Modified Car Insurance

Looking to secure the best insurance for your modified car? Signature Insure has years of experience acting as a broker for owners of modified vehicles, working closely with insurers who understand your vehicle like you do.

A modified vehicle quote offers the same level of cover as a standard car insurance policy but is often as much as 50% cheaper. It is important that you secure a specialist quote if applicable to your ride.

We enable modified car owners to compare quotes from modified insurance companies in the UK. Our experience as a specialist insurance broker lets high net worth drivers secure the often-unique policy that is best for their modified vehicle. Like any vehicle policy, your cover can be third party, third party, fire, and theft or comprehensive.

Drivers may add optional extras such as:

  • Windscreen cover
  • Breakdown cover
  • Courtesy car
  • Salvage retention

 

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Modified Van Insurance

Van owners may choose to modify their car for performance, cosmetics, work, or leisure. There are four types of cover that you can choose from:

  • Social
  • Social and commuting
  • Own goods
  • Carriage of goods for hire and reward

In all cases, owners will need a modified van insurance quote. As with most modified vehicle policies, this increase is from simply adding to the costs of a potential claim.

Modified Classic Car Insurance

Insurers give favourable premiums to modified classic car owners, as often their changes will be to make the car safer to drive or more secure. Savings are particularly noticeable if a model is 1995 or earlier or with a value more than £40,000. Typical vintage car owners also do limited mileage and tend to drive their asset cautiously.

What Counts as a Modification to your Vehicle?

A car modification is any change that deviates from the vehicles original manufacturer’s factory specifications and will impact your insurance premium.

There are two categories of car modification; cosmetic and performance.

Could Add to Premium Could Reduce Premium
  • Body kit
  • Alloy wheels
  • Front and rear bumpers
  • Rooftop vents
  • Paintwork
  • Interior LED lighting
  • Light lens tints
  • Tinted windows
  • Back bumper reflector lights
  • Dashboard customisation
  • Interior racking
  • Roof rack
  • Brakes
  • Engine and drivetrain
  • Exhaust system changes
  • Suspension changes
  • Steering
  • Filtration

 

Illegal modifications that insurers will not cover include:

  • Illegally Tinted Windows – Although many like the look, having completely blacked out windows is against the law in the UK. The windscreen cannot be any less than 75% tint free, while side windows must be 70% tint free. The vehicles occupants must be visible.
  • Neon and Tinted Lights – Neon head lights are deemed to be a distraction for fellow road users. You may add neon light tubing to the underside of a car if not too bright. Avoid coloured tints to your main headlights beyond the standard white and yellow at the front and red at the back.
  • Illegal Spoilers – Spoilers are not illegal but can be a problem if improperly or carelessly fastened to the car. Spoilers or wings are also be deemed dangerous if they have sharp edges or obstruct a driver’s view.
  • Illegal Engine Modifications – Whilst performance tuning by experts may be fine, certain engine modifications can be dangerous.
  • Loud Exhausts and Illegal Changes – An exhaust may not exceed 74 decibels. All vehicles are ‘type approved’ before sale to the public, so only a modification will cause the noise to exceed this. Changes that make a car more damaging to the environment are also forbidden.

What Can Impact a Modified Car Insurance Quote?

Most car or van modifications will increase the price of a car insurance quote. This is usually because they add value to the vehicle and payout in the event of a claim. Other changes to the vehicle may be judged by insurance companies to make it more susceptible to crime or accident.

Car modifications insurance premiums can be positively or negatively impacted by the alterations covered below.

Although not classed as a modification, adding another layer of security can reduce the cost of your modified car insurance
premiums, including:

  • Safety locks.
  • Immobilisers.
  • Tracking devices that help to mitigate theft.
  • Secure or off-street parking.

 

Could Add to Premium Could Reduce Premium
Engine remapping – the % horsepower increase = % premium increase.

Cold air intake filter modification.

Exhaust upgrades.

Over lowered suspension – can make the car a hazard on speed bumps & bad roads.

Bodywork – wing/spoiler, wheel arches, wings, window tints, custom paint jobs, decals & stickers.

Interior – seat, pedals & steering wheel changes.

Alloy wheels – risk of theft & car value increase.

Gear short shift kits – associated with young drivers and
racers.

 Engine downsizing – reduction in horsepower means reduction in premium cost.

Suspension upgrades – improves handling & may slightly reduce premiums for highly modified cars

Sway bars – reduces body roll & can make small savings on modified vehicle policies.

Sway bars – reduces body roll & can make small savings on modified vehicle policies.

Modifications That Might Not Affect Your Insurance Premium

Most other modifications will not impact your insurance premiums (but should still be mentioned to insurers) and can include:

  • Sound systems.
  •  Dashboard additions.
  •  Parking sensors.
  • Custom gear knobs.
  • Tow bars.
  • Wind deflectors.
  • Compliant suspension adjustments.

 

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FAQ’s

What Car Modifications do I Need to Inform my Insurer about?

You should tell your insurance company about ANY changes made to your vehicle if they are different to the factory standard.

What happens if you don’t tell your insurance about modifications?

If you need to make a claim and have not declared any modifications, your policy could be declared invalid. You will be given a reduced rate or refuse to honour the payout.

Do you have to declare alloy wheels on insurance?

If your alloys were not fitted from the manufacturer, it will change the value of the car they have registered. You need to inform the insurer if they were fitted post purchase.

Will an engine remap affect my insurance?

Even if an engine remap adds no visible changes, the increase in horsepower will impact your premium. Be sure to advise your insurance company.

Do parking sensors count as a modification?

Parking sensors are classed as practical enhancements, and while they may not increase or reduce the cost of your policy, it should be reported to your insurer as a change to your vehicle.