Japanese Import Car Insurance
– Cover for JDM & Grey Imports
Japanese Import Car Insurance
– Cover for JDM & Grey Imports
Compare Japanese import car insurance from specialist UK brokers. A vehicle built for the Japanese domestic market and never sold new here does not appear in UK claims data, which is why mainstream insurers often will not quote at all. We help you find cover from brokers who handle imports as routine.
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Specialist cover for JDM and grey imports
Quotes provided by a panel of specialist insurers.
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Compare Japanese Import Car Insurance
Japanese import cars are popular, but it can be difficult finding insurance that is reasonably priced. The popularity has risen as more people realise that these grey imports come loaded with extras and have almost always low mileage. They represent great value for money, especially when you start comparing the cost to add the extras in the UK or NI. The names are also becoming more familiar, for example the Mazda Bongo which is a favourite for those thinking of a self build campervan or day van. On the sport side you have the Nissan Elgrand.
In the past, finding thebest car insurance for grey imports was difficult. Read our useful guide to find out more about Japanese import car insurance and how you can reduce the cost of insuring a Jap import. Imported cars from both American and Jab cars need not be expensive if you do the ground work and get comparative quotes.
Drive on the Left : Japan is one of the few world markets other than the UK that drives on the left, so the steering wheel is on the same side as ours, on the right
Is it more expensive to insure a Japanese import cars?
When you compare a UK model against the equivalent Japanese import, insurance for a made in Japan model will be more expensive. The number one reason is that the specification can be different, making getting body parts both difficult and expensive. As such they pose a higher risk in terms of higher repair bills which is offset set by charging extra for insurance
Insurance for Japanese and American Imports
The specialist panel can provide access to cover for imported cars from Japan and the USA, whether the vehicle came in as a grey import, arrived with a chassis number and no registration yet, or has since been converted to a day van. These are the models we see most often.
Prices for the same imported vehicle can vary a good deal between providers, so it is worth comparing rather than assuming the first figure you are quoted is the cheapest available. That gap tends to be wider on imports than on mainstream cars, simply because fewer insurers will take them on and each prices the risk differently.
Not seeing your vehicle? The list is not exhaustive. If it was built for a market other than the UK, it is worth getting a quote.
How Can I Find Cheap Japanese Import Insurance?
Finding cheap Japanese car import insurance need not be difficult. Apart from taking the steps we have highlighted in the list below, shop around and use sites like ours to compare multiple providers of grey import car insurance.
- Secure parking. Keeping your Japanese import away from prying eyes, and securely locked up when not in use where you can, will enable the insurance provider to reduce the standard insurance cost.
- Join a club. If you are an enthusiast and are a member of a club, let the insurance provider know, as often this can lead to a small discount.
- Second car. For many, owning and maintaining a Japanese car is a hobby and not their daily driver. If this is the case, let the insurance provider know and they can arrange a policy based on usage.
- Pay upfront. Monthly payments are always available, but paying as one annual payment usually avoids the interest charged on monthly instalments.
- Voluntary excess. Speak with your insurance provider about agreeing a higher excess in return for a discounted insurance premium. Remember that you will be responsible for that increased excess amount should you have to make a claim.
Favourite Japanese MPV and Sports Car Imports
The list does change, but the ones we have selected are perennial. Japanese vans offer a practical and spacious option, serving as versatile vehicles for transporting both people and heavy loads. Japanese sports cars are so much cheaper, but will be more expensive to insure, Here are our top five favourite MPV’s and Japanese sports imports
Top Grey Imports Vans and Sport Cars
- Nissan Skyline GT-R: The Skyline GT-R, particularly the R32, R33, and R34 generations, has been a highly sought-after grey import in the UK. Its legendary performance and iconic status have made it a favourite among car enthusiasts.
- Toyota Supra : The Toyota Supra, especially the fourth-generation model (MK4), has been a popular grey import choice. Known for its powerful engines and timeless design, the Supra has a dedicated following
- Mazda Bongo (1999-2013) : The Bongo is a firm favourite for the DIY campervan enthusiastic or those that are looking to convert it into a day van.
- Toyota Alphard (2008-2015) : The Alphard has earned a strong following for its practicality and reliability, making it one of the most sought after MPV Jap import. It is available as 2 or 4-wheel drive. The 2WD will be cheaper and easier to maintain.
- Honda Stepwagon (1996-present)
- The Nissan Elgrand is a Japanese MPV that is in high demand in the grey import car market.
Japanese Import Insurance Questions
Security helps. Immobilisers and tracking devices are viewed well, though check with the broker first that a particular device meets the standard they work to. Where the vehicle is kept overnight matters too, and on an ungrouped import it carries more weight than it would on a mainstream car.
Membership of an enthusiast club is often rewarded with a discount, so mention it. Ask about limited mileage policies if the vehicle does modest annual mileage, and compare again at renewal, because insurers change their appetite for imports from one year to the next.
Mainstream insurers price from UK claims data and from Thatcham group ratings. A vehicle never sold new here was never rated and does not appear in that data, so there is nothing for the pricing model to look up. Many will not have the model on their system at all.
Specialist brokers underwrite these vehicles individually rather than looking for a database match, which is why they can quote where a comparison site returns nothing.
It is a personal choice, but it is worth knowing both sides. On the upside, Japanese market cars are usually fitted with equipment that would be an expensive options list here, and many arrive with low mileage and a documented auction grade.
On the downside, some parts are harder to source, insurance generally costs more, and minor adjustments are often needed, headlights being the common example. Servicing can also mean finding an independent specialist rather than a main dealer.
A grey import is a vehicle brought into the UK from outside the European Union, built to a specification never intended for sale here. Most grey imports in Britain come from Japan, which is why the term and JDM are often used interchangeably, but the definition is about specification rather than country.
A parallel import is different. That is a vehicle built to European specification and bought from another EU country, which insurers usually treat much more like a UK car.
Yes, and it needs declaring. A conversion changes what the vehicle is used for and what is inside it, so the insurer needs to know before cover starts rather than after a claim.
Work carried out by a professional converter is generally viewed more favourably than a self build, because the standard of the electrics and the gas installation is documented. Keep receipts and any certification, since a broker may ask for them.
Cover is available on a chassis or VIN number rather than a registration, but the panel of insurers who will do it is much narrower. You will need it in place before the vehicle is used on the road.
The registration process itself is set out in the gov.uk guidance on importing vehicles into the UK, and our chassis number insurance page covers the cover side in more detail.