Import much cheaper to insure?

[StottyZr]

I called my insurance yesterday to get a quote to change my car over to an Evo VIII. I and they weren't sure if it was an import or not so I was quoted for import and for a UK registered from new car.

My premium rose £542 for import and £980 for non-import

After I confirmed the car wasn't an import with the dealer I called my insurance again to be told that an import is much cheaper because of the manner in which it will be driven

Anybody experienced similar? They will not budge on price at all and I'm baffled.

[TommoAE86]

I thought the general rule was imports were more expensive to insure? But this is just me looking around at various buying guides for cars with HQ's in Japan...

[littlepaul]

it worked out cheaper for me to insure a mx5 mk1 jap import than the "English" mx5 exactly the same model,same engine etc.

[StottyZr]

That was my impression also. Although not in this very inconvenient instance.

[geeks]

My Celica was an import, I bought the one I did as it was £200 a year cheaper to ensure than the UK model I was also looking at. Thought it strange but was happy to have cheaper insurance

[Badgerboy]

It must vary, both of my imports attract a premium. (S2000 and a FTO)

Amuses me as all the UK spec FTOs are imports anyway.....

[pti]

I got quotes for a Eunos and MX-5 (both 1.8s) and the Eunos was a fair bit more to insure.

Now got an modified MR2 turbo which obviously has no UK equivalent but is relatively cheap to insure (£475) with no limit to mods unless I cross predetermined BHP limits.

Happy days.

[R6VED]

Sounds like things have changed. I nearly got an imported MR2 Targa as a straight swap some years back, when I spoke to my insurance company the quote was over £1k and they explained it was because it was an import and a non import would have been about half.

[StottyZr]

If I run a fresh quote (with the same company), the import is more to insure

Insurance prices don't make sense.

[Riknos]

StottyZr said:

If I run a fresh quote (with the same company), the import is more to insure

Insurance prices don't make sense.

That sounds right - Imports are normally more expensive to insure, although there's no real justification - especially when parts are 99.99% the same etc.

surprised at the lower premium for the import, but then like you said, a fresh quote it's more - so clear proof the companies just make it up as and when they see fit.

I imagine there is some weight to the "imports are driven better" as an import is more likely to be enthusiast owned, than not, compared to a uk spec, maybe?