British motorists warned over major setback if they have this type of car | UK | News

In recent years, Chinese cars have surged in popularity across the UK, with brands such as Jaecoo, BYD, Omodo, and MG snapping up British customers in their droves. Much of the appeal stems from the fact that, in many instances, these cars are priced lower than their European counterparts, boast a greater range, or bear a striking resemblance to premium rivals — as seen with the Jaecoo 7, which has been dubbed the ‘Temu Range Rover’.

However, while British buyers appear more eager than ever to get behind the wheel of a Chinese vehicle, reports indicate that UK insurers are proving far more reluctant to provide cover, with certain providers adopting a particularly wary stance.

A survey carried out by car sales platform Carwow revealed that approximately half of British buyers seeking car insurance quotes were turned away.

The website took four Chinese models — the Skywell BE11, BYD Seal U, the hybrid variant of the Jaecoo 7, and the XPeng G6 — and approached five separate insurers for quotes on behalf of a 27-year-old male driver based in Hampshire.

Of those approached, only Aviva agreed to cover all four vehicles, while Hastings offered coverage solely for the BYD, Axa refused to insure any of them, Direct Line declined two of the cars, and Admiral turned down one.

Carwow’s Ian Reid warned that this could present a significant obstacle for those considering a Chinese electric vehicle, stating: “For some motorists, this could make some models impossible to insure at all.”

Meanwhile, many are left questioning why Chinese cars — a considerable number of which are electric — are encountering such difficulties when it comes to securing insurance cover. One expert suggests this could stem from the fact that electric vehicles are typically more costly to insure due to higher repair expenses following accidents.

Defaqto’s Stephen Kennedy told the Guardian: “It’s a bit of a chicken and egg situation. If they haven’t sold policies for these types of vehicles, they don’t have the data to be able to work out how much they should be charging.”

While Chinese vehicles may present insurance challenges for some motorists, their competitive pricing has driven increased adoption of electric cars across the UK, a trend further accelerated by the Middle East crisis and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial proportion of global oil supplies passes.

Latest figures released by the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) revealed that the two millionth electric car had been registered in the UK.

However, SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said this remained considerably short of requirements ahead of the Labour government’s ZEV Mandate.

He said: “Two million electric car registrations is a considerable milestone to celebrate, although natural demand is still well below the level demanded by the mandate.”