Chinese car brands have moved fast, and UK buyers have moved with them. If you've personally imported a Chinese-market vehicle, whether that's a model not yet sold here officially or a different specification to the one a UK dealer offers, standard insurance policies often aren't set up to assess it properly.
Chris Knott Insurance has arranged specialist import car insurance since 1983. As a broker, we work with insurers who understand imported vehicles, so your cover reflects how the car is actually built, specified and used, not a standard UK template.
Excellent service from start to finish. The team took time to understand exactly what I needed and found me a great policy at a competitive price. Couldn't be happier with the whole experience.
Been with Chris Knott for over 5 years now. Easy renewal process and the team are always a pleasure to speak with. Proper UK-based advice you can actually trust.
After being let down by my previous insurer, Chris Knott made the whole process painless. Honest, straightforward, and friendly from the very first call. Highly recommend them.
Andy was brilliant - talked me through all the options clearly, no pressure, and found me a much better deal than the comparison sites. This is how insurance should be done.
I needed specialist cover for my classic Jaguar and Chris Knott sorted it quickly and at a great price. Really impressed with the level of knowledge and personal service.
Switched my home insurance after a recommendation from a friend. Very competitive premium and the whole thing was done in under 20 minutes. Very pleased with everything.
First-class service. I dealt with Emma who was patient, helpful and knew exactly what I needed for my thatched cottage. Got proper specialist cover, not a standard policy.
Genuinely good old-fashioned customer service. A real person who actually listens and helps you find the right cover. Wouldn't go anywhere else for my insurance now.
Had a claim last year and Chris Knott supported me throughout. Made a stressful situation much easier. Fair, fast, and professional - exactly what you want from a broker.
Renewed my multi-car policy today. Still the best value I've found anywhere and the team remembered me from last year. That personal touch really makes a difference.
Very helpful team, especially when I needed to add a modified vehicle to my policy. Talked me through everything and made sure I was properly covered. Excellent all round.
Chris Knott have been brilliant for my listed property - most insurers wouldn't touch it but they found me comprehensive cover at a sensible price. Grateful for their expertise.
Efficient, clear, and competitive. I ran through three comparison sites before calling Chris Knott and they beat them all. UK-based team made the whole thing painless.
Outstanding from start to finish. I've recommended Chris Knott to everyone I know - my parents, my sister, and even my colleagues. They never let anyone down.
The service is what sets Chris Knott apart. You get proper advice from people who understand insurance, not a script. Worth every penny and more.
We can arrange cover for personally imported vehicles from brands including BYD, NIO, Xpeng, Chery (including its Omoda and Jaecoo models), Great Wall Motors (including Haval and Ora), Zeekr, and Lynk & Co, among others. Some of these brands are also sold through official UK dealer networks, in which case a standard new-car policy usually applies rather than import cover.
Where our specialist cover matters most is for personally imported vehicles: Chinese-domestic-specification models, variants not offered in the UK, or cars brought in ahead of a brand's official UK launch.
A personally imported Chinese vehicle differs from a standard UK new car in several ways that affect how it should be insured:
The IVA process itself typically covers emissions, lighting compliance, a speedometer check, and a general roadworthiness inspection, and can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on test centre availability, so it's worth building this into your plans before you rely on the car day to day.
Yes. Whether your import needed changes to meet UK compliance, such as lighting or speedometer adjustments for the IVA test, or has since had performance or cosmetic modifications, we can arrange cover for it. Every modification needs to be declared when you get a quote, so your policy reflects the car as it actually is.
The most common questions we're asked about Chinese import car insurance. Can't find what you're looking for? Speak to our UK-based team on 0800 917 2274.
You'll typically need your V5C registration document once the car is UK-registered, an IVA certificate or UKCA compliance evidence, a valid MOT if required, proof of the vehicle's value, import documentation, and your previous insurance history. Our team can talk you through exactly what applies to your specific vehicle.
Insurance and a manufacturer warranty cover different things: your policy protects against accidents, fire, theft and similar insured events, rather than mechanical faults or defects a warranty would normally cover. Since privately imported Chinese vehicles generally don't carry the manufacturer's UK warranty, it's worth discussing breakdown cover and, for higher-value imports, agreed value cover, so you're not relying on insurance alone to cover every eventuality.
Fitting approved security devices, agreeing a limited annual mileage, joining an owners' community for your specific model, and maintaining a clean driving record can all help. For newer or rarer imports, agreed value cover is also worth considering, since it fixes what the car is insured for rather than leaving it to a standard market estimate an insurer may not have good data for yet.
Often, yes. We may be able to arrange cover based on the vehicle's identification number (VIN) while the DVLA registration and IVA process is ongoing, so you're not left without valid insurance while the paperwork is finalised.
We can offer comprehensive, third-party fire and theft, and third-party only cover, with options including breakdown cover, windscreen cover, and agreed value insurance for imports where an accurate valuation matters more than a standard market estimate.
One broker, many kinds of cover - all handled by our UK-based team.
Home, landlord, holiday home, listed buildings, thatched properties.
Explore Liability, professional indemnity, shop insurance, fleet cover and business interruption.
Explore
Annual, single trip, medical conditions and group travel cover for UK and overseas.
Explore Dog business, allotment, canine club and photography insurance from specialists.
ExploreEvery page is written and fact-checked by our UK-based insurance specialists. Chris Knott Insurance has been arranging cover since 1983.
Every Chinese import policy is different. Call our UK-based team on 0800 917 2274 or email enquiries@chrisknott.co.uk, and we'll arrange a quote that properly reflects your vehicle and circumstances. We're open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
*Chris Knott Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 304452). You can check this on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.*
