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You can cancel your car insurance policy, but there could be costs involved. Here’s what you need to know
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.
It’s absolutely possible to get insurance for an imported American car. However, you might have fewer options when you do, since some insurers only offer cover for cars that were built for the UK market.
On the other hand, there are also some specialist insurers that focus specifically on imported American cars – although this can be a pricier option.
Luckily, with MoneySuperMarket, you can still compare a range of leading insurers to see if there’s a simpler way to get cover 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.
In general, American cars are pricier to insure than other cars in the UK. It all depends on the car in question – but there are a few reasons why you might have to pay a little more:
Depending on how you’re using your imported car, there are a few other 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.
On the other hand, 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.
It’s also a good idea to reach an agreed value with your insurer. This is the amount that your insurer will pay if the car is written off – and to reflect the work and money you’ve put into the car, it might be higher than its sale price. That way, you won’t risk getting stuck in a lengthy dispute with your insurer if the worst happens.
It’s absolutely possible to get cover for a 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 knock up the price of insurance.
Insurers charge more for custom cars because they can’t guarantee any work on the car outside its factory. Any change to the car 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 almost always ends up costing more.
Insurance for American cars isn’t always cheap – but there are plenty of ways to save money on cover.
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 over 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.
You can cancel your car insurance policy, but there could be costs involved. Here’s what you need to know
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