Insurance for "imported" car

p3gg

Hi all,

Trying to help out a friend in need. Cross-posting this to the insurance board too in hope of a quick response as I might not have net access later in the day.

My friend has had her car insured with (I think) Halifax for about 3 years since she bought it -- however they're now refusing to renew the insurance becausr they've suddenly decided to classify the car as "imported" (it's Opel rather than Vauxhall). She has tried Churchill and others, but drawn a blank (i.e. refusal to insure the vehicle) for the same reason.

Does anyone have experience of this, and if so can you advice where she can get a sensible, good value quote on an "imported" vehicle?

Many thanks

rdwarr

One of ours is a "real" import (i.e. model not available in the UK) and Tesco have always insured it wothout problem. Otherwise Adrian Flux are the import specialists.
Or go and buy a couple of Vauxhall badges

rdwarr

By the way Churchill, Direct Line and Halifax are all the same company (HBOS).

bluekp

I got my Japanese FTO insured with Diamond - no problems

p3gg

rdwarr wrote:

By the way Churchill, Direct Line and Halifax are all the same company (HBOS).

Thanks, that would explain that then!

p3gg

Sorted... Thanks for all replies, she managed to arrange new insurance with the AA, and the premium came out less than what she'd been paying Halifax, so justice is done!

GabbaGabbaHey

rdwarr wrote:

Churchill, Direct Line and Halifax are all the same company (HBOS).

No they are not! Churchill and Direct Line are both part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Halifax is part of HBOS.

Silent_Bob_3

bluekp wrote:

I got my Japanese FTO insured with Diamond - no problems

The FTO Owners Club (are you in it?) has a Club Insurance scheme with SKY Insurance - they do a guaranteed value in case of write offs for £35.

As for the OP also try A-Plan and Adrian Flux who are well known for covering imports and mods to cars.

rdwarr

GabbaGabbaHey wrote:

No they are not! Churchill and Direct Line are both part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Halifax is part of HBOS.

I stand corrected (and admonished). That's what you get with confusing one Scotch bank with another