Trouble with insurance on Japanese WRX S4 import- need advic

[JDMadrid]

Hi all,
I’m 27, full UK licence since 2018, 6 years no claims, and looking to buy a Subaru WRX S4 (2.0L 4-door saloon) imported from Japan and already registered in the UK. My main blocker is insurance.
Here’s what I’ve tried:
Compare the Market: shows the car as a Subaru Legacy diesel, even with the new UK registration plate
Japcover: model not on system
Brentacre: need to own car for a year first
Admiral: WRX S4 not on their system
Adrian Flux: quoted £1.7k–£2k annual (way higher than expected)
Howdens & Keith Michaels: awaiting response
Questions:
Is this insurance difficulty because the WRX S4 is Japan-only?
Or is it just a case of waiting for the DVLA to update the car details?
Are there any workarounds people have used, like insuring it as a UK WRX STI since they share specs?
Any tips on brokers or insurers who will actually cover a UK-registered JDM WRX S4?
Any advice or experience would be hugely appreciated—I really want this car!

[_Rodders_]

Probably just youngish and an import.

Probably worth trying a few more specialists but might be worth sucking up one year in the hope that it's more reasonable after a year.

If you really want it that is.

[AndySpecC]

Keith Michaels insure my jap import Imreza for what it's worth. I think they only cover imported or modified cars.

[scooby1994]

As above ,keith Michaels and ask for Gary Moulson,they insure a lot of import Impreza's

[James_0541]

Mark Richard insured my JDM Legacy GT cheaper than the UK spec Outback it replaced. None of the regular companies were interested.

[fooman]

I had JDM cars for many years, mainly because they are great value, but you pay more for insurance to the point over the years I would have probably spent no more buying UK models.

One car had no UK equivalent, so they insured it as something with similar running gear (JDM was an estate while the UK model was a coupe) and put an note on the system. This was through a broker although I had it insured with Flux too. I did have a claim at one point when somebody ran into it, no issues apart from taking 7 weeks waiting for a new wing from Japan.

[SturdyHSV]

Howdens needs to be the Thatcham branch specifically, as they deal with imports / modified cars.

I have my Holden Commodore insured with them no problem, and a Holden Ute, and heavily modified Monaro.

[Konan]

SturdyHSV said:

Howdens needs to be the Thatcham branch specifically, as they deal with imports / modified cars.

I have my Holden Commodore insured with them no problem, and a Holden Ute, and heavily modified Monaro.

Yeah, I used Thatcham for my Levorg, which is pretty much the S4 with a boot.