Why do insurance companies hate jap imports?

Our man in Havana

Is there any particular reason it is a pain in the arse to get insurance on a jap import?

Green Diesel

A lot of Jap imports don't have immobilizers, so I'd say that is a factor.

alias no.9

Theft, car crime is virtually unheard of in Japan so deadlocks, immobilisers, alarms are not usually present.
Cost of parts to repair if they're any little bit different is another factor, insurance companies always use genuine parts for repairs.

Mar4ix

official dealers avoid them also, when i had skyline, nissan garage refused take it for full service.

djimi

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Most jap imports have little or no security and are very easy to steal.

Theyre also very desireable to the pricks who steal cars...

Tefral

Young people (in general) + Jap Car + Bad Drving = Crashes

Crashes = Claims

The more claims on a particular model = higher risk

High Risk Driver + High Risk Car = High Insurance
Low Risk Driver + High Risk Car = Above average insurance for your risk category.

Its all about ticking boxes, unfortunately Jap Imports tick far too many of the bad risk ones.

Theres is/was a massive parts market for these and as a result alot were stolen and broken for parts. Theres a running joke that if you stare at a Jap Import Honda long enough that the doors will pop open.

Stolen car = Claim = Higher Risk

fg10291

Could it be that people lie about what they have, i.e 1.3 on log book but actually 1.3 turbo etc etc etc

djimi

Security is not the only reason though; I have a top of the range Clifford in my Integra and most companies still wont touch it.

They have a stigma attached to them which has built up over years of morons racing them around roads and racking up huge insurance costs. Its gotten to the stage where insurance companies simply see them as more hassle than they are worth.

Our man in Havana

Yikes! You learn something new every day.

So European jap cars are ok when it comes to security features etc?

4odh4n

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Most jap imports have little or no security and are very easy to steal.

that is very true, but typical irish insurers they also wont consider any measures that you do to reduce the risk. I have installed a thatcham approved alarm (uk insurance will offer decent discount with this type of alarm) on my jap import car, mainly for my own piece of mind as i am aware how easy they are to steal, but insurance companies didnt want to know about it.

Tefral

fg10291 wrote: »

Could it be that people lie about what they have, i.e 1.3 on log book but actually 1.3 turbo etc etc etc

It never says Turbo on a log book... I think this was a "Donedeal" ad seller for idiots.

Toyota Glanza
"1.3 on the log book sham"

Tefral

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Yikes! You learn something new every day.

So European jap cars are ok when it comes to security features etc?

in general.. the UKDM Honda Integra had an immobilser.

However, all they do then its out with the UKDM ECU and plug in a JAP ECU. They then have a worn key which will open just about any honda and it starts and away they go.

Kill switches etc are the way to go. I used to have a kill switch in mine and i used to take the plug leads with me.. on top of my alarm..

djimi

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Yikes! You learn something new every day.

So European jap cars are ok when it comes to security features etc?

Yeah its the JDM imports that they dont like; not just cars by Japanese car manufacturers. That said, they still dont like many Hondas regardless of what market they come from...

fg10291

cronin_j wrote: »

It never says Turbo on a log book... I think this was a "Donedeal" ad seller for idiots.

Toyota Glanza
"1.3 on the log book sham"

I learn something new every day.

Tefral

djimi wrote: »

Yeah its the JDM imports that they dont like; not just cars by Japanese car manufacturers. That said, they still dont like many Hondas regardless of what market they come from...

I think the Passats are going to go the same. They are the "weapon" of choice for the new idiots..

Anything TDI, GTI, Honda, VTEC, etc all carries a loading as a higher risk category.

MugMugs

Our man in Havana wrote: »

Is there any particular reason it is a pain in the arse to get insurance on a jap import?

Come on dude ! You know this !

Japanese imports and the general exclusion placed on them would have a big factor.

Jap import car gets damaged then it can be an almighty pain in the backside to replace parts.

Tefral

MugMugs wrote: »

Come on dude ! You know this !

Japanese imports and the general exclusion placed on them would have a big factor.

Jap import car gets damaged then it can be an almighty pain in the backside to replace parts.

Actually its incredibly easy to get parts for them. Ive had no hassle getting parts from a 89 Honda Crx SiR to a 04 Honda Integra Type R

Youll find that there is generally a huge American market for them.

Ricardo G

Not sure about Jap imports in general, i would imagine a lot of it is to with the fact that 80% of them are performance cars, if anyone has tried to insure a mitsubishi FTO recently then you better have a lot of spare dough !! Next door neighbour is touching 40 years old and and was asked for 2.5k for renewal on his........yes 2.5k

MugMugs

cronin_j wrote: »

Actually its incredibly easy to get parts for them. Ive had no hassle getting parts from a 89 Honda Crx SiR to a 04 Honda Integra Type R

Youll find that there is generally a huge American market for them.

Past experience was the hassle aspect of importing parts and the costs associated with them too.

I've been there myself. Bought an imported civic off the docks.... had the world of trouble trying to get it covered.

Tefral

Ricardo G wrote: »

Not sure about Jap imports in general, i would imagine a lot of it is to with the fact that 80% of them are performance cars, if anyone has tried to insure a mitsubishi FTO recently then you better have a lot of spare dough !! Next door neighbour is touching 40 years old and and was asked for 2.5k for renewal on his........yes 2.5k

Ya alot of people would buy them because for their age, they had alot of features that are only becoming run of the mill in irish cars in the last 5 or so years. folding mirrors and air con etc.

Traditionally they are "Performance cars" to an extent..

Ive had a few I loved my Honda Integra Type R the most though, even with all the hassle of worrying about where to park it. The fun you can have in them is brilliant. Cheap Power!