Buying an imported car can save you money compared to equivalent UK models, or give you a choice of more cars than are available on the UK market. But while registering your new imported car with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and paying tax and VAT are usually fairly straightforward, getting it insured can be another matter entirely. We explain what you need to know and how to keep imported car insurance costs down.<\/p>
You might be forgiven for thinking that imported cars are nothing unusual. After all, huge numbers of cars are made abroad and imported by UK-based car dealers for sale on the UK market. This includes most cars from manufacturers that are based overseas as well as some from quintessentially British brands. For example, even some models from iconic British brand Mini are made in the Netherlands.<\/p>
However, even when they’re made overseas, most cars imported and sold in this mainstream way are designed and registered for use in the UK.<\/p>
You can also choose to buy a car that was originally designed to be sold and used in another country. These models are known as “imported cars”, and there are a number of independent dealers that specialise in this market. They can be cheaper than equivalent models sold in the UK, may have better equipment, and you may even be able to get hold of unusual models that aren’t available on the mainstream UK market.<\/p>
But buying an imported car has downsides too, one of which can be pricier insurance.<\/p>
The short answer is yes, you should be able to.<\/p>
The slightly longer answer is yes, but it might be trickier than insuring a UK model because of the non-standard risk factors that imported cars often present. This is more likely to be the case if you’re importing from outside of the EU. The number of insurers willing to offer you cover may be limited and you may have to use a specialist insurer. Insurance is also likely to be more expensive.<\/p>
Compare quotes with Confused.<\/a><\/p> Depending on the specific car, difficulties may emerge because of the following issues:<\/p> There are 2 main types of imported car in the UK.<\/p> Parallel imports tend to be brought in from other EU countries so are usually similar to their UK equivalents.<\/p> Grey imports typically come from outside the EU. Cars from Japan and the USA are popular grey imports. There is unlikely to be a UK equivalent to a grey import.<\/p> When compared to cars designed for the UK market, it can often be more expensive to insure imported vehicles. That’s because imported cars often use non-standard parts that need to be shipped from overseas at extra cost, manufacturers might lack service facilities in the UK and imported cars are often modified or otherwise non-standard<\/a>, which can further raise the price of insurance.<\/p> Some of these extra charges are unavoidable, but there are ways to keep down costs.<\/p> Yes, grey imports are likely to be more expensive to insure than parallel imports. Many parallel imports will be very similar to, or in some cases indistinguishable from, their UK counterparts. Grey imports are likely to have much bigger differences to UK cars, and this will increase your insurance premium.<\/p> Unusual, high-end grey imports are often more enticing to thieves and this is something that car insurers will care about.<\/p> You can find the cheapest imported car insurance by getting several quotes from standard insurers with cover for special vehicles. Then compare these with quotes from a number of specialist insurers.<\/p> Specialist insurers are often focused on providing cover for people who are truly passionate about cars. Although the vehicles can be more powerful and driven at higher speeds, the drivers themselves are often highly experienced, safety-conscious and know how to look after their car.<\/p> This can have the effect of lowering risk levels, and letting specialist insurers offer prices that standard providers cannot.<\/p> Depending on your vehicle, the insurer and the cover, you could find a small price difference, or an enormous difference.<\/p> If you’re buying car insurance for an imported car, you’ll need to consider all of the things that matter for regular car insurance<\/a>, such as levels of cover, exclusions and add-ons<\/a>.<\/p> Specialist car insurance policies may offer a variety of extra benefits which set them apart from standard providers, and in some cases from each other. When you’re comparing imported car insurance policies, consider these as well as the price.<\/p>What are the main insurance issues for an imported car?<\/h3>
What are the main types of car import and how do these impact price?<\/h3>
Parallel imports<\/h4>
Grey imports<\/h4>
Does it cost more to insure an imported car?<\/h3>
Does the type of imported car affect the cost of car insurance?<\/h3>
How to save money on an imported car insurance policy<\/h3>
How to compare imported car insurance providers<\/h3>
What features should I look out for in an imported car insurance policy?<\/h3>