OK.. Started ringing round for insurance today.. Goddamn they take the p1ss on imports don't they?

 

So.. I might have to go for a UK car (unless some miracle happens, or I decide f*ck it and pay £1750 for TPF&T)..

 

What's the best way to tell the difference between an import & a UK car?

 

Sorry for the dumb question

 

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Az

From an old message :-

 

I have been trying to keep a list of insurers that deal with imports. This is what I have come up with over the past couple of years. We ought to keep this sort of stuff in the reference section. I'm sure the formatting is going to get screwed when I paste it in but here goes :-

1ST QUOTE CARLINE 0181 598 8080

Adamson Insurance Marketing Services 01622 752222

Admiral 0800 600 810 http://www.admiral.uk.com/

ADMIRAL (VIA BELL DIRECT) 0800 140180

ADRIAN FLUX 01553 692202 http://www.aflux.co.uk

A-Plan 0845 071 1234 Tim Ellams

Bell Direct 029 2043 4394 http://www.belldirect.co.uk/ Louisa Scadden

CROWTHORNE INSURANCE 01344 771626

Firebond http://www.firebond.co.uk

Footman James 0121-5614196

FOOTMAN JAMES 0121 561 4196

HYPERFORMANCE 0181 941 1535

Insurance World http://www.insurance-world.co.uk/motor.html

KEITH MICHAELS INS PLC. 0181-642 7868

MasterQuote 0870 241 1572

N J SOMERFIELD 0181 455 3431

NORWICH UNION

OPI 0870 242 0800

OSBORNE & SONS 020-8388 6000

PRIVILEGE 0113 292 5555

Privilege Insurance 0113-3991000

Quoteline Direct

 

Tesco Direct should also be included.

Try Footman James for insurance - gave me a good price, not cheap but not the most expensive.

http://www.footmanjames.co.uk/contact.html

 

Tim

Thanks for that - it appears I have some serious phoning round to do!

 

I'll try and keep a list of who I call, their quote, and whether they still do imports etc, and either post it/put it on my(/this?) website somewhere when I'm done..

 

Az (smiling happy, god I hate work, type person )

Try and keep track of the underwriter, not just the broker. Frequently we are only dealing with a few companies, ie. Norwich Union, Lloyds etc.

That's a good point Andy - I'll try and remember to ask what underwriter..

 

I remember changing from Flux to Herts with my 19, ended up with the same underwriter but £300 cheaper...

 

Az

Yes, different brokers can make a difference and even different offices of the same broker !!!! They seem to build relationships with the underwriter and specialise in certain types of car. The important thing from our perspective through is just to identify which underwriters will actually insure imports. That save loads of time wasted with brokers when you can just say "Do you deal with X?". Rather than going through the 10 minute interrogation only to be told "Sorry ...".

 

Incidentally, my insurance is with Admiral and is only about £560, but then I'm an old git with a clean licence, full no claims and don't live in London. Tricks for getting the premium down are wack up the excess to the maximum and ask to remove all the breakdown cover and crap which you probably have anyway and can add £70 or so to the bill.

 

It can also help to ask them to take into account cars you have driven before, unless they're all 850 Mini's !!!

 

And always play one off against another - they are usually hungry for business. I have saved up to £250 like this before.

I have an import TT.

 

Firebond told me to get lost.

 

I got the best price from Privilege, though

the circumstances were a bit odd. I'll post

the full story when the details are finalised (watch this space, as it may be of benefit to some people).

 

Paul B

Priveledge insured my NA for the first year I had it then when I went to renew, they told me they wouldn't do it 'cos it's an import and that my insurance had been invalid! I told them about 10 times that the car was an import (once in writting) so it made me really mad. When I wrote complaining they reckon they would have still paid out in the event of a claim - yeh right!

 

Andy

Right, well I'm gonna make something to eat and start ringing round..

 

I'll let you all know how I get on..

 

Az

Az

Try Brian on 0800 0929561 - this guy knows his stuff, works for Norwich Union Direct and has just insured my ZedTT *IMPORT* with mods declared(ish) for 413 of your finest UK Pounds.

Cant fault him,

 

 

 

 

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Glen

Headlight washers on uk car not on import

 

Nick

I got the best prices from A-Plan and Norwich Union Direct.

£749.00 import with performance and body mods, 18 points and a 30 day ban in the last 4 years!

Way cheaper than anyone else and I tried about 10 different import specialists.

Firebond and GreenLight can't do any more imports this year when i spoke to them.