Insurance for UK import cars

[266 Paul vG]

After bringing my 2006 Vectra C into NZ when my wife and I returned after 14 years in the UK, I insured the car with AA Insurance. The Vectra is not listed in their database but we did agree on a price which was the NZ equivalent of the UK value when we left in 2009 (about $15000 from memory). This year's policy renewal has the value now reduced to $3808
I would like to know if anyone else has imported a UK Vauxhall and who it is insured with so that I may try to get a more reasonable insurance cover for the 7 year old car.

[155 Paul G]

That seems really low. I tried the online quote form on the AA Insurance site, and for an '06 Holden Vectra CD 2.2 Manual, the value they suggest comes in at $10450, which seems a bit more like it.

Have you called them to discuss?

[266 Paul vG]

Yes I have, but my model is not in their database so they have nothing to compare it with. Holden Commodores don't come with a diesel engine. The quote they have given me is for a 2006 Commodore Wagon with the 3.6 petrol engine but the premium comes out about $90 more than last year.

[001 Neville]

See who Derek has insured his Vx Carlton with? It's older, but may help.

I insured my Opels with AMI and they seem to be open to agreed price when the car has been valued by an independent dealer who knows the make. A dealer local to me is ex-UK himself. Worth checking around for someone?

[168 Derek S]

Try AMI, AA, Swan.
They will only really be interested in the insured value and driver ages.
Not quite the same way of doing things as the UK, they are really only looking at the insured value in my experience.
garaged at Realistic value with a ok excess should be cheap premium wise.

[168 Derek S]

Just tell then the NZ equivalent.

[266 Paul vG]

Thank you to all who replied. I have decided (for now) to stay with the AA as they agreed on a value of $11600 but I will visit a Holden dealer one day to get a trade-in value and go from there. Hopefully they will also tell me how much they will market it for. I could get a UK value but that may be irrelevant due to the very small quantities of the Vectra C in NZ. I just hope that I will never be in an accident that could write off the car. It has been extremely reliable for the 7 years I've owned it.