Imports and Insurance - Help!!!!

Scarlett68

Hi All,

I have found a very nice little MX-5 but a Cartell Report indicates that it came from from the UK in 2005 to here. Most online insurance companies have a set of assumptions that they make about you and the vehicle you want to insure - one of these assumptions is " that the vehicle is not an import". The OH maintains that coming in from the UK its not an import 'cause it was made for the european market and what the insurance companies are concerned about is that most cars made in other non-european regions have different parts etc. As far as Im concerned its come in from another jurisdiction therefore its an import!

What are the insurance companies concerns in regards to imports??? Any advice?? . Do any online ones not make this assumption about the car?

Thanks.

Anan1

You will have to declare it as an import, but your OH is basically right - they'll be fine with a UK import.

bazz26

Most insurance companies refer to an import as a Japanese import where the car was not originally entended to be sold in Europe. This is down to different or lower standards in security, safety, etc in Japan. I.e. Most Japanese imports didn't have immobilisers fitted up to a few years ago because car crime was not that common over there. With no immobiliser fitted it makes the car easier to steal over here.

To be 100% sure though you are better off ringing the insurance company directly and ask them to define import.

oldyouth

bazz26 wrote: »

Most insurance companies refer to an import as a Japanese import where the car was not originally entended to be sold in Europe. This is down to different or lower standards in security, safety, etc in Japan. I.e. Most Japanese imports didn't have immobilisers fitted up to a few years ago because car crime was not that common over there. With no immobiliser fitted it makes the car easier to steal over here.

To be 100% sure though you are better off ringing the insurance company directly and ask them to define import.

In addition to that, is that not all spare parts, especially windscreens, are compatible with the models available here. If the car is damaged, often spares will need to be shipped in at extra cost

Irishrossoblu

Got quoted today on my car, which is a UK import. I pointed that out and they said that UK import was not considered an 'Import' for insurance purposes, cos its RHD ect

Del2005

Scarlett68 wrote: »

Hi All,

I have found a very nice little MX-5 but a Cartell Report indicates that it came from from the UK in 2005 to here. Most online insurance companies have a set of assumptions that they make about you and the vehicle you want to insure - one of these assumptions is " that the vehicle is not an import". The OH maintains that coming in from the UK its not an import 'cause it was made for the european market and what the insurance companies are concerned about is that most cars made in other non-european regions have different parts etc. As far as Im concerned its come in from another jurisdiction therefore its an import!

What are the insurance companies concerns in regards to imports??? Any advice?? . Do any online ones not make this assumption about the car?

Thanks.

I've brought this up with an insurance company before, as I pointed out that all* cars in Ireland are imports, the imports they are on about is Jap imports not UK imports. But your better off telling them it's a UK import as they could void your policy if they want to, as technically you've lied on your proposal.

* Bar some very old Fords and VWs

Scarlett68

Thanks for all the help guys! Really appreciate it.

FYI: www.123.ie dont make any assumption about import status of a car (at least for an online quote anyway!....maybe if you actually go on to purchase it, it might be different).

ThanX.

mondeo

Their is not a hugh differance between standard cars marked for the Japanese market and ones designed for the EU. The only real differances willl be minor engine tuning, ecu's may be setup a little differant, seat belt beepers and maybe bumpers and grilles can be differant with differant clips and mountings. 90% of the parts are interchangable between japanese imports and Euro marketed cars. I have owned many imports over the years and had little difficulty replacing , chassis and body components with parts of the euro versions and vice versa.

birchtree

oldyouth wrote: »

Quote:
Originally Posted by bazz26
Most insurance companies refer to an import as a Japanese import where the car was not originally entended to be sold in Europe. This is down to different or lower standards in security, safety, etc in Japan. I.e. Most Japanese imports didn't have immobilisers fitted up to a few years ago because car crime was not that common over there. With no immobiliser fitted it makes the car easier to steal over here.

To be 100% sure though you are better off ringing the insurance company directly and ask them to define import.
In addition to that, is that not all spare parts, especially windscreens, are compatible with the models available here. If the car is damaged, often spares will need to be shipped in at extra cost

In addition to that, is that not all spare parts, especially windscreens, are compatible with the models available here. If the car is damaged, often spares will need to be shipped in at extra cost

What's the reasoning of insurance companies behind questions whether the car is japanese import?

Ok, good point about spare parts - but that comes into play only if the insurance is comprehensive, not if its third party only.
And if there is no immobilizer on a japanese import, and I fit car alarm, that fulfills insurance requirement.

Would there be any other reason insurance company to refuse insurance or bump up the premium? (for a standard, not high performance car).

bazz26

birchtree wrote: »

What's the reasoning of insurance companies behind questions whether the car is japanese import?

Ok, good point about spare parts - but that comes into play only if the insurance is comprehensive, not if its third party only.
And if there is no immobilizer on a japanese import, and I fit car alarm, that fulfills insurance requirement.

Would there be any other reason insurance company to refuse insurance or bump up the premium? (for a standard, not high performance car).

This is a 3 year old thread but to answer your question quickly before it is locked, jap imports have less security as car thieft was less of a problem in Japan, some don't have immobilisers or dead locks fitted making them magnets for car thieves. They also can have odd ball specifications or may not be equipped with certain safety features that EU law makes car makers fit to their cars originally sold on the European market.

L-M

Please don't dig up old threads.