Guide to car insurance for American vehicles
American cars are growing in popularity in the UK, but they aren’t straightforward to insure
Insuring An American car
There are plenty of reasons to drive an imported American car in Britain – you might be moving to the UK and want to keep your car, you might make money renting it out for special occasions, or you might just enjoy the way an American car drives. But all cars need insurance, and American models are no exception.
Insuring an imported car isn’t too different from any other kind of car insurance – but there are a few things you should keep in mind. Our guide tells you all you need to know about insuring an American car in the UK – so you can get it sorted and get on the road.
Can I insure an American car?
Yes, you can get insurance for an American car in the UK. However, you might have fewer options when you do, as some insurers only offer cover for cars that were built for the UK market.
There are also some specialist insurers that focus specifically on imported American cars – although this can be a pricier option.
With MoneySupermarket, you can compare a range of leading insurers to see policy details and premiums for your imported car. When you compare quotes for car insurance, simply let us know that your car’s been imported from the United States – we’ll do the rest.
How do I import an American car?
If you are importing a US car (rather than buying one that has already been imported), you need to follow certain steps before you can legally drive it on UK roads.
These are set out on the Government website and include:
Telling HMRC that the vehicle has arrived in the UK
Paying VAT and duty if HMRC tells you to
Getting vehicle approval to show your vehicle meets safety and environmental standards via the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) scheme
Registering and taxing the vehicle with the DVLA
Is it more expensive to insure an American car?
In general, American cars are pricier to insure than other cars in the UK. It depends on the car in question – but there are a few reasons why you might have to pay a little more:
American cars tend to be bigger and more powerful than their British counterparts. This is why they’re great to drive, but it does increase the risk of an accident.
The value of the car may be higher. This might be due to a bigger engine size or because it’s a classic or modified car.
Replacement parts are often only available in the US – so if your car is damaged, it’ll cost more to get it fixed. You may need a specialist mechanic too.
Your American car is likely to stand out, which makes it more of a target for thieves or vandals.
What should I consider when insuring an American car?
Depending on how you’re using your imported car, there are a few things you should keep in mind when buying insurance.
If you make an income from your car – for instance, by hiring it out at weddings, or by exhibiting it at car shows – make sure you have business car insurance. If you don’t, you could risk invalidating your policy.
If you own an older model, it could qualify for classic car insurance. This could actually save you money – insurers assume that you’re less likely to be using a classic car on your daily commute, so they consider it a less risky bet.
If you have spent money restoring or modifying your car, you’ll need to reach an ‘agreed value’ with your insurer. This is the amount that your insurer will pay if the car is written off. This figure should reflect the work and money you’ve put into the car, so the agreed value might be higher than its sale price. Having this figure pre-agreed with the insurer means there is less risk of getting stuck in a lengthy dispute if something happens to your car.
Can I get insurance for custom and modified American cars?
Yes, you can get cover for a customised or modified car – but it’ll cost you. Insurers tend to charge more for cars that have been customised in any way, since they tend to pose a greater risk. This includes major alterations like turbocharged engines or custom suspension – but even adding tinted windows could increase the price of insurance.
Insurers charge more for custom cars because they might need to go to a specialist for repairs. Any change to the car also means it can no longer be sorted in one of the 50 car insurance groups – it has to go in a separate modified category, and this will usually mean it costs more to cover.
How can I get cheaper cover for my American car?
Insurance for American cars can be more expensive than a UK car – but there are plenty of ways to save money on cover.
Pay upfront: Buying car insurance monthly helps spread the cost. But as the insurer is effectively lending you the full premium which you repay in instalments, you’ll pay interest too. So it will cost more in total. It’s almost always cheaper to pay car insurance premiums as one annual lump sum
Increase your excess: The excess is the amount the policyholder pays towards any insurance claim. A higher excess should mean cheaper premiums – just make sure it’s an amount you can afford
Boost your security: Investing in an alarm or immobiliser should reduce your premiums. You could also think about where you keep your car at night – insurance is cheaper if you park it in a driveway rather than on the street, and keeping it in a locked garage will save you even more
Limit your mileage: When you take out insurance, the insurer will ask your estimated annual mileage. The less you drive, the less risk – and the cheaper your insurance. Many owners of imported American cars don’t use them as a primary vehicle - so if this is the case make sure the insurer knows about your low mileage.
Join a club: Insurers might offer you lower rates if you’re a member of an accredited club for owners of American cars
The best way to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible on American car insurance is to compare prices online. With MoneySuperMarket, it’s quick and easy to compare quotes from more than 110 of the UK’s leading providers – simply give us a few details about yourself and your American car, and see how much you could save.
