FAQs about Modified Car Insurance

Can Insurance tell if car remapped?

Vehicle manufacturers and skilled engineers who carry out detailed investigations would likely be able to trace a remap. As a specialist vehicle insurance company, we understand modified cars and do not have any issues insuring vehicles with remaps and high spec engine builds. Meaning you are able to safely declare a remap upon your vehicle with your Insurance premium and terms being based fairly upon the impact to your vehicle, but crucially your pride and joy will actually have valid Insurance cover in place.

Are Modified cars more expensive to insure?

Insurers and brokers specialise in providing different types of cover to different sectors of the market and finding the right Insurance provider for the type of vehicle you own will be the key here. Insurance for Modified Cars or Modified Vans can be more expensive when you buy Insurance cover from mainstream or everyday Insurance providers, due to their limited exposure to covering specialist or modified vehicles and often a limited understanding of vehicle upgrades, or modifications. Meaning everyday Insurance providers will either apply disproportionate terms or premium loadings, or will decline to provide cover. If you are looking to modify your car or van, the smart approach would be to look for a modified vehicle Insurance provider, as this is a specialised area. A modified or specialist motor Insurance provider will apply premiums and terms to your vehicle that are fair, as well as proportionate to their impact upon your car or van and will usually replace the specific modified or upgraded part with a like for like part where available, meaning your actual modifications will be covered properly for replacement (rather than just acknowledged or rated upon but not covered). A modified or specialist Motor Insurance provider will regard someone who has modified their car or van as a vehicle enthusiast, which is a positive factor as their view is that there will be added care of the vehicle from someone who is passionate about their vehicle.

How do you stay safe when modifying cars?

By using a recognised garage or vehicle tuner to either fit the upgrades to your vehicle, or to check modifications that you have carried out have been fitted correctly

How do you insure a modified car?

Modified car insurance, or Modified van Insurance is a specialist sector of the Motor Insurance market. Whilst some mainstream or everyday insurers may be able to cover some basic modifications or upgrades, most do not so you will need to check their acceptance criteria or contact them to be safe. There are specialist Insurance providers, who can provide policies designed specifically to cover a modified car or modified van and should you be looking to carry out upgrades to your vehicle, to ensure your Insurance remains valid and the parts you have upgraded upon your vehicle are covered the safest way to achieve this is to use a specialist insurer.

What happens if I don't tell my insurance about modifications?

Your Insurance policy will probably be invalid. This would expose the driver to a potential conviction for driving without insurance and could leave the driver liable for all accident/third party damage costs.

What car modifications do you have to declare?

Any modifications that were fitted to the vehicle since it was manufactured/first registered need to be declared.

What car modifications are illegal in the UK?

Modifications that would make a vehicle an MOT failure or unroadworthy would be illegal. For example Tinting a front windscreen beyond the legal limit would be illegal/unroadworthy

What modifications affect car insurance?

Any upgrade or alteration beyond the specification of your vehicle when it left the vehicle would be classed as an upgrade or modification by Insurers. The safest route would be to call your existing Insurer to ask about the impact upon the policy and rating with them. If they are not a specialist Insurance provider, you may find that they will either apply terms (if they are able and willing) or decline to cover your vehicle with the proposed modifications fitted. This is not the end of the world, it just means that you need to look for a specialist Insurance provider, who will have an understanding of the modifications upon your vehicle and will rate any changes to your car or van sensibly, based upon the actual impact upon your vehicle and direct exposure to the specialist Insurance provider. In most instances a specialist will also cover the replacement of the upgraded parts.