Drivers could face expensive car insurance costs if they invest in a cheaper Chinese vehicle, as insurers continue to evaluate the risks associated with the cars.
Fresh research has found that motorists could face insurance costs that are a staggering 242 per cent higher than those of other models.
The data showed that many insurers do not carry cover for many of the Chinese models entering the UK market, despite their growing popularity.
Some declined quotes from Chinese brands, while others did not have brands listed or were unable to quote.
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A new investigation compared average insurance prices between four cars from Chinese brands and four "equivalent" models from European, Korean and Japanese manufacturers from 10 insurers.
This included the Jaecoo 7, Xpeng G6, BYD Seal U and Skywell BE11 from China being compared with VW Tiguan, Kia EV3, Peugeot E-3008 and a Toyota RAV4.
When comparing the Volkswagen Tiguan to the Jaecoo 7, the results were stark, despite the Chinese model being one of the best-selling vehicles in the UK last year.
Average quotes for the Tiguan came to just under £700, and only one insurer refused cover. However, five of the 10 insurers were unable to provide cover for the Jaecoo 7.
Chinese car brands face more expensive car insurance costs
|GETTY/BYD
Of those who could insure the Jaecoo SUV, the average price was £858, a huge £165 more than the Tiguan.
Similar patterns were seen with the Xpeng G6 and the Kia EV3, where the Chinese brand would set drivers back £1,102 on average, whereas the South Korean model would cost just £827.
The biggest difference came between two Chinese models, namely the BYD Seal U and the Skywell BE11, at a massive 242 per cent.
The average quote for the BYD came to £644.55, with Hastings offering cover for as little as £489.88, comparable to prices seen for the mainstream brands.
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The Jaecoo 7 was the second-best-selling vehicle in January 2026
| JAECOOIn comparison, the Skywell BE11 could only get cover from esure, which quoted £2,203.38, while two insurers declined to provide a quote.
Ian Reid, director of editorial at Carwow, said: "This isn't a Chinese cars issue - it's a problem with the UK insurance industry struggling to keep pace with a rapidly changing market.
"Last year, Carwow welcomed 120 new car models to our platform. New brands, models and technologies are arriving at speed, particularly with the rise of electric and hybrid vehicles, and insurers need to adapt far faster than they are.
"It's simply not fair for drivers to be penalised because insurance pricing and data can't keep up."
The Skywell BE11 had the most expensive car insurance quotes
| SKYWELLThatcham Research stated that a "market transition" was taking place, with the same trend being seen when Japanese vehicles entered the market in the 1960s.
Mr Reid suggested that prices could equalise in the future as insurers adapt to the surge of new vehicles on the market.
He noted that more new brands have launched in the UK in the past 18 months than in the last 20 years combined.
"Unfamiliar specifications, higher repair costs and limited data may challenge insurers, but those pressures are being passed directly to drivers through higher prices - and that needs to change," the expert said.