Imported UK SPEC cars, what to tell insurance???

[JonGTI]

Hello again,

Im still toying with the idea of buying a new GTI through SELECT or EUROIMPORTS etc. As apparently you order a UK SPEC car and theres nothing different, what do I declaire to my insurers? IMPORT or UK? What have the rest of you done?

Ta.

[nutkins]

I spoke to Elephant about mine and they said it will make no difference unless it's a Grey import (from Japan / non-standard type thing). I think you'll get away without saying anything if you wanted. But if you choose to be honest I don't think you'll be penalised.

[jonathansargent]

That is exactly what I did, told the truth that it is a direct import from Europe instead of via VW UK. They asked was it a full UK spec car - to which I answered yes - no problem at all!!!

[CMC950]

Well I'm buying my car from Euroimports, a UK company with a UK office, so I won't be declairing that mine is an import.

How was I supposed to know that the car came from VW Denmark...

[JonnyGTi]

I don't think you'll have any problems as long as its full UK spec (particularly security items such as the alarm). I've had no problems in the past but do tell your insurance company.

[nhs]

In the European Union it is illegal for Insurers to discriminate against goods from other EU countries (if the goods are the same).

Thus a UK spec car is the same whereever it is delivered from within the EU (Germany/Belgium/Denmark etc) - these are "parallel" - that is to say, they are legally considered the same as those of VW(UK)Ltd. Hence it is important that your car is indeed UK spec.

This is different to "grey" cars, that are imported from outside the EU, irrespective of where they were made. Thus possibly Cypriot or Turkish delivered GTIs then imported into the UK would be "imports" that insurers could legally load the premiums on.

For Japanese cars, insurers have to put damaged cars back to their original state - for many imported grey vehicles this may be impossible (through UK suppliers) because those parts are not supplied by main dealerships into the UK - thus the price of importing eg one wing may write off the entire vehicle. Thus insurers wish to know that the car is a grey import, as minimal damage may write off the car, hence higher premiums.

However all EU cars are within the "Single Market" and must be considered as such.....

Also remember that you didn't import it, you can say you actually bought it from a UK garage - and the new parallel importing rights should also protect you.

If in doubt, contact Citizens Advice or the DTI