Nissan Elgrand Insurance
– Imports, Day Vans & Conversions
Nissan Elgrand Insurance
– Imports, Day Vans & Conversions
Compare Nissan Elgrand insurance from specialist UK brokers. The Elgrand was built for the Japanese domestic market and never sold new here, so every one on UK roads is an import. Whether yours is standard, a day van or a full camper conversion, we help you find cover from brokers who handle imports and declared conversions.
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Nissan Elgrand Insurance Guide
In the past, getting insurance for an import such as the Nissan Elgrand was difficult, and a mainstream provider would quote silly prices. That has now changed with a growing number of brokers specialising in providing insurance for the imported vehicle market. The Nissan Elgrand is a minivan or an MPV manufactured in Japan since 1997 under 3 variants E50 (1997–2002), E51 (2002–2010), and E52 (2010–2020). The E51 is without a doubt the most sought after model, with many converting them to a small campervan. Similar to the Mazda Bongo, you will find forums and clubs devoted to the Nissan Elgrand.
Registering an import in the UK
If you are bringing an Elgrand in yourself rather than buying one already here, it has to be registered with DVLA before you can insure and use it on the road. The process is set out in the gov.uk guidance on importing vehicles into the UK. Until the registration comes through you will be quoting on a chassis or VIN number rather than a plate, which narrows the panel considerably.
Which Elgrand Generation Do You Have?
Insurers treat the three generations differently, and so does the conversion market. Knowing which one you own makes the quote process quicker.
| Generation | Years | Engines | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| E50 | 1997 to 2002 | 3.0 diesel, 3.3 petrol V6 | The original, now the oldest on UK roads. Rear wheel drive layout and a boxier shape. Often the cheapest way into Elgrand ownership, though parts take more finding. |
| E51 | 2002 to 2010 | 2.5 and 3.5 petrol V6 | The one most owners want, and the one most often converted into a day van or camper. Highway Star trim is the specification people ask for by name. |
| E52 | 2010 to 2020 | 2.5 and 3.5 petrol V6 | Front wheel drive and a lower floor, which changes what is practical in a conversion. The newest of the three, so values and repair costs sit higher. |
Availability and premium depend on the individual vehicle, its condition and any modifications, subject to eligibility and underwriting.
Benefits of Owning an Imported Elgrand
The Japanese car market is ultra competitive, and it is common to fit out models with a host of extras to increase sales. These extras add a touch of luxury that is not available in standard minivans unless you spend heaps more on options. With an import, you are getting these as part of the standard package.
Nissan Elgrand Insurance Questions
Mainstream insurers price from claims data, and an imported model that was never sold here has no UK data behind it. Some will not have the vehicle on their system at all, which is why owners often find their registration is not recognised.
Specialist import brokers underwrite these vehicles individually rather than looking for a match in a database, which is why they can quote where a comparison site cannot.
Yes, and it needs declaring. A conversion changes what the vehicle is used for and what is inside it, so an insurer needs to know about it before cover starts rather than after a claim.
Work carried out by a professional converter is generally viewed more favourably than a self build, because the standard of the electrics and the gas installation is documented. Keep receipts and any certification, since a broker may ask for them.
DVLA will consider changing the body type on the V5C if the conversion meets their criteria, which cover things like permanently fitted sleeping and cooking facilities. It is not automatic and the requirements have tightened over the years.
Reclassification changes which policies you are eligible for, so it is worth deciding before you buy cover rather than partway through a policy year. Whichever way your V5C reads, the insurer needs an accurate description of the vehicle.
Short term policies exist and can suit a vehicle used for occasional trips rather than daily driving. Availability for imports and conversions is narrower than for a standard car, so it is worth asking rather than assuming.
If the vehicle does low annual mileage, a limited mileage policy is often the better route. Ask what mileage bands are available and what happens if you go over the limit.
Security helps. Immobilisers and tracking devices are looked on well, though check with the broker first that a particular device meets their requirements, since fitting one they do not recognise achieves nothing.
Membership of an owners club or a campervan club sometimes attracts a discount. Where the vehicle is kept overnight, who else drives it, and the annual mileage all move the figure too.
Worth comparing rather than accepting automatically. Insurers change their appetite for imports from one year to the next, so a company that priced badly last year may be competitive now, and the reverse is equally true.
Rules introduced by the FCA in 2022 stop insurers charging renewing customers more than they would charge a new customer for the same policy, so the old loyalty penalty should no longer apply. Comparing still makes sense, because different insurers price the same vehicle very differently.
