Importing a Thesis

[Parisien]

Excellent news Paul...looks the part....enjoy.


P

[Paul Greenway]

Thanks for all the compliments folks.

The next step is insurance which is a bit of a struggle at the moment. Some companies will cover the car on its VIN plate but only once on UK shores! I want to drive it back from Turin on temp Italian trade plates through France to the UK. Still awaiting response from FJames, however AFlux cannot help. Has anyone experienced this successfully or know of any companies who will cover a car pre UK?
Otherwise it looks like transportation companies or trailering myself.

[Parisien]

Have you asked your current insurer of your every day car to give you temporary cover?

There is a web site that also offers daily or weekly insurance for this type of situation...not sure if they cover you for overseas though.


P

[Paul Greenway]

Hi P,

The Thesis will replace my everyday (Alfa Brera) car and yes I have asked them but unfortunately will not cover the Lancia as a daily driver in connection with my emploers business.

[Lindsay]

Hi Paul. Try Hagerty - they insured my Thesis and should do it on the VIN as a temporary measure.

[stuwilson128]

Paul,

When I imported the Delta, I was with Direct Line.  They insured the car on the VIN until it was UK registered when I gave them the registration number.  I would imagine that they would able to do the same for you.  As the Thesis is not recognised by UK insurance companies, you will need to give them the UK equivalent car, which I would suggest is an Alfa 166.

Hope this helps!

[Paul Greenway]

Thanks Lindsay & Stuart,

I will try these options tomorrow.

[Paul Greenway]

No joy with Hegartys, they only deal with classics, not moderns as a main vehicle. I tried Direct Line online but no joy as the registration number is required and without it you cannot go any further. I will have to speak to them to take further.

[Lindsay]

Don't you love the intransigence of insurance companies? It's not like you are an 18year old wanting to insure an Impreza. The only folk I know who have done it have bought in Germany and they issue temporary transit plates which includes insurance. Obviously the Italian system is different and not quite so easy. Is it worth trying Lloyds as a general insurance company who supposedly take on anything? Ronnie Stuart whom I bought mine from had it insured on a everyday use basis through the LMC insurance lot (AON at the time, whoever they are now) but I understand they do not take on LHD cars now. Just did a quick Google search and plenty out there on the topic. Admiral shown as insuring on VIN (but then Flux and Direct Line are too). This lot - http://www.acorninsure.co.uk/car-insurance/chassis-number-insurance/    - would appear to know about it, so I think it is a case of taking a bit of time and you will find someone willing to do it.  I imagine you could well do without the £1k plus it would cost to get it trailered back.

[Paul Greenway]

Thanks Lindsay,

I have completed the Acorn quotation form, hopefully they will come up trumps.
I need to look further into the "passagio" that is required when transferring from the Italian plates to temp Italian trade plates as the vendor requires to know the exact route from Turin through France into the UK and these plates are only valid for three days which may suggest there is some kind of insurance cover here like the German system perhaps?

After all I pay 214E for the demolizione targhe (Plate removal from Italian system) and 134E for the passagio (transfer back to UK). Does this include insurance?

Anyone else used this process, can shed any light?

[westernlancia]

I have imported lots of cars, both from the USA and from Italy, and I have always had VIN insurance on them, but only when on British soil. I thought it wasn't possible to insure a car outside the UK like that, but I may be wrong, and I hope I am! I have always trailered (or shipped!) the cars as far as Britain, just in case, but Theses are Big Beasts, and you'd need a hefty towcar, so I hope you can do it. But Lindsay is Your Man, really, as he did my Kappa, which is a 'modern', whereas all the stuff I have ever brought in has been as old as the hills (newest = 1965), and it is MUCH easier if the car is over 10 years old. Good luck anyway, and if there is anything I can do to help, I will!

[Paul Greenway]

Insurance resolved, peace of mind (see insuring a Thesis thread), now its off to Torino early hours Saturday, drive back to Blighty Saturday/Sunday then two weeks getting modified for UK compliancy and hopefully registration by 18th February.

I'll report back on the trip next week. Ciao for now.

[fay66]

Great news Paul, have a good trip.

Brian
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[Paul Greenway]

 Car Collected yesterday from Beinasco (Torino) at 12.00hrs in deep snow and -10deg, driven up to Reims via Susa, Tunnel Frejus, Chambery, Lyon, Dijon & Troyes never getting above -6deg for overnight stay on one single cardboard export Italian plate.
Set off this morning at 08.00hrs same as yesterday (V Cold), went well until 40miles South of Calais when heavy snow almost made Autoroute undriveable, but we persevered and made it to Eurotunnel in one piece. It was very interesting handling a 1865kg front wheel drive automatic beast on 18" low profiles at times on the worst weekend in Europe so far this year but came out unscathed (unlike some others!).
Blighty wasn't much better particularly in Kent, however the further North we travelled the better it got. Made it to Castle Donnington for 15.30hrs where it will spend the next fortnight being prepared for ligitimate UK registration to VCA/IVA/DVLA standards at NCS Systems.
Just got used to it and now it's gone, a fantastic effortless car that's averaged 39mpg over 1521km in 15hrs of driving.
Big, big thanks to Paul Baker and Roberto Cassetta without whom this adventure would have been a non starter.

[fay66]

well done Paul,
You'd be hard pushed to get a better test of the`Thesis and it's capabilities, certainly sounds like you enjoyed it

Brian
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