Help with my UK insurance woes for my foreign import car.

Tommygunn

My problem is that I now have my Japanese made Italian Yaris here in the UK and my final steps are to get it insured, registered and taxed, however, I am coming unstuck with the insurance companies.
The car is a 2002 manufactured, 2003 registered Italian Toyota Yaris D-4D which can't be specifically matched to a UK model on the insurers' systems.
As mentioned, my Yaris is a D-4D but it makes no mention of any trim details whereas in the drop down menus on the websites/call centres you have, for example, GLS D-4D, GS D-4D etc etc.
These extra letters are purely for the cosmetics e.g. CD, electric windows, fabric, sunroof, alloys etc and don't refer to the engine or mechanics like the D-4D does.
So the problem arrises that I cannot pin my vehicle down exactly with the insurers and they want to insure me via the VIN no. which means that I get passed to a specialist who then charges double the money.

Of course, I have done some research on my vehicle and it would appear to be a match for a GLS D-4D (Toyota garages, forums, Toyota.co.uk etc).

Of course I am not looking to defraud anybody, I am simply looking to maintain 'utmost good faith' and declare my vehicle as it is for a reasonable rate.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Tom.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Why did you buy it?

Tommygunn

It was formally my wife's car and I have been living in Italy.

TrickyWicky

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

Why did you buy it?

Here we go again..

@Tommy I heard that Adrian Flux (I think thats the name) is a good insurance broker for specialist cars. Maybe give them a try?

fivetide

TrickyWicky wrote: »

Here we go again..

@Tommy I heard that Adrian Flux (I think thats the name) is a good insurance broker for specialist cars. Maybe give them a try?

Yes these guys do a lot of the Japanese Import cars.

Also try Sky Insurance. Very similar thing.

forgotmyname

Some mainstream brokers wont know how to process an import vehicle. Save the hassle and avoid them.
Same with comparison websites.

Goto the specialists. They will know howto deal with your car.

flashg67

Buy some chrome GLS letters from Halfords and stick 'em on the boot....?

zappahey

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

Why did you buy it?

Why do you care and how does your question help him get insurance?

maninthestreet

zappahey wrote: »

Why do you care and how does your question help him get insurance?

Probably puzzled like I was why someone would want to import a (LHD?) Yaris from Italy, when there are plenty of second hand RHD ones for sale in the UK.

societys_child

which means that I get passed to a specialist who then charges double the money

I've had LHD vehicles in the past (long time ago) the insurance premium was always at least half as much again for uk use.

Tommygunn

I am finding that with various insurance companies that I will end up being put through to a specialist who will only work on the VIN number and then they charge me 50 to 100% more. The fact that they know it is a left hand drive EU, UK spec import doesn't come into it, as highlighted by the fact that they are fine with it until they can't precisely match the model name.

In any case I have had confirmation from the Italian dealer that it is a Yaris D-4D 'Sol' with all the trimmings.

Flashg67,
Wouldn't putting GLS on the back or declaring it as a GLS, even though it is, be constituted as fraud?
What does an assessor check? How in depth do they go?
I'm not lying so where on the technicals could I come unstuck.

Also, once I insure it and then go to the DVLA to register it, what are they going to put on the log book???

Tom.