How expensive is it to insure a imported car

[tali1]

Just out of curiosity -Lots of companies have a no -imports "its way to risky we don't want your custom policy" , - so how expensive is it to insure a imported car?-is it a lot more than a UK car? and how expensive are parts?

[MrFlibbles]

tali1 said:

Just out of curiosity -Lots of companies have a no -imports "its way to risky we don't want your custom policy" , - so how expensive is it to insure a imported car?-is it a lot more than a UK car? and how expensive are parts?

I've had an imported MR2 Turbo which wasnt too bad.

I also had an FTO which was silly money.

When I asked the question I was told it was about there being a UK equivalent. When I mentioned the MRT wasn't sold in the UK, they said there were plenty of interchangeable parts (esp bodypanels).

[Holst]

I think it depends on the car.

Some imports seem to be fine others are silly (import skyline for example)

I have a UK Prelude VTEC.

The first year I insured it the cost was about £450, for an JDM import they wanted over £600, so I bought a UK car.
With the Prelude 99% of bits are identical between UKDM and JDM, they just charge more for an import because they can get away with it. I think repair costs will be identical as the bits are all the same.

So it can be allot more expensive, but its not allways so get some quotes to find out.

[KB_S1]

As some kind of indication.

I was quoted £1600 for an import Evo VI at £10k value.
Then quoted £800 for an 04 STi UK Impreza at £13k value.

[Riknos]

KB_S1 said:

As some kind of indication.

I was quoted £1600 for an import Evo VI at £10k value.
Then quoted £800 for an 04 STi UK Impreza at £13k value.

Not the most accurate comparison..

When I was 20, the difference between insuring a (Both standard) UK GT4 or a JDM GT4 was about £200-250. The only differences between these are the map, and the options list (JDM got ABS as option, but climate control and electric folding mirrors standard. UK got ABS standard, with only A/c and heated mirrors) Also to consider, most main dealers wont touch imports for any kind of work, so if you're planning on going to main stealers I would ask your local first if they will work on imports. The nearest 3 to me wont

[smeagol65]

i hada scooby wrx import had insured fully comp 4 550 pounds it pays to shop around

[BIG DUNC]

If the import is sensible, the insurence will only be slightly more. The biggest difference will be that your choice of companies will be more limited, as 90% of companies "don't do imports"

[Bibbs]

My last two cars have been imports.

The MR2 Turbo was fine, the S2000 even easier.

It's the mods they don't like.

[MrFlibbles]

Bibbs said:

My last two cars have been imports.

The MR2 Turbo was fine, the S2000 even easier.

It's the mods they don't like.

Bibbs, you coming to the RR "day" on the 16th @ SRR?

I'd love to see the S2k run, and perhaps have a little spin!

[Alec]

I pay £795 for an Imprt Scooby WRX running 330bhp with a Bradford postcode, thats 45% ish up on standard. TBH I think the import status matters much less on modded cars.

[dnb]

My STi type RA is nearly double the cost of my old UK spec Scoob. The mods were more or less the same between the 2 cars, but the STi is 3 groups higher.

[JonnyV8]

Before I saw the Starion I thought it was gonna be an import and was quoted 750 fully comp.

It was only on viewing that I found out it was a UK car and the quote dropped to 550, sweet

[driverrob]

My imported GTO TT doesn't cost a lot more for anything (parts/insurance ..)

BIG DUNC said:

The biggest difference will be that your choice of companies will be more limited, as 90% of companies "don't do imports"

That, I found, was very true. Your best bet is to join a club/forum that has some sort of an arrangement with one or two specialist insurers.

[kimi1]

I have not found it that bad at all to be honest,

the s15 costs around £550 fully comp with all my mods declared,

i've also got a uk toyota supercharged yaris tsport, and that is near enough
the same price.

If you use a specialised import insurance company,
its no problem and they cover all your mods like for like.

[RichyBoy]

Never been able to get good quotes on imported cars, always wondered why because surely they use the same parts etc.

[Bibbs]

MrFlibbles said:

Bibbs, you coming to the RR "day" on the 16th @ SRR?

I'd love to see the S2k run, and perhaps have a little spin!

Would love to .. but I'm having issues with the car.
I should be out that way mid March, fingers crossed for a re-map.

[tali1]

RichyBoy said:

Never been able to get good quotes on imported cars, always wondered why because surely they use the same parts etc.

Not sure - but Japs are notorious for having different specifications/parts on same cars

[mikeyb13]

Dont know that for performance per pound it make much difference.Jap models tend to be more track orientated. I was looking at Subarus a few months back. I was looking at 2door models. I found it a lot more expensive to insure a British P1 than an import Type-R. Despite the fact that the import is lighter more powerful and felt a lot quicker. The Type-R has stiffer suspension a ridiculously close ratio gearbox and I dont even have antilock brakes! Go to www.confused.com I spent weeks there trying various quotes for different cars and found it really easy to change the car on the policy without reimputing all my details.

[Nuclearsquash]

I found Warwick Davis http://www.warwick-davis.co.uk/motor_insurance.htm very good when i had my Supra.

I started of with Sky Insurance @ £800 fc on a Supra SZ (the non turbo slow one)
the next year Warwick Davis and they halved my premium, Sky couldn't even get close.

[Adam81]

I have £15.000 is that enough for a first time driver to get a decent Nissan 350GT Skyline on the road in uk?

kind regards adam