US Import Insurance / Thatcham

[kenski]

Hey all, new to the forum, so I don't know whether this has been covered before. I'm shortly going to be returning to the UK with my 2002 Corvette Z06. As I've not been resident in the UK continuously over the past 3 years I've had to resort to a 'normal' insurance company who have insisted that I have a Thatcham Cat 1 system put on. Does anyone else on the list have a similar experience? Have you managed to convince the insurance co. that the alarm/immobiliser are suitable or have you had to retro-fit another system, in which case have you had experience of any particular brand you'd like to share?

-kenski

[Gixer]

No extra alarm or anything on my ZR1. Check through the past posts I posted a long list of insurance companies on here a couple of weeks ago.

[Gixer]

No extra alarm or anything on my ZR1. Check through the past posts I posted a long list of insurance companies on here a couple of weeks ago.

[kenski]

Yeah, I've been through the whole list of insurance agencies for US cars. They all had that 'must have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years' clause. Not much I could do about it :-(. It was hard enough finding a 'normal' insurance company who'd insure me, let alone one with a decent price. Ended up with the 'decent price' but the stipulation on the Thatcham approved alarm <sigh>. A small part of me (but just a small part) says that I've never had a car stolen and hence the risk is low. The problem is that without the 'approved' alarm/immobiliser my theft coverage would be non-existent...

...and in a Z06, I don't think the police could catch someone if they stole it :-)

[Gixer]

Most of the police over here couldnt catch a cold.

I have the same problem when I insure my bikes. They always have to have a cat 1 alarm, datatag, locked garage, blah, blah, blah

I hate alarms and have gone through most of 'the best' makes. They cause all kinds of problems and then of course there is the agro of living with the alarm (those passive arming ones drive me round the bend !)

Plus everybody ignores them anyway

[ZR1415]

You would of thought the alarms/imobilizers on a new car would have been enough? have thatcham got a 'backhander' going on here.


On the subject of Z06's going missing
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=708361#1545877178

>> Edited by ZR1415 on Thursday 11th December 21:39

[anonymous-user]

My C5 is insured though Hill House Hammond who are satisfied with the standard equipment. It is a full Euro car purchased in UK.

Hill House Hammond tel: [phone]

Good luck!

[vetteheadracer]

Hi Kenski,

Good to see I won't be the only Z06 owner around here!

My 2003 Z06 fresh off the boat was insured with Hill House Hammond no problem at all with no requirement for a Thatcham alarm. I know Priviledge always insist on a Cat 1 alarm.

BTW Cliffy, Thatcham Cat 1 is an alarm "standard". i.e. Thatcham is an organisation that check all alarms and rate them on there effectiveness. A Cat 1 is there highest rating. Bit like ENCAP that do the crash tests on new cars and then rate them.

[blackzr]

I have had several requests from customers recently for an operational description of the C5 alarm system. If you argue the case with the insurance company and have proof of the capabilities they may waive the need to have an extra alarm. Worth asking.

>> Edited by blackzr on Friday 12th December 09:55

[kenski]

Thanks all for the Hill insurance thingy. Got a quote this morning and it was comparable and they'd insure me, so I've cancelled my other one and will be insuring through them... no probs about the alarm or not being resident in the UK for a while...

<phew>

Was really worried that messing with the electrics more than necessary to get her through SVA was going to be a big no-no...

Anyway, thanks again all who suggested H.

-kenski

[mikef]

Kenski

I also have my 2 imports insured with HHH, I can recommend them for returning expats bringing their vehicles over

If you're not sure about the SVA work, I can also recommend Dart Corvette in Leigh (pronounced "Lye") near Tonbridge, they prepped my vehicles for SVA. [phone], ask for Steve, great people

[Gixer]

mikef said:

I can also recommend Dart Corvette in Leigh (pronounced "Lye") near Tonbridge, they prepped my vehicles for SVA. [phone], ask for Steve, great people

.....When/IF they answer the phone and return your calls

[kenski]

Got the SVA conversion arranged already but thanks for the suggestion.

Out of curiosity, did your guys feel they needed to add on side repeaters? I'm using Paul Strudwick, who seems to have quite a hand in the import law lobbying. He says he's able to wire up the existing lighting such that I don't need them, which sounds better than others have suggested...

-kenski

[shoebag]

Paul Strudwick at Amcar did the SVA on the Viper I imported from USA earlier this year.

Paul also did the SVA on vetteheadracer `s ZO6.



>> Edited by shoebag on Thursday 18th December 00:57

[mikef]

Side repeaters are mandatory, but depending on the visible angle achieved, they can sometimes go inside the front headlamp assembly (that was an option on my F150 Lightning). I went for standard repeaters

Mike

[mikef]

.....When/IF they answer the phone and return your calls

Good point, but fortunately I'm local to Dart Corvette and can stop by

[vetteheadracer]

As Shoebag said,

Paul Strudwick did the SVA work on my 2003 Z06. As I have the side fender screens fitted in the gills on my Z06, Paul fitted the side repeaters inside the gills behind the screens so they are almost invisible.
I bought a set of aftermarket Euro tail lights and he fitted these so that I only have the outer lights as indicators, and both as lights/brake lights.
He fitted the rear fog light between the tail pipes and also disconnected the DLRs and added a side light into the front indicator light housings.

Paul did an excellent job and yes, he is the government advisor on SVA testing........

[kenski]

Hi there,

Paul has told me on the phone that he can fit the side repeaters such that the look of the car will be unchanged (I expressed concern about drilling new holes into her). I was a bit confused by your description of how he does that, though. My 2002 Z06 should be identical to yours as far as the body goes.

The only grilles in my gills (try saying that after a couple of pints) are in the long fender slits, in line with the indicators/side lights. The small holes on the corners don't have grilles as far as I remember... could you be a bit more specific about how he did yours?

I actually thought that maybe he'd just be changing the existing sidelights into indicators... guess I was wrong :-)

Ultimately, I want to preserve the look of the car, and he gave me the most confidence that he'd be able to do that.

On the subject of the tail lights. I got the Euro/clear ones from the Ecklers site.

www.ecklers.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=40918&dept%5Fid=1478&mscssid=J2JNTFTJKPXV8G6A294JBXL9ASTJ27C2

Initially I'd thought I might just swap one out rather than both on each side, but it looked to me as though the lenses were too different, with the original having a stripeyness to them which the replacements didn't. Did Paul source yours for you or did you buy them yourself? If so, where from and do you have pix?

Too much like hard work, I know, but my baby's about to get on a ship and it's stressful!!!

-kenski

[jaytee368]

Hey Ken - Don't be too concerned with Nige's confusing terms and references, he has even more senior moments than GJ, you know like he says steering wheel and means gear stick, says engine means gearbox, says "I like women" means "but those sheep have wonderful eyelashes".

[eric the brave]

Nigel may get confused on occasions but he is red hot at pop music trivia - Bet you can't catch him out! Don't know why I brought this up but having had three club meets debating "Who sang this" and "Who wrote that" I felt that I needed to share the burden.