Moving back home to UK, want to take my 1996 C4 LT4 with me. Looking for some info/advice on importing and costs, and insuring it as a younger person.

[SearchShane]

What are the costs you’re worried about?
Insurance
Maintenance
Tax

Tax is about the same as Sweden, no worries there.
Maintenance as well, probably around the same, if not cheaper.

Insurance is the one that has just completely blocked me from bringing her over... first quote was 6600 pound per year.
Yesterday I got quoted 3905 poung a year by Adrian Flux...

I simply can not afford that amount for insurance on my "fun weekend car" unless I daily drive it and have it as my only car, but then fuel would be an issue. And this insurance quote was lower with the assumption that I would have a different main car.

The only reason I cant get it here is the insurance, and a place to store it. I dont have a garage here, and I know nobody in my area as im new here so I dont know what the options are for storing it yet.

 

[SearchShane]

Try someone like Peter James. I was paying ~£500 a year for insurance, on a Corvette, at a similar age. Nice thing is that unlimited-mileage policies, business use, etc., are all cheap (or included) with them and and modifications don't really make much of a difference to the cost. Your mileage may vary, though, of course, depending on area.

seeing that I get quoted more than £1200 for a normal 1.6 car, I dont think it is even possible for me to get a quote like that... I'd be happy if i could just get the insurance down to like 2000£ for the first year and just struggle through it, hope it comes down next year..

 

[theseoldcars]

You'll find that prices for insuring specialist vehicles are sometimes a lot lower than run-of-the-mill stuff – it depends on what you're looking at. I used to have an E30 325i and that cost £800, whereas my '86 C4 cost £500. Same policy, the rest; the reason being is that the insurance history for E30s was much worse than C4s (lots more written off, etc.).

Even these days, my insurance for my Suzuki Swift runabout is double that of my C5's, hah.

It might not be cheap, of course, but it's worth trying before writing the idea off entirely.

 

[Oneball]

How old are you?
Can you demonstrate no claims from your Swedish cover?

 

[CaptainK]

Also to double check, have you tried any of the club affiliated Corvette insurers? I'm with one of them (Lancaster) and they seem to do a good job for me. Might be worth a check with a few of them - quite a few listed in the CCCUK club magazine, and they all offer a club discount too.

 

[Nassau65]

Unfortunately in this instance I think it’s the age thing that’s giving these very OTT quotations ( and possibly being American LHD, which has always carried a “loading” on any premium)

Fortunately when I started driving “yanks” at 17 in 1977 I was on my dads trade policy so could drive anything.

 

[SearchShane]

Also to double check, have you tried any of the club affiliated Corvette insurers? I'm with one of them (Lancaster) and they seem to do a good job for me. Might be worth a check with a few of them - quite a few listed in the CCCUK club magazine, and they all offer a club discount too.

I tried with Adrian Flux with the CCCUK referal. Havent tried any others yet, its diffuclt because the car is not here yet, not registered in UK so that is probably also adding to the price. But I also dont want to bring it here and register it if i cant afford to keep it here... Catch 22.

 

[Roscobbc]

A number of us use Peter S Taylor & co (based in Shoreham I believe).......their main stipulation is that you need to be a member of a recognised car club and the vehicle you are insuring is not your 'main use' car.......there will be a mileage limitation and you'll need to keep the car in a locked garage at night.

 

[Nassau65]

Most insurance companies should be able to give you a quotation for the make/model/use etc.
Your age and being your main car are the disadvantages tho. Keep trying.

 

[SearchShane]

Most insurance companies should be able to give you a quotation for the make/model/use etc.
Your age and being your main car are the disadvantages tho. Keep trying.

The quote i got of £3950 / Year was actually with the vette considered my secondary car, with a full comp insurance on my daily driver.
But there definitely are a multitude of things working against me.. I'll never see anything like my corvettes insurance as my main car for £155 as it is in Sweden...

Starting to consider moving back there again because of it. OR leave the car there and just fly over there to enjoy the vette

 

[Nassau65]

£155 for your main car insurance that’s unheard of in the UK. My 1965 cost £145 on a classic policy with 1K miles of use per year.

 

[CaptainK]

I'll never see anything like my corvettes insurance as my main car for £155 as it is in Sweden...

My diesel Focus "daily" was around £185 here in UK. And my 1968 C3's classic policy is around your £155 mark as well. I say screw the UK and stay in Sweden and use the difference of £3950 UK insurance minus £155 Sweden insurance on more petrol and have more fun

 

[SearchShane]

Update for those that are invested by now:

I have thanks to a connection I have via my dad now found insurance for my corvette 4000 miles / year, £484 per year.

So now I can properly start considering getting my baby here. Next task is to find a locked garage near me that I can rent for her.
The Saga continues!

EDIT: The insurance is with Hagerty incase you're wondering. Amazing offer compared to all the others. Also thanks to mentioning im member of CCCUK!