US import insurance

[BrokenBiker]

who is the go to for vehicle insurance on US imports?

ive tried the usual online comparison people but they dont recognise a single VRN that i try even though the vehilces were imported and have clearly been registered/insured in the uk for years...

 

[Ali]

What is it? Once registered any of the classics bunch would be my first port of call, but I’ve only experience with bikes.

 

[Blobber]

Try classic line, most of the hot rod/custom people use them

 

[LiftedDisco]

Try A-Plan as they do all sorts of specialist schemes, and are generally very knowledgeable folks.

 

[Ian X]

Brokers who specialise in taxi insurance are usually adept at imports and strays. I used to use Vauntage in Solihull but I think they were bought and slowly destroyed by the new owners.

 

[qwakers]

anthony d evans insure several specialist vehicles of mine for far less money than anyone else. a 15ton race transporter and a can am quad bike, to name two of the more extreme.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Cheese for the replies. probably should have mentioned it would be a pick up, either a cummins ram or a duramax silverado to be used as a diary, although fairly low mileage, only do 100 miles a week on average, less if I'm away and work give me a van to travel with

 

[8ob]

who is the go to for vehicle insurance on US imports?

ive tried the usual online comparison people but they dont recognise a single VRN that i try even though the vehilces were imported and have clearly been registered/insured in the uk for years...

A broker will place it, Adrian Flux if they are still going were a go to for oddball insurance.

Bob

 

[bricol]

Wot he said - there is no way on-line sites are going to give you anything sensible.

I've moved my Dodge Challenger around various brokers - seem to end up with the same insurance company underwriting it, but the prices vary enormously - currently with Adrian Flux.

 

[bricol]

Interestingly, in these days of computerised everything, as my era of Challenger was never sold in the UK, there is no code in the system for the model - so the only thing on my V5 is "Dodge" - when I asked about it, as the US title clearly shows the model, that was the reason I was given. Which makes any UK on-line stuff almost impossible.

 

[dobbslc]

I bounce between A Plan and Flux for my JDM Surf.

 

[Ian X]

A broker will place it, Adrian Flux if they are still going were a go to for oddball insurance.

Bob

Ah yes! A friend used them for a year or two because he was too lazy to re register his car in France, Flux was one of two insurers willing to provide cover for over the usual 90 or 120 days. I think SAGA was the other which had me scratching my head.
A quick check reveals Adrian Flux is still in business!

 

[BrokenBiker]

Interestingly, in these days of computerised everything, as my era of Challenger was never sold in the UK, there is no code in the system for the model - so the only thing on my V5 is "Dodge" - when I asked about it, as the US title clearly shows the model, that was the reason I was given. Which makes any UK on-line stuff almost impossible.

That may explain a fair bit when trying to get quotes...I've seen a few vehicles simply advertised with manufacturer's name and no model, then the ad just says the usual for mileage, when it was imported etc

 

[Erie Fred]

That may explain a fair bit when trying to get quotes...I've seen a few vehicles simply advertised with manufacturer's name and no model, then the ad just says the usual for mileage, when it was imported etc

Anywhere you visit here, even local garages, all want the VIN number.
Everyone has software to tell them all about the vehicle.
So some of this must be the problem ?

 

[dave h 2]

The American Auto Club UK used to be the goto for American motors.
Grey imports from anywhere are not in the UK system Bikes, cars or whatever.

 

[bricol]

Anywhere you visit here, even local garages, all want the VIN number.
Everyone has software to tell them all about the vehicle.
So some of this must be the problem ?

I think the USA is more set up, more used to using the VIN number due to plates only belonging to the car with that owner, never mind if you move state.

Here in the UK, the registration plate is pretty much fixed for life (subject to personal plates etc - although one of my kit cars specifically stated "non transferable" for an age related plate unregistered it on) and acts as it's identifier for everything.

VIN number helps with spare parts etc, but even then I think registration is the first port of call.

I was quite impressed using the VIN number to order parts from various Dodge dealerships across the US - entering it brought up the relevant sections for my track pack RT - different suspension, brakes etc to the usual version.

 

[bricol]

That may explain a fair bit when trying to get quotes...I've seen a few vehicles simply advertised with manufacturer's name and no model, then the ad just says the usual for mileage, when it was imported etc

There used to be a guy running a specialist garage down south - post pictures of his truck, a US import. Then complain about how long it was taking to register his new import, same make, different model.
Roll on a week, there was the new one on the trucks plates . .
A week later, plates back on the truck.

Any registration checks would be "correct" at first glance as the plate agreed with the make - no model on the V5s. Of course, a deeper check on the VIN number, nicely in clear view in the screen on US stuff would show the issue . . .

 

[Matchless]

I use Haggerty for my fleet, 20 vintage bikes and 5 or 6 cars? a lot of brokers would not cover my American car....... even when I explained it is 96 years old, has wood spoke wheels, is flat out at 60 mph and is RHD..... we don't cover high performance American cars........

 

[BrokenBiker]

well ive been on to flux and haggerty, flux seem vey competitive and have slightly tipped me towards a ram 1500 with a 5.7 hemi, opposed to the 5.9 cummins i was oiginally interested in...the v8 is actually cheaper to insure than my 2.2d(mondeo engined) x type...the chevy silverado is only maginally more expensive to insure though so looks like its now eithe a hemi or a duramax.

second question, what MOT class would either of these fall under?

 

[colnerov]

Class 7 at a guess because of the weight of the vehicle.