Importing vehicles from markets such as Japan and the USA has become extremely popular. Imported cars generally come with lower mileage and higher specifications than the UK equivalent. Not only this, but they often come at a great price, even after shipping. Due to these factors, importing cars has never been easier; unfortunately the same can't be said about the insurance side of things.
Insurance Prices High
The large players in the car insurance industry either won't offer insurance for imported cars, or will, but at extremely inflated prices. The best way to insuring an imported car is to go to a specialist who has experience and can provide you with the right level of cover at the right price.
Ways to Reduce Your Premiums
There are, however, a number of ways in which you can lower premiums. Firstly, if you haven't yet imported your car then look at the options available to you. Grey imports are used cars that haven't gone through an established reseller network and therefore not normally available in the UK. A personal import is a new or used car that is available in the UK but has been imported from abroad without going through the manufacturers import process. The latter is cheaper to insure. You can also lower your premiums by staying clear of high performance cars as these will bump your insurance sky high.
Extra Security
If you have already imported your car across to the UK then don't fear, there are still plenty of ways in which you can lower your car insurance. One cost-effective solution is to add extra security to the car such as a tracking device or an immobiliser. You should also, where possible, keep your car locked in a garage overnight; this will reduce your premiums by up to 5%.
Get an Owners Club Discount
Another way to reduce your premium is to join an official owners club. Some insurance companies will offer members of such clubs a discount on their insurance. The thought behind this, is that car enthusiasts are more likely to take better care over their car.
Consider Your Mileage
You should also consider your mileage. If you have imported a car just to use on weekends, then notify your insurer. A large majority of companies will offer a discount if you do a limited amount of miles a year.