silentandy Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 Whilst searching on confused.com earlier for a renewal quote for my gf's car I notice some companies ask whether the car is an import. Since I'm thinking of importing a car should I be worried about obtaining insurance, should it really make a different to the cover because the car was imported instead of from a dealer even though it will be UK spec? Has anyone who has an imported car ever had problems with insurance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted October 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2005 Nobody have experience of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotdog Posted October 16, 2005 Report Share Posted October 16, 2005 Not done any car imports myself, but I know people that have. Insurance isn't normally a problem and in a lot of cases, costs very little extra. I think the additional costs comes from insurers passing the cost of sourcing possibly slightly different parts back to the customer. I would suspect that with EU models this is no longer the case. As for warranties, with say a VW, you would only get two years instead of three, why? who knows!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted October 16, 2005 Report Share Posted October 16, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Whilst searching on confused.com earlier for a renewal quote for my gf's car I notice some companies ask whether the car is an import. Since I'm thinking of importing a car should I be worried about obtaining insurance, should it really make a different to the cover because the car was imported instead of from a dealer even though it will be UK spec? Has anyone who has an imported car ever had problems with insurance? [/ QUOTE ]I used to have a Imported UK spec Audi S3 and Egg.com didnt mind aslong as it was UK spec. Riz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dodge Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 I can only guess the Insurance companies are wanting to identify "Grey" Imports... like Skylines etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riz Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I can only guess the Insurance companies are wanting to identify "Grey" Imports... like Skylines etc. [/ QUOTE ]Mmmm yes but Bayside Blue is better than Grey! Vrooooom psssssssssh Riz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insurance Jon Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 dodge hit the nail on the head, as long as it's a euro import your ok, and that the model is normally sold in the uk, and it's RHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Not my experience ! I nearly bought a UK registered, UK spec, 1 year old Celica from a main dealer. It was originally from Virgincars. The price was great etc etc ... I called to get an insurance quote (can't remember from who), and was told it was registered as an import. I explained it was a parallel import (originally from Belgium), from a big company (Virgin), but they insisted on it being treated as group 18, not 12 or whatever. The car salesman admitted that is why the car was so cheap, because dvla had it down as an import. Anyway, I gave up arguing the toss and bought a Golf GTi instead .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 AndyW - what are you thinking of importing?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted October 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Another GTI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Is there a saving in doing that?? Did you import the last one. I've looked at doing this of recent and with the Euro as it is - doesn't seem worth it. Lot dearer in fact! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanW Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Is there a saving in doing that?? [/ QUOTE ] As an individual car I doubt it would save you anything by the time you've got it home and registered it etc. The best way to buy an import is to get it from a car supermaket - they buy in bulk so you save a bit more And no, European imports should not affect insurance. It's anything outside the EU that will make a difference - some companies see it differently though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted October 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Yep- UK list price of what I want is £25875! Through select-automotive it's £21958 including all fees OTR. So even if you factor in the third year warranty and possible fluctuations in currency over the next 12 weeks it's still a significant saving. However if the insurance is going to be a lot higher over the next 3 years of ownership then it's not going to be worthwhile. I didn't import the one I have but didn't pay list price either, but now the most discount I've been offered from a UK dealer is £600. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Oh right - i see - you mean an import but from a broker or car supermarket. Not a personal import. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silentandy Posted October 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Yes, but it's still classed as a personal import isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonb Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Not sure - never done it. Suppose it would be - wouldn't it?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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