Running A Car - How to insure a modified car

How good would your car look with some flash new alloy wheels? While you might think that they would up your street cred, not everyone is a fan.

Insurance underwriters in particular take a dim view of the modifications car lovers often want to make.

Whether it is a new spoiler, some funky alloys or a body kit, in the eyes of motor insurers, visual modifications simply make cars more likely to be stolen by thieves.

If you modify your vehicle in order to enhance its performance, meanwhile, insurers will assume that you are likely to drive faster as a result.

Your chances of having an accident, and making a related claim, therefore become higher in their eyes.

Either way, you will probably have to pay more to insure a vehicle that has been modified in some way, which is why it is best to think carefully and do some research before making any major changes.

There is no point trying to hide modifications from your car cover provider, though, as this could invalidate the policy and result in the claims being rejected.

What is a “modification”?
A modified car is one that has been altered in any way that results in it being changed from its original design specifications laid down by the manufacturer.

That said, not all modifications will automatically have a detrimental impact on your car insurance premium.

How can I cut the cost of covering my modified car?
Different insurance companies will have varying policies when it comes to deciding what constitutes a premium-altering modification.

After using MoneySupermarket to find the cheapest quotes for the make and model you need to cover, it may therefore be worth contacting specific insurers to ask them what they consider to be a modification before making a decision.

Once you have done that, it could also be a good idea to contact some of the specialist modified car insurers, many of which also offer insurance for high performance vehicles.

Companies that fall into this category include Performance Direct, Adrian Flux and Tiger.

Potentially lower premiums are not the only advantages of opting for an insurer of this kind, though.

Given their client base, these providers often offer also extras such as track day cover for speed fiends and a variety of bonuses for owners' club members.

They may also offer an 'agreed valuation' on your car, giving you a clearer idea of exactly how much your car is insured for and greater peace of mind as a result.

Any other tips?
As with all car insurance, you can further reduce the cost of cover for a modified vehicle by reducing the likelihood of it being stolen, for example.

Parking in a secure location – or at least off the road – overnight will usually result in a cheaper modified car insurance quote, while fitting an insurer-approved immobiliser or tracking device is also likely to lower your premiums.

Other sensible steps include driving safely to reduce the chances of being hit with points for speeding or having to relinquish your no claims discount, and offering to limit your mileage.

The less you are on the roads, the less likely to are to have an accident – and insurers are often prepared to reward you for agreeing to leave your modified vehicle at home sometimes.

If there is a set of expensive alloy wheels fitted to your vehicle, you could also invest in locking wheel nuts that reduce the risk of them being stolen while the car is parked.

Finally, while you might think that adding another driver to the policy will increase the overall cost, the reverse can actually be true if the person in question is, for example, a woman (and therefore judged as lower risk by most insurers) or an older, more experienced motorist.

Do not be tempted to try to further cut the cost by naming him or her as the main driver if that is not the case, however, as this is against the law and could once again invalidate the policy.

Any claims you make are likely to be rejected as a result.
This article has been researched and written by whatcar.com's car insurance partner, MoneySupermarket