A Guide to Insuring Your Modified Car

Anyone who drives a modified car will know the difficulties of getting a good price on their

insurance. Some insurance companies won’t even offer you a price, while others will charge you

a heavy premium. Lenders see drivers of these vehicles as an added risk, assuming they’re more

likely to be involved with an accident.

Why You Should Declare All Changes

Any car that has additions or alterations to its standard factory specification is what the insurance

industry refers to as a “non-standard” or modified vehicle. If you have multiple modifications,

this will all be grouped under the same insurance rate. It’s important that you make your lender

aware of all of the changes you’ve made to your vehicle, though, even if they aren’t performance

related. If you don’t do this, they may have the right to void your contract or refuse to pay out in

the event of an accident.

Not All Modifications Are Negative

Equally, it’s important to remember that not all modifications will increase your premiums.

Performance enhancing changes like engine tuning can cause your rates to increase dramatically.

Similarly, exterior alterations that are purely aesthetic could still have a negative effect as lenders

feel this could make your car more attractive to potential thieves. However, adding functional

customisations, like parking sensors or extra security measure, may in fact lower your car

insurance premium as your lender considers these as positive additions.

How You Can Lower Your Premiums

If you’re interested in bringing your insurance premiums down, there are a number of things you

can do. Even simple changes, like making sure your vehicle is locked away safely at night, can

have significant effects. The first thing you should do, though, is look for an insurance provider

who offers specialist cover on modified vehicles like A-Plan. This should give you a much more

favorable rate than compared to a standard lender. You could also look to take additional driving

qualifications, such as the Pass Plus scheme. This could be especially worthwhile for younger

drivers.

Unfortunately, the stereotype of the young “boy racer” getting into trouble shines a negative light

on us all. In reality, the vast majority of those driving modified cars are actually enthusiasts who

are not only more knowledgeable about the inner workings of their vehicle, but are safer and

better drivers too.