My insurance for an import TT only cost £530 for fully comprehensive.

Well, they didn't ask me whether it was a UK car or an import so in my view, that's their problem. How the hell am I supposed to know that one is more expensive than the other! That's up to them to ask me that don't you think?!!!

 

How can they justify charging more anyway? There's no difference in performance or in the safety aspect is there? If anything, an import should be safer therefore cheaper because when you buy one, they're restricted to 120mph & also you've got that silly thing that bongs at you to let you know you're over 67mph!!!

 

 

[This message has been edited by shaunmac (edited 12-02-2002).]

It is, but you know a) they won't pay out if they don't feel like it and b) you'll be prosecuted for having no insurance !

 

I had to tell Admiral twice before they listened and reluctantly put the price up.

It seems that if you tell them it's a 300ZX, the system shows only the UK car. I think they have an import down as a Fairlady Z.

They charge more cos its slightly different. Like the head lights, dash. So if any of this is damaged in a crash, they have to order from Japan. Which really probably means the parts a cheaper.

 

Stuart

But if I took them to court they'd have to cough up, they were quick enough to take the money out of my account! I'm just an innocent customer who doesn't know the in's & out's of insurance. Who does?!!!!! It's up to them to find out details like that.

Point taken Andy,but surley the insurance company is at fault as they did not ask!If they asked if it was a UK or Import then fair enough.

 

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Timmy you junior LOL!

THat's what I think too. One other thing, on the back of my car it says 300zx & it also says 300ZX on my log book!!!

If what AndyP is saying is right then they're deliberately screwing loads of innocent people out of thousands of pounds & all these people are driving around with no insurance!

 

[This message has been edited by shaunmac (edited 12-02-2002).]

Hey this must be a new record 5posts in 5 min !

 

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Timmy you junior LOL!

Legally this is how you stand, if you say on the phone it is an import and they insure you as a UK car then they are legally obliged to pay out any claims made by you. Also if you sign up online and there isn't a listing for an Import or it isn't in their terms or conditions and you sign up for insurance and they accept you they are obliged to pay out if you have a claim

 

they will only refuse a claim if you tried to decieve them, and ignorance is not a good enough excuse

 

 

Make sure u disclose its an import. They WILL NOT PAY OUT! The onus is on u as the owner to check all the policy and alert them to any errors. Ignorance is NOT a defence in court and u will lose. (Helps with assault charges though!)

 

it doesnt matter who u have as a solictor they will not pay out and u will be liable for any third party costs, in other words your screwed!

 

I know, Ive been there AND it aint pretty!

 

 

also a nice little trick for renewlas after an accident/claim or conviction

 

always tell your insurance company after you have a conviction or claim and it *should* be noted down in their records correctly, keep reciets of faxes ect,

 

when renewing ask for a new quote form and fill it in, when asked for details of claims or accidents write *see records* they have to look at there records and if they miss a claim or conviction it is there fault ;o)

 

remember keep copies of everything or they will screw you over

The insurance co. will simply not honour any claim once they realise the car is an import rather than a UK model, and you have failed to declare it as such. Your V5 should show the car as a personal import.

 

In fact they could cancel your insurance at any time. Ignorance is, unfortunatly, not a defence.

 

I guess you have to weigh it up, £550 for a UK car, and the possibility of cancelled insurance, refusal to honour a claim and prosecution for driving without insurance or £900 for an import and the assurance that you wont have any nasty suprises if you need to make a claim.

 

Be aware that a windscreen claim alone will show up the fact that its an import as its a different colour top tint.

 

Tim

When I enquired about a Honda Prelude which was an import the insurance company asked "Can replacement parts be sourced in the UK and are they readily available?"

 

I think that's all it boils down to, having to send away, at great expense for replacement parts from Japan.

 

I just wish insurance companies would understand that once imports are in this country they are almost turned into UK cars to meet the legal requirments and all the parts are available.

 

But they will not listen as they know best (Yeh, right!) and they can charge well over double for what is basically a UK car once all the changes have been made......

 

......Daft.

 

Matty.

Just checked my insurance & it says Make & Model: 1990 NISSAN 300ZX TURBO. Doesn't say UK or otherwise.

the bonus of telling them its an import is the fact that you can modify it heavily and not get spanked again because as an import they dont know what is a modification and what isnt so it can cut both ways sometimes they shaft you one way and you get payback another

Shaun,

 

Mine does not say if it's UK or Import even though it's a UK car.

 

If we both crashed (Touch wood we never do) who's insurance company is going to pay out?

 

Who's is going to tell the owner they never told them exactly what the car was?

 

"What's that Mr.Insurance person, you have my cheque for £7,000?"

 

"That's right Mr.Lloyd, minus your excess of course!"

 

Better to be out of pocket by £400 rather than thousands, I'd tell them ASAP.

 

I rest my case.

 

Matty.

 

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Bounce...Bounce...Bounce...Bounce...Bounce...Bounce...Bounce... (sorry no sound!) LOL

Yep, and somewhere in their T&Cs it will say something along the lines of:

 

'the vehicle is a UK specification model'

 

They'll cover themselves better than you ever can.

 

Tim

Who are you insured with??

 

If the actual insurance company is Norwich Union, they do not have a diference between UK and JAP if the car is between 91 and 94. they class the car the same.

 

If your with a broker and they are using Norwich Union point this out to them.

 

Leigh

 

 

zeds imported form Japan are Fairlady zx 300's arnt they? you will need to insure it under that, you can win in court if you have informed them that it is an import and have proof you did so,

 

 

You won't deal direct with insurance comapnies generally, you will deal with their solicitors, make sure you don't have legal representation with DAS, very dodgy and crap company indeed ;o) there are comapnies out there that deal soley with this sort of thing as well, if you ever have problems look them up in the yellow pages

 

 

Leigh I just got off the phone from a norwich union broker, I asked her about zx's and they do know the difference, they are the main underwriter that deal with insurance on import z's apparently,

Well I've just been told that if the car meets UK specification then I'm covered. I've found out however that because I've converted the car from auto to manual, I have to get an engineers report! Bloody hell!!!!!

Shaun,

 

Who told you that you are covered if the car meets UK spec, your insurers?

 

If so who are they?

 

I can see them getting alot of calls from people with imported Z's that meet UK spec who want to be insured as UK spec.

 

BTW, what do they determine as UK spec? Just make sure you are covered from every angle.

 

Matty.

If your car is an import it is NOT UK specification!

 

Tim

UK spec will mean made for this market, i.e. with a UK spec VIN plate and the chassis number recognised by Nissan UK as a UK model. The Jap spec cars have a different style of plate.

Well, apparently not. I've spoken to the underwriters & apparently so long as the car is UK compliant then I'm OK. The car is UK compliant as it's registered in the UK. I've checked this with DVLA.

They're now going to send me a letter to this effect. All I have to do now is get an engineers report for the Auto to Manual conversion that I did!

Feeeeeewwww, glad I've got that sorted & at no extra cost!

Shaun,

 

What insurance company is that?

 

Cheers,

 

Matty.