I'm just throwing this out there in case anyone knows anything about Japanese insurance...I need to get a covernote for 2 weeks for my (younger) brother to my car.

He's coming over from the UK and wants to drive my car which I'm fine with but he isn't covered on my current policy as it's restricted to drivers over 30 years old (as this is much cheaper).

I had the same issue last time he came over when I had an MX-5 restricted to over-26's. The insurance comany scammed me. Read on for the sob story: They said I should cancel my policy and start a new one allowing all drivers. Then after the 2 weeks cancel that contract and start back with one for over 26's. So I'd pay a lot up-front for the "all-coverage" policy but then get it back in a refund after I cancel it again and go back to the original plan. I went along with this as people in Japan are always honest and I believed this must be the best way forward.

BUT when I cancelled the policy and received the refund I was still Y100,000 short! I called them and even got a guy to come around to my office to explain. They said that's right: if you cancel after 2 weeks you only get back XXX% of the cost (where XXX is a small number). It's on a scale that goes down over time and is apparently set by the government (as are all the insurance rates in case you wondered why all your quotes always come out the same from different companies). They wouldn't admit that anyone on the phone sales team would ever have told me to do what I did but wouldn't give me my money back. I investigated sueing them but gave up and put it down to an expensive learning experience based on me not understanding Japanese.

So to cut a long sob story short I don't want to do that again: Y100,000 for 2 weeks for my brother to drive? I don't like him that much!

As the cars are insured for the car rather than the driver (as in the UK) does anyone know if you can get an additional, purposefully 2 week contract on the car for a reasonable amount of money? Like a UK cover note?

I'm using Zurich at the moment after my experiences with local insurers. Anyone got any recommendations for gaijin friendly places? I've heard AIG are good.

 

sorry I can't help - also had the run around with lot's of different stories about no claims bonus and the like - I thought my broker was honest until I heard he was giving bigger discount to people I had recommended to him

btw - how much do you pay with Zurich?

 

Sorry, I can't help. I have a broker that sorts all of this out for me.

I would add though, that one of my friends got insurance for himself and his wife only, because it was so much cheaper than going for the over 30's route (would have been Y100,000 more for the year). 5 months later he wanted me added to the insurance so that I could drive just for the weekend. The broker had his policy changed to any driver over 30 for a fee of Y10,000 for the remainder of the policy duration (7 months!!).

There certainly seems to be no logic to the system here !!!!

 

Thanks for the info. I'm paying 186,000pa right now. No no claims, and anyone over-30 insured (although only myself and my wife drive it).

 

Mine is a shade under JPY100,000 p.a.
It's part of a perk my company provides its employees. Used to get fuel expenses too when I used to commute to work. Sadly no more

Yes, the JP motor insurance systems it a bit of a mine field. Having a good JP friend or work colleague willing to help is a must!

John, are you really sure you want to let your brother get hooked on the S?

 

We both got hooked driving it on a track day in the UK - it's just that now I own one :-)) Imagine how much he wants to come and visit me now?! :-)

 

I think that is exactly what I was paying last year ..........

I pay rather more now after having a "significant" claim

 

for the insurance, it's not clear to me what is actually covered, as there are different levels of cover.

mine has dropped to about 140,000 - actually my wife insures it to keep her no claims bonus going, but I think I am not covered if somebody damages the car and I don't see the owner - i.e. door dings in the carpark.