It’s well known that the pricing in the UK car market is substantially more expensive than the rest of Europe and as a consequence, more and more drivers are turning to imported cars to make savings. However, just how easy are these cars to insure?
To the surprise of many, finding
car insurance for imported cars shouldn’t be a problem. For example, the Eunos Roadster was never sold in the UK, and yet there are thousands on UK roads after being imported from Japan.
So how do you find
cheap car insurance for your imported car?
The quotes you will receive are dependent primarily on the type of import.
Parallel imports are the cheapest to insure. These are cars bought outside the UK with right-hand drive – they are new cars built to EU-type approval and are usually compatible with our specifications.
By contrast, grey imports are not built to this standard and are not EU-approved. Usually they are second-hand cars that you have to shop around for. In the case of particularly popular models, such as the Mazda Eunos Roadster, you shouldn’t encounter too many problems. However, for rarer models the insurer is less confident that parts will be available in the event of a claim for repairs resulting from an accident and with this in mind many will refuse to offer cover.
If you are considering purchasing a grey import, the best advice is to get a car insurance quote before you buy – so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Though overseas vehicles are often cheaper, the cost of importing and inflated car insurance premiums can negate the savings you’ve made. At the very least you should shop around for cheap car insurance using a comparison tool, but buying in the UK may prove to be a cheaper long-term option despite the initial outlay.
