Buying Import Car Insurance

When getting into the world of performance cars, insurance will always be an issue for most. As insurers rattle off their scripts as you drift off dreaming about your next mod when suddenly the question, Is the car imported? comes up. If the answer is yes It's about this time when you'll hear a big thunk as they pull the giant lever on the random quote generator. And that's before you've listed your T88, double core front mount intercooler and 1600cc injectors - knowing the person on the end of the phone doesn't have the slightest idea what you're talking about! In fact just for owning an import many insurers will add around 30% even though there are UK equivalents that are near as damn it identical.

Shopping for car insurance is never fun but it's the law and if you don't tell your car insurer every little thing, it can and probably will be used against you when you do actually need to make use of the service you've just shelled out over £1000 for.

Here are some tips to reduce your car insurance whether an import car or modified performance car.

1. The Car
   Obvious though it may be but certainly when at the sub 25 year old end of the market many insurers will slam their door in your face at the mention of Skyline or EVO. Consider the alternatives - Toyota Supras or relatives to the faster cars such as Pulsar GTi-Rs, Celica GT-Fours and so on.

2. Owners Clubs
   Having found the car and an approximate quote, owners clubs can help squeeze the price down. For example I had a Honda Civic. Nothing too special, but I got a quote through Honda Revolutions approved insurers. This brought the price down about £200 though they mentioned this was not the usual club underwriter as the car did not meet the performance criteria i.e. the car was an unmodified 1.6 litre. One performance air filter later and I was classed as modified and received a further £400 off!

3. Specific Policies
   More and more insurers are making policies more specific. If your car is standard, modified, a hot hatch or a trailer queen there is bound to be a policy out there to suit. Car insurance companies such as Adrian Flux have long been offering insurance for niche markets - car insurance for imports through to city dwellers. These policies are worth looking out for.
   
   Insurers are beginning to realise people who go to the trouble of importing and modifying a car are usually those that car about them or, contrary to popular belief, want to wrap their pride and joy around the next lamp post.
   
   If you don?t do 10,000 miles per year consider a limited mileage policy. Cut down on the parts of a policy you don?t use!

4. No Claims Discount (No Claims Bonus)
   NCD rules the roost when it comes to insurance. Look after it. Consider protecting you no-claims discount as soon as it is offered. One slip up could set you back several years worth of potential discount. Insurers give around 60% for a full 5 years discount.

5. Security
   Japanese car crime is much lower than the UK and often come without any form of security. Consider alarms, immobilisers and tracking systems. Thatcham Category 1 and 2 approved systems maybe an insurance requirement, and car insurers such as Tesco often request a tracker. Any combination of the above can help reduce the risk of your car being a target as well as reduce premiums.

Suggested links:
Quick Car Quote specialise in Cheap Car Insurance
Norwich Union for Car Insurance in the UK
Endsleigh keep your Car Insurance quotes motoring

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