased power and excessive decor, among other things, can push up the price of your insurance as these changes make the car more attractive to thieves and vandals.

Types Of Car Covered

The type of car you import will directly influence the price and type of cover you can have. The issue insurers have with imported cars is the simplicity and ease with which they can be repaired should something go wrong. For example, a Japanese imported car may have parts that cannot be easily sourced by UK mechanics; this will make coverage difficult.

Similarly, regulations and standards in the UK might be vastly different from those in the country of origin, therefore meaning they pose more of a risk due to the lack of adherence to these standards. Premiums can be high but this is due to the relative unknowns that come with insuring such a car.

Grey Imports

This term refers to cars that have been imported from overseas privately, rather than by the manufacturer. Many grey imports come from Japan, and have thus do not meet European emissions or safety standards, so you will need to bring this in as a personal import. In order to do this, and be able to get an insurance policy, you will need to ensure your car goes through the Basic Individual Vehicle Approval Test.

Insurers can often see grey imports as more of a risk due to their usually increased power and risk of theft. You can help to reduce your premium by ensuring your car is locked away and stored safely in a garage or secure car park.

Parallel Imports

A parallel import is a car that has been brought in from an EU country where the specifications are either identical or very similar. Insurers consider these types of imports as much less risky due to the fact that they meet EU standards. The rules on parallel imports after Brexit are still to be ironed out.