Jap Import Insurance

rhino1

Hi All
Can anyone recommend companys that will insure Japanese imports.

monster1

rhino1 wrote: »

Hi All
Can anyone recommend companys that will insure Japanese imports.

Liberty Insurance should give you a quote

Atlantic Dawn

If you get an immobilizer it should help, also having an alarm in addition is a good idea as most thieves will assume it has none.

rhino1

It has all the security possible ,however I believe this has almost no bearing on who will quote me .This is in contrast to the UK market where a quality alarm and immobiliser will significantly reduce premium.

There has been a trend over the last four years for insurace companys to decline to quote Japanese imports.Its at the point that they could be counted on one hand.

MTBD

Does that go for Japanese imports of cars that are available here? Lets say I wanted a rare Merc like a c43 and one was available in Japan. That car would be pretty much identical to one sold here, surely they would have to quote for that? Or are we talking about Chasers, Levins and other absolutely ker-azy cars?

bazz26

MTBD wrote: »

Does that go for Japanese imports of cars that are available here? Lets say I wanted a rare Merc like a c43 and one was available in Japan. That car would be pretty much identical to one sold here, surely they would have to quote for that? Or are we talking about Chasers, Levins and other absolutely ker-azy cars?

No necessarily. JDM models even imported makes from Europe, could have different specifications to those sold in the EU. The EU and Japan could also have different safety standards which has a bearing.

Foxhole Norman

rhino1 wrote: »

Hi All
Can anyone recommend companys that will insure Japanese imports.

My brother has his Jap Import Ek Civic with an engine swap insured with Aviva, decent quote too.

Toyotafanboi

Always had my Japs with Liberty, never any hassle.

corks finest

monster1 wrote: »

Liberty Insurance should give you a quote

Yes liberty will,I've a Honda insight hybrid import,, with immobiliser

rhino1

No luck with either liberty or aviva .Any one else got any ideas ?

Foxhole Norman

rhino1 wrote: »

No luck with either liberty or aviva .Any one else got any ideas ?

I'm surprised. What car is it?

corks finest

rhino1 wrote: »

Hi All
Can anyone recommend companys that will insure Japanese imports.

Don't know why liberty won't insure u,,,,my Honda insight is a jap import, no problem with liberty,,,why not contact the bigger jap importers in Dublin to get some advice,,,,let's be honest if garages are importing,insurers are insuring,,maybe they'll be able to tell u where their clients are getting insured,,,,hope u get skirted soon

MTBD

Do insurers actually know where the car is imported from? I'm looking at some cars that are entirely the same as the irish spec but can be sourced in Japan easier than here. There is no reason the insurance company should charge any different rate to a UK import, or even an Irish car but by all accounts they will make life very difficult to insure it regardless of that.

Toyotafanboi

MTBD wrote: »

Do insurers actually know where the car is imported from? I'm looking at some cars that are entirely the same as the irish spec but can be sourced in Japan easier than here. There is no reason the insurance company should charge any different rate to a UK import, or even an Irish car but by all accounts they will make life very difficult to insure it regardless of that.

Yeah they know where it came from.

I was the same there recently. Was looking at buyinga ZZT230 celica. Absolutely not a chance of insuring a jap model, no way, no how. Bought an identical UK import model and insured it with no hassle at all for small money.

selectamatic

Try liberty through a broker like campion and ya might get a quote. If your u25 then the chances of this quote being in anyway reasonable are slim to nil. All insurers seem to be taking a blanket stance on jap imports regardless of spec or power. A jap 1.3 n/a starlet is practically as hard to insure as a starlet gt turbo also I know of someone who was flat out refused insurance on a 2.0 diesel e10 corolla estate just because it was a jap import (this car has 75bhp!) its getting a bit ridiculous really but insurers continue to do as they please with little to no resistance from regulators.

CJhaughey

Get three declinations in writing and go to the insurance ombudsman, they will force one of the insurers to quote you.

MTBD

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

Yeah they know where it came from.

I was the same there recently. Was looking at buyinga ZZT230 celica. Absolutely not a chance of insuring a jap model, no way, no how. Bought an identical UK import model and insured it with no hassle at all for small money.

Yeah, I wonder where they get their information. I asked a broker for a price and she asked me directly where it was imported from. If I said the UK, she didn't seem to have any way of contradicting me. If it was registered in Northern Ireland first and then the republic I'd say they wouldn't actually know it came from Japan. It's a completely irrelevant piece of information to an insurer anyway, once the car isn't a Japanese Domestic model. Used only as a means of shafting people. If the car is identical to one sold in Ireland there should be no loading whatsoever.

Just looking at the amount of insurance threads being discussed its clear a major overhaul of this industry is needed.

Toyotafanboi

I think it's the lack of immobiliser that kills it for mostJDM imports, insurance wise. Also the expense/ difficulty surrounding spare body parts if it's a car not available in Ireland.

If this is was the UK though, you could send them proof that you had an alarm system fitted and things would be fine.

Pov06

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I think it's the lack of immobiliser that kills it for mostJDM imports, insurance wise. Also the expense/ difficulty surrounding spare body parts if it's a car not available in Ireland.

If this is was the UK though, you could send them proof that you had an alarm system fitted and things would be fine.

But don't like 90% of insurance companies ask if your car is fitted with an alarm and/or immobiliser?

projectgtr

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

I think it's the lack of immobiliser that kills it for mostJDM imports, insurance wise. Also the expense/ difficulty surrounding spare body parts if it's a car not available in Ireland.

If this is was the UK though, you could send them proof that you had an alarm system fitted and things would be fine.

Thats exactly what they told me when i rang for mine years ago, they have no immobilizer so are too easy to steal. So when i imported mine i fitted a very high quality alarm thinking id get a reduction, annnnnnnnd no the quote didnt change unlike in the UK even though the same company operated in the UK and reduced premiums when qualifying alarms were installed :mad:

rhino1 wrote: »

Hi All
Can anyone recommend companys that will insure Japanese imports.

Im insured with Liberty, i think the issue you are having is that they wont quote new customers with imports, have you a car you can insure then change over to the import? this has worked for plenty of people.

Wibbs

projectgtr wrote: »

Thats exactly what they told me when i rang for mine years ago, they have no immobilizer so are too easy to steal. So when i imported mine i fitted a very high quality alarm thinking id get a reduction, annnnnnnnd no the quote didnt change unlike in the UK even though the same company operated in the UK and reduced premiums when qualifying alarms were installed :mad:

This really ticks me off too. Alarm or no it makes no difference to the quote, or it never has for me. At this stage mine is so festooned with security, both mechanical and electrical, it's hard enough for me to start with the keys, never mind for a scumbag*. When I showed my broker he was like "so basically they'll have to tow or trailer it away?"(even then the sirens of doom would be sounding). Any reduction on policy? No that would be sensible. He reckoned it was daft too.








*I had another import Honda nicked back in the very early noughties. Luckily I got it back but I was shocked after some research how easy it was to steal. A child could do it. It had an aftermarket alarm fitted, but found out how stupidly easy the majority of alarm installs are to bypass(inc some big names BTW). I also found how to make it bloody secure, or as secure as can be for little enough money.

rhino1

Apologies for not finishing this .

Got insurance with octane insurace through a broker .Paid a little bit more than last year.I made a claim on a break in and this ruled me out for most companies people suggested.

Every year it gets harder.

Thanks to all who suggested companies

Rado77

Here is the answer: Campion Insurance
Talk to Steven, he is the man and this is what he sais:
... We have very good insurance rates when it comes to older Japanese cars which is hard got if at all these days but if anyone has any questions you are more than welcome to call me on 057 866 5083 between 9-5 or email sbrophy at campionins.com ...
He sorted me out in no time, I have very heavily modified Honda now insured with Campion Insurance.

rhino1

Great to keep this thread going .A definitive list of all insurance companies that will insure jap imports will help all enthusiasts keep their cars on the road.

Golfgorfield

I insured my imported weekend car a Mazda Mx5 1998 in Autoline in Coleraine, i asked for classic car insurance (they rate 15yrs old as classic) and after getting a lowest quote of 900 i got it for 350 from them! Thats limited mileage of 3000 per year mind you but they are worth speaking to! Coleraine office is the one to deal with.