How do I know if my car's a UK import?

muloc

Hi,

I bought a car last year and the garage told me it's a UK import. I checked the log book and both previous owners were in Ireland.

Can I tell from the vehicle reg certificate for certain or is there any other way?

I note it makes a difference to insurance which is now due :eek:

Thanks,
Muloc

weisses

Doesn't cartell.ie or motorcheck.ie tell you that when you punch in the reg number ?

Polo_Mint

muloc wrote: »

Hi,

I bought a car last year and the garage told me it's a UK import. I checked the log book and both previous owners were in Ireland.

Can I tell from the vehicle reg certificate for certain or is there any other way?

I note it makes a difference to insurance which is now due :eek:

Thanks,
Muloc

motorcheck.ie should be able to tell you if it was MOTed

fancy pigeon

There is a part of the vrc that says previous registration. Can't remember the exact section number off hand

Armchair Andy

Does it make the insurance dearer or what OP do you know? Another stunt if it is...

Harcrid

Check your registration document. (VLC). It will have the old UK registration number on it. Section J.4

Cee-Jay-Cee

What age car is it? Is the speedo in MPH if the car is newer than 04?

shietpilot

Insurance companies don't care about UK imports or any other European imports (as long as the steering wheel is on the right side). They only load Japanese imports because they usually don't have immobilisers which makes them an easy target for thieves.

the_shark

If you have your registration cert handy check the back of it and under J.4 it'll give the Uk reg if vehicle was registered over there

shietpilot

the_shark wrote: »

If you have your registration cert handy check the back of it and under J.4 it'll give the Uk reg if vehicle was registered over there

Not necessarily true though. My parents had a UK import but the UK reg was not written on the log book yet we had the old reg plates

fancy pigeon

shietpilot wrote: »

Insurance companies don't care about UK imports or any other European imports (as long as the steering wheel is on the right side). They only load Japanese imports because they usually don't have immobilisers which makes them an easy target for thieves.

I had to wait a day for approval from AXA's regulating body when changing insurance over to my Corolla, due to it being an NI import

A 68 bhp ball of fury

Approval

F*ck sake :rolleyes:

kefir32

have a UK import, makes no difference to premium at all

Donnelly117

Motorcheck.ie flags my Z4 as a UK import so stick you reg in there and itll tell you...

JackHeuston

kefir32 wrote: »

have a UK import, makes no difference to premium at all

most insurers when I rang around immediately changed their tone when they asked if it was an import and refused me insurance at that point.

kefir32

JackHeuston wrote: »

most insurers when I rang around immediately changed their tone when they asked if it was an import and refused me insurance at that point.

Im genuinely surprised at that..... never an issue for me as have had uk imports the last few years.

bazz26

JackHeuston wrote: »

most insurers when I rang around immediately changed their tone when they asked if it was an import and refused me insurance at that point.

For the most part insurance companies refer an import to a used car imported from outside the EU where it was never intended to be sold. These are known as "grey" imports. Japanese imports for example can have less security features fitted than the same car that was originally made with the intention to be sold within the EU. UK imports on the other hand for the most part would be originally intended to be sold in the EU so meet EU guidelines.

muloc

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Motorcheck.ie flags my Z4 as a UK import so stick you reg in there and itll tell you...

nothing showing on motorcheck other than type/fuel etc....do you have to pay to see this import info?

bazz26

No. It usually highlights in a red banner if the car is a UK import.

Donnelly117

muloc wrote: »

nothing showing on motorcheck other than type/fuel etc....do you have to pay to see this import info?

Nope, says it on the right in the blue box, big red banner with a UK flag on it

Henry Ford III

MPH speedo will be a big clue (sometimes).

muloc

I just reran my quote as not an import and it makes a difference of €130 so huge difference

muloc

shietpilot wrote: »

Not necessarily true though. My parents had a UK import but the UK reg was not written on the log book yet we had the old reg plates

j.4 is blank on mine

shietpilot

JackHeuston wrote: »

most insurers when I rang around immediately changed their tone when they asked if it was an import and refused me insurance at that point.

When they ask that question don't just say "yes", tell them it's UK import and most likely they will say "okay, that doesn't matter". They must be assuming it's a Japanese import if you just say "yes".

ION08

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Motorcheck.ie flags my Z4 as a UK import so stick you reg in there and itll tell you...

How exactly??

If you put a reg in it will only confirm what car it is and the colour as far as I can see?

Motorcheck is a load of crap imo

alta stare

ION08 wrote: »

How exactly??

If you put a reg in it will only confirm what car it is and the colour as far as I can see?

Motorcheck is a load of crap imo

Ah it's not really I use it anytime I'm looking to buy a car. Unless you pay the fee it won't tell you if it is an import.

Donnelly117

ION08 wrote: »

How exactly??

If you put a reg in it will only confirm what car it is and the colour as far as I can see?

Motorcheck is a load of crap imo

Says it on the right...

https://www.motorcheck.ie/free-car-check/07c40910/

alta stare

Donnelly117 wrote: »

Says it on the right...

https://www.motorcheck.ie/free-car-check/07c40910/

I use it from my phone so is that why I still can't see where it says its an import?

RobAMerc

another way to tell is the reg number, imports are a hugely large number way more than was sold in that county for that year eg 10 WX 30321

I think from this year on they are getting rid of that.

next is mph speedo

check the service history for uk garage stamps

it'll probably be in much better nick for a car of its age than an Irish one ( depending on how long its been here )

ION08

alta stare wrote: »

I use it from my phone so is that why I still can't see where it says its an import?

Must be, as im also on mobile and still cant see it!

GM228

alta stare wrote: »

I use it from my phone so is that why I still can't see where it says its an import?

ION08 wrote: »

Must be, as im also on mobile and still cant see it!

That's the problem, it dosn't show on mobile version but as soon as you request desktop site it shows UK import.

dubal

Just checked my car which I imported from UK.
No mention of it on the free mobile check.

Dubal

Edit: checked desktop version it says UK import