Modified Car Insurance

Modifying a vehicle can increase its value and performance, but in the eyes of insurance providers, it also increases the risk of making a claim. This can make finding car insurance for modified cars difficult.  At moneysupermarket.com we compare quotes from more than 100 companies to help you find affordable cover.

Save time and money on your car insurance

Whilst you might see alloy wheels as a nice modification, insurers may see them as making your car more attractive to thieves. The same goes for spoilers and body-kits, as they increase the face value of the vehicle.

If you were to make modifications to your car that enhance its performance, however, car insurance companies may see this as increasing the chances of you making a claim for an accident, based on the assumption that you will be travelling faster.

There are specialist modified car insurance providers who claim that your modifications will have no bearing on your premiums, but generally, insurers will return higher insurance quotes for modified cars because of the additional risk they are seen to pose.

What constitutes a modification?

A broad definition of a modified car is one which has been altered in any way from its original factory set-up, but not all modifications will have a bearing on your car insurance premium, and different insurance companies will have different views on what constitutes modification.

You can contact specific insurers to ask them what they consider to be a modification, but generally speaking; anything which increases the value of the car or enhances its performance is a modification.

Can you lower the cost of modified car insurance?

To a certain extent, you can keep the cost of modified car insurance down - but you may have to compromise on what modifications you'd like to make.

Initially, you should think carefully about the effect the modifications will have on your car insurance premiums.

The obvious solution is not to go too far with the modifications. Keeping the changes to a minimum will limit your modified car insurance quotes.

If you decide to go ahead and modify your car, you are legally obligated to inform your car insurance provider. Failing to do so can invalidate the policy, and in the event of a claim the insurer may refuse to pay out.

There are some insurers, however, that specialise in modified car insurance.

Money-saving modified car insurance tips

For modified car insurance, you might change tack for how you would usually look for car insurance quotes.

Firstly, you should shop around using a comparison website to see what is on offer. Then, you might consider looking specifically at the specialist modified car insurance providers.

As well as potentially offering cheap modified car insurance, these providers often offer extras like track day cover and bonuses if you are a member of an owners' club.

Specialist modified car insurers may also offer an 'agreed valuation' on your car, giving you the peace of mind in knowing exactly what your vehicle is insured for.

Above and beyond these modified car-specific ways of lowering the cost of your premiums, there are steps you can take to lower the costs as you would with an un-modified vehicle.

Fitting a security device approved by your insurer, like an immobiliser, an alarm or a steering wheel lock can help to off-set the increased cost of insuring a modified car.

If you have expensive alloy wheels on your car, you might invest in locking wheel nuts which would reduce the risk of them being stolen and being forced to make a claim.

Adding another, more experienced driver to the policy can sometimes help to lower the cost of the premium, but you must not name them as the main driver if you yourself are the primary driver of the car, as this is illegal and could invalidate the policy.

Parking in a secure location overnight may be reflected in a cheaper modified car insurance quote, and driving safely will keep your license clean of penalty points and build up your no-claims discount.