Any way of checking if a car is a grey import?

ferry

Hope someone can advise.
I'm interested in buying a used car and have learned there was huge majority of these that were imported at some point.
Is there any way of telling if the particular car I'd like to buy is an imported vehicle as my insurance company won't insure if it is?

Thanks
F x

UsernameAlreadyExists

EDITED: I always thought that a "grey import" is a model that has never been sold over here from dealers. Whereas a parallel one is available to buy but has been delivered through different channels than the official dealer network. Seems the terms have changed meanings over the years.


Imported shows on the V5C (well it does on one of mine)


What car is it?

Prothet_of_Doom

What car ?

ferry

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

What car ?

Early (2000 plate) VW Beetle

AdrianC

RHD, I presume? Yes, there were a lot of personal imports back when the Beetle was first launched - mostly because it wasn't available RHD for a while after the LHD launch. Same with Audi TTs and Merc SLKs when they were first launched.

So, if it's RHD, it's quite likely an official UK car. It'd certainly be UK-spec, which is mostly what insurers really care about.

If it was imported used, then it'd say on the V5C. If it was a personal import new, then it may not - but, 14yrs down the line - I'm not quite sure why it'd matter that much anyway, tbh. If one insurer won't, then plenty of others will.

Here in the real world, if it doesn't say on the V5C, and it's RHD, then I'd go with the "Ask no questions, tell no lies" theory. To the best of your knowledge, it's a UK car.

Ezmondino

Although grey imports historically seemed to be more expensive to insure, I've found from my own experience with Japanese cars this is really no longer the case. A quick go on moneysupermarket should show you that theres no problem with insuring them at the same price. I no longer consider it an issue.

ferry

Thanks all.
It was actually Co-Op Ins that would not insure and they make it clear on their website,..was not sure if it was a new thing across the board.

I'll try some others.

Thanks

Iceweasel

ferry wrote: »

Thanks all.
It was actually Co-Op Ins that would not insure and they make it clear on their website,..was not sure if it was a new thing across the board.

I'll try some others.

Thanks

I just had a look at that website - what a load of cobblers - they might as well say they will only insure folks who promise not to have accidents or claims - they rule out so many categories.

Their wording on the assumptions page I looked at doesn't say 'grey' import it just says - "The vehicle has not been imported."

Surprisingly though I don't see any assuptions that it has to be RHD.

I was once trying to get insurance for my LHD M-Benz, and the insurance dude asked if it was LHD and when I said 'Yes' he was insistent that it had been 'imported'.

I told him I had bought it new in Scotland as I had specifically ordered it LHD. 'So it is imported then.' he said.

I replied that every M-Benz in the UK is imported as they don't have a factory in the UK to build them here. He was annoyed with me as he thought I was trying to wind him up - he made a good job of that himself.

Where did the word 'grey' come into it, with the Co-op?

All VWs are imported.

Don't waste time with insurers that have loads of exclusions and silly assumptions.

There's a live thread on here at the moment about a guy whose car is 'modified'.

How can we answer questions about things like that - a previous owner could have made many unseen changes.

So I just tell them 'To the best of my knowledge - NO.'

Go elsewhere - plenty other insurers around.

tim9966

Check on here https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app/enquiry?execution=e3s1 to see if the build date, and date of first registration with DVLA match.


If they don't then most likely it will be an import.