Insuring your car is necessary if you intend to drive it on UK roads. In fact, it is a compulsory legal requirement to have at least a ‘third party only’ insurance policy.
This is all well and good, but we imagine you are in a bit of a dilemma because your car is a grey or parallel import – bought and delivered from abroad – and you are not wondering if it would cost more to insure it. You are in the right place. This article will brush up on your knowledge of imported car insurance.
Insuring Your Car
Car insurance is a contractual agreement between you and the insurance agency which protects you against any financial loss in cases such as accidents or theft. Typically, car insurance covers only the vehicle only, so a driver is not automatically insured when they drive another person’s car.
Currently, in the UK, there are three main types of car insurance. These include;
Third-Party Liability
This is the minimum legal coverage and also the most expensive. It covers any injury caused to a third party and damages to their property whenever an incident occurs, and you or another insured driver of your car is at fault.
Third-Party, Fire, and Theft
This would cover your standard third-party liabilities plus the additional cost of replacement or repair if your car were to be stolen or damaged by fire.
Fully Comprehensive
This is the highest level of coverage which protects you against any incidents involving your car, even if you are at fault. Some policies insure the driver even when they drive other vehicles.
Insuring Your Imported Car
Many recent car buyers are setting their sights abroad for their next vehicle that more local manufacturers just won’t produce. This could allude to popular opinion, which suggests that most imported cars are cheaper than their UK counterparts, and in fact, most people do find that importing vehicles and then paying VAT in the UK is far more affordable than buying from local dealers.
There are two main categories of import vehicles. The type in which your imported car falls would determine the price of insuring it in the UK. The types include:
Grey Imports
These are cars constructed outside the European Union, and so they don’t comply with EU standards. Japanese imports fall under this category.
Parallel Imports
These are easier to insure since they are cars manufactured inside the EU. They meet the same minimum standards as vehicles in the UK, and insurance companies are more familiar with creating insurance packages for them.
Do Imported Cars Cost More To Insure?
Insurance policies for imported cars tend to be higher priced than their locally-made counterparts. Some reasons why insuring imported cars is higher are;
The Cost of Sourcing Spare Parts
It is more expensive and difficult to source parts for an imported car, and this, in turn, makes repairing such cars a costly affair.
Manufacturing Specifications
Imported cars are built to specifications that are different and sometimes higher than that of UK-made cars. With higher performance and speed comes a higher risk of being in an accident.
Construction
Differences in the way cars are constructed impact the cost of insurance. For example, an imported car with a left-hand drive is not of the same standard as the UK model.
Save Money On Insuring An Imported Vehicle
Choosing your brand wisely is a smart way to go when aiming for a reduced premium. Some vehicles – especially sporty ones – would always draw higher premiums regardless of how you acquire them.
Don’t waste hours trawling the internet for the best deal on your import car insurance. At Advance Insurance our customer service is excellent, our expertise is unparalleled, and our results are top-notch. Contact us today for more information on our import car insurance policies.
