If you’re trying to get a quote for car insurance, the insurer might ask you to specify whether your car is imported.
In this post we’ll explain why this matters, and discuss how you can check whether your car is imported.
Does an Imported Car Affect Insurance?
Driving an imported vehicle may expose you to certain risks, there is a chance that an imported vehicle:
- Will not meet certain safety and emission standards
- Have inaccurate recorded mileage, so the car may be more worn and less reliable than it first appears.
- May be more difficult, and more expensive, to repair. Mechanics may struggle to locate the parts they need, which can also affect the cost of ongoing maintenance.
Is Imported Car Insurance More Expensive?
It’s for these reasons that imported vehicles can cost more to insure than vehicles that were first manufactured or registered in the UK. This is why insurers will ask you to specify whether your car was imported before they give you a quote. The question is, how can you find out?
The Different Types of Imported Cars
- Grey imported cars – These are vehicles that have been brought into the UK from outside the EU, from countries such as the US or Japan. As such cars may not meet UK safety and emissions standards, they may need to be adapted before you can drive them on UK roads.
- Parallel import – This is a vehicle that has been built in the EU and transported to the UK. As parallel import vehicles will have been manufactured to EU standard, they are less likely to need any work to be fit for UK roads.
- Personal imports – These are cars that an individual has imported to the UK themselves for personal use.
There are certain steps that you have to take if you want to bring and drive an imported car into the UK. Read this ‘Importing vehicles into the UK’ page for more details
Is My Car Imported?
Online Checkers
Some online sites offer a free car import checker. Usually, you just have to enter the car’s registration, and they’ll let you know certain key details about the car’s history, including whether or not it was imported.
You can check the history of your vehicle, including whether it was imported using these tools:
Bear in mind that these free checking tools may not tell you the car’s full story. You can do a more detailed check, but you may have to pay.
VIN Decoder
Your vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code that can reveal your car’s full history.
Some companies offer VIN decoding services. Enter your car’s VIN and they can tell you almost everything there is to know about your car. This can include information about whether or not your car was originally imported. You can find your car’s VIN on your V5C registration document. It may also be listed on certain documents, such as your car insurance certificate.
HPI Check
HPI, Hire Purchase Investigation, is a dedicated vehicle checking service. They can offer detailed history checks for any vehicle. As well as telling you whether the vehicle was imported, they can also reveal the car’s history. Is its recorded mileage accurate? Is the person selling the car the rightful owner?
If you’re buying a car second hand, a HPI check can help clear up any doubts that you might have about the car, or the seller. You may have to pay for a HPI check, but the expense will be worth it if it helps you avoid any nasty surprises down the line.
Learn more about HPI checks.
You can also read our guide to 20 essential questions to ask when buying a car second hand.
Get The Best Deal On Your Car Insurance
Whether you are looking to renew your car insurance, or you’re insuring a new car for the first time, we can help you get the cover you need at a price you can afford.
Learn more about our car insurance for new drivers.
