Imported Car Insurance

What you Should know about Imported Car Insurance in Australia

Unfortunately for those who like imported cars, imported car insurance can be a bit difficult to find and a lot more expensive than insuring a domestic car. Although it is best to compare a number of different quotes, sometimes it can be hard to find many insurance companies that are willing to give you a quote and insure your car.

Because imported cars are not manufactured in Australia, most of them have to be modified in order to meet the legal requirements for cars being driven in Australia. This makes it harder for companies to determine their value, since there aren’t as many for sale that are just like the imported car you purchase.


Another reason for higher imported car insurance is the fact that many of these cars go faster than Australian-manufactured cars, and driving faster puts you at more of a risk for accidents. These cars are also popular with younger drivers, and younger drivers are more at risk for having accidents and thus have to pay more for insurance coverage, whether they drive Australian cars or imported cars.

There are a few very large or very specialized companies that offer imported car insurance. These include Dawes, Famous, Just Car, Fortron Insurance Agents, LSV Lumley Special Vehicles, MB Prestige, Oamps, Prosperion, Shannons, Street Tech Modified Vehicle Insurance, Suncorp Metway, Unique Car Insurance, Young and Cool and the various state motoring bodies.

The insurance companies that do offer insurance for imported cars often have restrictions. Some require drivers to be a certain age, and many allow only minimal modifications. Many require cars to be stored in garages, and your past driving record will be considered. It is more difficult to get insurance for these cars if you are under 25 and if you purchase a turbo car.


For some types of cars it is easier to get just third party coverage, but that will not cover the damage or loss of your own car, just that done to the other party’s property should you get into an accident. Some insurance companies will offer salvage policies or estimated value policies where you are paid a certain agreed upon amount should your car be totalled in an accident. With a salvage policy you get a set amount of money and you get to keep the damaged car and you can try to rebuild it or sell it for scrap or parts.