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Top Insurance for Japanese Cars in Ireland

Top Insurance for Japanese Cars in Ireland

Japan now supplies almost three times as many used cars to Ireland as the UK, according to Cartell’s analysis of registration data, with many motorists favouring the Japanese market since Brexit. The number of cars imported from Japan rose from around 2,600 in 2018 to over 22,400 in 2024, and Cartell counted 26,942 in the first nine months of 2025 alone. CSO figures show used imports of all origins up 35% in the first seven months of 2026, with electric cars now 11% of them.

Not every insurer quotes for every imported model, and the quote asks a few extra questions about the car. GMIB.ie compares car insurance quotes from 14 different insurers, and where the form cannot give a price straight away one of our agents reviews your details and calls you back with the options.

We’re sure you’ll be excited to get your new car out on the open road. Getting insured is a necessary step in the journey. Reach out today and let us take the stress out of searching for car insurance.

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Auto Insurance for Japanese Imports

Your quote is a click and a call away. The insurance offered under your circumstances is classed as non-standard, which means that you may need to speak to a member of our team directly to get a full quote. Enter your quote details in the form on this page and even if you do not get a quote straight away, one of our agents will call you back and guide you through the process.

Buy Car Insurance for Japanese Vehicle

Whatever your reason for opting for a Japanese import, be it price, convenience, or personal taste, get out on the road as soon as possible by securing the right insurance policy. Talk to us today and we can help you find cover that protects you and lets you drive anywhere in Ireland. GMIB.ie is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and rated 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

Sources: CSO – Vehicles Licensed for the First Time, July 2026; Cartell registration analysis, reported by the Irish Examiner, 20 October 2025; Citizens Information – importing a vehicle into Ireland. Last reviewed September 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Are Japanese imports hard to insure in Ireland?

    Not every insurer quotes for every imported model, so the answer depends on the car. The quote asks a few extra questions about an import: the chassis number and registration, the model and engine size, the date it was registered in Ireland and any modifications. GMIB.ie puts those details to 14 different insurers, and where the form cannot give a price straight away one of our agents reviews them and calls you back with the options.

  • Are Japanese imports more expensive to insure in Ireland?

    It depends on the model and the insurer, not on the fact that the car is an import. Citizens Information lists the factors insurers use to set a premium: your experience and claims history, where you live, your age, and the vehicle’s engine size, age and value. A high-performance import will be rated on its performance; a standard hybrid on its size and value. The only reliable answer for your car is a quote.

  • What does the quote ask about a Japanese import?

    The Quick Quote finds the car from its Irish registration; if it is not registered yet, use the make and model. The full quote asks the chassis number, the model and engine size, the year, the mileage, any modifications, and where the car is kept overnight. Have the registration certificate or the import paperwork to hand.

  • Does a Japanese import need an NCT before I can insure it?

    An imported vehicle four years or older must be tested by the National Car Testing Service, and you must register the vehicle at an NCTS centre within 30 days of arrival and pay Vehicle Registration Tax unless it is exempt. You must have motor insurance to drive in Ireland, so arrange cover for the date you first drive the car on Irish roads.

  • What do I have to pay to import a car from Japan?

    For a vehicle from outside the EU the steps are: pay customs duty when the vehicle enters the EU, register it, pay Vehicle Registration Tax unless exempt, pay VAT unless exempt, pay motor tax and get motor insurance. For a non-EU import you also need the single administrative number issued by customs at the point of entry when you register.

  • Can an older Japanese import be insured as a classic?

    Each insurer sets its own definition of a classic, usually by age, value and annual mileage, so tell us the year, the value and how much you drive it. Our full quote asks those questions and one of our agents will say which options apply to your car.

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