Need4Speed Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 We've been putting up with all this bollocks about J-Spec being more expensive to insure than UK for too long. Can anyone give me a valid reason for the difference. I've bought parts from my local Toyota dealer with no problems, my chassis no. is on the UK parts computers, the cars are the same, so why the insurance rip-off. Is anybody else interested in approaching the insurance worlsd to rectify this. I can understand Skylines & FTOs having high premiums because they weren't sold here, but Supras were. WE'RE BEEING FLEECED! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 I think it only applies to young drivers. There was no difference for me with Elephant (34 years old, 9 years NCB). I'm on low mileage (5000 a year) but I don't think that would make a difference. £475 total. UK was the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 It is out of order really, as you say no real difference in repair or parts costs. All I can think of is the claim/accident history of J-specs must be higher? I don't think the insurance companies will back down though, it would be better trying to convince one that if they gave J's a fairer deal then they'd make an awfull lot of money. Anyway, just to rub it in I've just renewed my UKTT for £450 with exhaust and wheels declared Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 The last time I renewed I asked why an import is more expensive to insure when it's no more difficult or expensive to buy parts from a Toyota garage. He said that the insurers were stung by the early imports that were brought in an crashed where parts took months to come in the country and cost a fortune. Most decided to black list them leaving only a couple of companies willing to take the risk and charge what they wanted. Apparently they're becoming less hostile now and in a couple of years the premiums will align.... I think that's rubbish myself. I'm sure some sort of deal was struck between UK manufacturers and the insurers to make imports less desirable by making them excessively expensive to insure. There's no justification for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
attilauk Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by Nick I think that's rubbish myself. I'm sure some sort of deal was struck between UK manufacturers and the insurers to make imports less desirable by making them excessively expensive to insure. There's no justification for it. you've hit the nail on the head there m8:( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted July 27, 2004 Author Share Posted July 27, 2004 Aerotop Dave I'm over 40 so the young driver thing doesn't apply to me:eek: With a few mods to my car it is always over £1000 to insure. There are a lot of people out there who just won't touch personal imports. If it wasn't for imports there wouldn't be enough Supras left for Toyota to stock the parts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 But that just calls into question the company you're using. You could be paying £600+ more than you need to. That kind of variance indicates that it's vital to shop around. I have my side skirts and alloys declared, admitedly no engine mods, but that doesn't account for the huge difference. Infact, I've just remembered that the lower mileage only took about £50 off (down from 'unrestricted' to 5000 a year). And mine's not even stored in a garage. So why are you paying so much? Insurance can be a minefield, and I know that the only two things that will definitely put the price up no matter who you go with are NOS and fitting a roll cage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted July 27, 2004 Author Share Posted July 27, 2004 So why are you paying so much? 30% power hike and J-spec. I've got 50% NCD though. Can anybody explain why fitting a roll-cage should increase your insurance premium? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul -C- Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by John Packham Can anybody explain why fitting a roll-cage should increase your insurance premium? Why would you need a roll cage? Maybe your driving style means you are worried about rolling the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbeh Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by John Packham 30% power hike and J-spec. I've got 50% NCD though. Can anybody explain why fitting a roll-cage should increase your insurance premium? Yeah, they like any excuse to put your premium up. You dont think that fitting anything extra is gonna save you money do you?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irvy Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 I have a J-spec and got full no claims, busines use, protected no claims, no mileage limit all for £630 with direct line...could i get this cheaper elsewhere when it comes up for renewal? whats elephant?? Also....just read that mods can whack it up some....i am considering a few mods...will it really go that high? I maybe better to spend my money on a holiday!! do i really need an induction kit and exhaust??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by John Packham Can anybody explain why fitting a roll-cage should increase your insurance premium? If you fit a rollcage you're implying that there's a good chance you're going to roll the car. That's usually gonna mean big repair bills and thus big insurance claims. Effectively you're saying 'There's a good chance I'm going to have a crash'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted July 27, 2004 Author Share Posted July 27, 2004 I would take a rollcage to mean motorsport use where the insurance wouldn't pay-up anyway. I doubt anybody fits a rollcage because they think they're going to roll the car. The ones I've seen in Supras are just for looks anyway. They certainly wouldn't help in a real roll. As most J-spec Supras are pushing 7 or more years old and have a book value of not a lot over £10k, the insurance companies are going to write off anything major, rollcage or not. And as a UK car has a higher market value, the insurance on a J-spec should actually be less not more. I think I'll try that argument when I renew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sakura Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 I am a new member looking to get my first Supra soon, but have experience of import insurance with my Mitsu Pajero IC which I have had for 4 years. Never had a problem insuring it with Liverpool Victoria from day 1. When I rang them to check changing my current Shogun Pinin to a Supra (import) I was amazed to find it would be cheaper and I will get a refund. Even more amazed to hear that they are only interested in being notified about engine mods, and any body kit/wheel mods don't count and they don't care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 CRIKEY! I'm 22 and only paying £1200 on a J-spec TT with 2 years NCB and 4 points. Misses is on the insurance as well with no NCB and no points. Full kit and alloys covered as well. I thought that was a good deal before but now I think it's a bloody bargain! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_dragon Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 It certainly does suck though because, before I bought my J-Spec TT I got a quote from Elephant on a UK TT, the price was exactly half, and now I'm paying £997 with wheels declared. I'm 24 with 4 years NCD. How does this compare with you guys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon F Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by John Packham I would take a rollcage to mean motorsport use where the insurance wouldn't pay-up anyway. I doubt anybody fits a rollcage because they think they're going to roll the car. The ones I've seen in Supras are just for looks anyway. They certainly wouldn't help in a real roll. Probably motorsport or track days. Remarkable how many bikes that are binned on a track day find their way to a ditch on a public road close to the race circuit though! Maybe a bit more difficult with a car, but you see what I'm getting at BTW. With Direct Line online quote, UK and Jap cars are the same price. (Or they were last January) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Wow Geordie, who are you insured with, and how long have you been insured with them? That quote is insane - closest I can get to that is £1850 with 3 NCB and 3 points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Elephant! First time insured by em. Car is garaged tho and has a cat one. That includes business mileage as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by John Packham I would take a rollcage to mean motorsport use where the insurance wouldn't pay-up anyway. I doubt anybody fits a rollcage because they think they're going to roll the car. The ones I've seen in Supras are just for looks anyway. They certainly wouldn't help in a real roll. Without wishing to sound rude, that's a daft thing to say. I'm sure there are SOME people who fit a rollcage because they suspect they will roll it. And if you were an insurance man and the person said 'I've fitted a rollcage, but it's just for show' would you believe them? And we're not talking about track use are we - why would someone doing track day use be asking about road use insurance? Think about it - we're talking about road car insurance. When you phone up for a quote and say you've fitted a rollcage, they aren't going to accept that it's just for cosmetic use. A rollcage is there to protect you in a roll - there aren't that many around, they aren't a particularly 'pretty' mod, thus suggesting that someone would only fit one if they did indeed expect to roll the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Hmmm, maybe the difference is that mine has full kit, wheels, Stage 1 tuning etc. Might see what else I can do to bring it down further. Thanks for the info chap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gough Posted July 27, 2004 Share Posted July 27, 2004 Originally posted by John Packham We've been putting up with all this bollocks about J-Spec being more expensive to insure than UK for too long. Can anyone give me a valid reason for the difference. I've bought parts from my local Toyota dealer with no problems, my chassis no. is on the UK parts computers, the cars are the same, so why the insurance rip-off. Is anybody else interested in approaching the insurance worlsd to rectify this. I can understand Skylines & FTOs having high premiums because they weren't sold here, but Supras were. WE'RE BEEING FLEECED! Its tempting to think that there's a conspiracy going on somwhere along the line (as has already been suggested). However, I would say certain imports do remain very good value (early Impreza WRXs), thus are becoming more and more attainable to different types of drivers that perhaps might not treat these cars with the respect they deserve. This leads to an increase in claims, and insurance for all imports becomes more expensive due to the domino effect. But then on the other hand the insurance premiums go up so surely the affect is reversed?! I'm probably being a bit hypocritical here as I'm only 21 myself, but my current premium is in the region of £3k, so I do try to drive carefully so as not to make myself uninsurable altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suprastorm Posted July 28, 2004 Share Posted July 28, 2004 im sure it has alot to do with where you live to ............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeordieSteve Posted July 28, 2004 Share Posted July 28, 2004 I live in a bad area with a high crime rate (well... I get bored easy) but I get away with it coz the car is garaged Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albundy68 Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 I've just remembered that the lower mileage only took about £50 off (down from 'unrestricted' to 5000 a year). :eek: when i was getting quotes a few months ago, going from unlimited milage to limited 6000 miles more than halved the premium!!!! (not that i took them up on it in the end with the ban n all, but if you shop around you can save an absolute fortune with ltd milage!!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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