Modified Car Insurance
Modified Car Insurance Quotes
You could save up to £535* on your car insurance in minutes
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What Is Modified Car Insurance?
Modified car insurance is a specialist policy that covers vehicles with aftermarket changes to their engine, bodywork, suspension or interior.
Standard policies assume your car matches factory specifications. Any alteration, from an engine remap to a set of aftermarket alloys, changes the risk profile and must be declared to your insurer.
Failing to disclose modifications can void your car insurance entirely, leaving you uninsured if you need to claim.
How To Compare Modified Car Insurance Quotes
Comparing quotes from specialist insurers is the fastest way to find cover that matches your modifications at a competitive price.
List Every Modification
Write down each change made to your car, including the approximate cost of each part and fitting. Insurers need a full picture to price your risk accurately.
Enter Your Details
Provide your vehicle registration, personal details, driving history and overnight parking location. Include your modification list in the vehicle description.
Review and Compare
Check that each quote covers your specific modifications for their full value. A cheaper quote that excludes aftermarket parts could leave you out of pocket after a claim.
Buy Online
Choose the policy that balances price with the right level of cover and complete your purchase. Cover can start the same day.
What Counts As A Modified Car?
Any change that moves your vehicle away from factory specifications counts as a modification in the eyes of an insurer.
Performance Modifications
These include engine remaps, turbocharger or supercharger upgrades, uprated exhaust systems, cold-air intakes and upgraded braking components. Performance changes carry the biggest premium impact because they increase the car's top speed and replacement cost.
Suspension and Handling
Lowered springs, coilover kits, air-ride suspension and uprated anti-roll bars all change the car's ride height and handling profile. Insurers view these as moderate risk.
Cosmetic and Bodywork
Aftermarket alloy wheels, body kits, spoilers, wide arches, vinyl wraps and custom paint jobs change the car's appearance and value. Most specialist insurers cover cosmetic modifications at no extra charge.
Interior and Audio
Bucket seats, roll cages, harnesses, upgraded stereo systems and multimedia screens fall into this category. They raise the vehicle's replacement value without changing performance.
Security Modifications
Aftermarket alarms, immobilisers, GPS trackers and steering wheel locks can actually reduce your premium. Insurers reward any modification that lowers theft risk.
Disability Modifications
Wheelchair ramps, hand controls, swivel seats and tail lifts are classified as modifications but rarely increase premiums. Many insurers treat them neutrally or offer a small discount.
| Modification Type | Examples | Typical Premium Impact |
| Engine / performance | Remap, turbo, exhaust upgrade | +15-30% |
| Suspension / handling | Coilovers, air-ride, lowering springs | +10-20% |
| Bodywork / cosmetic | Body kit, wrap, wide arches, alloys | +5-15% |
| Interior / audio | Bucket seats, roll cage, sound system | +5-10% |
| Security | Tracker, alarm, immobiliser | 0% or discount |
What Does Modified Car Insurance Cover?
Modified car insurance provides the same core protection as standard car insurance, with the added benefit of covering your aftermarket parts at their declared value.
Third-Party Only (TPO)
TPO is the minimum cover required by UK law. It pays for damage you cause to other people, their vehicles and their property, but does not cover your own car or modifications.
For a modified car, TPO leaves your entire build unprotected. If your vehicle is stolen or written off, you receive nothing toward the cost of your modifications.
Third-Party, Fire and Theft (TPFT)
TPFT adds protection against fire damage and theft of your vehicle. Modified cars are at higher theft risk, making this level worthwhile for many owners.
Comprehensive
Fully comprehensive cover pays for damage to your own vehicle as well as third-party claims, fire and theft. It is the most popular choice for modified car owners because it protects the full value of your build.
What Is Not Covered?
Modifications you have not declared to your insurer are excluded from any payout. Nitrous oxide (NOS) systems are refused by most providers due to the extreme acceleration risk.
The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 makes coloured headlights, converted bulb types and underbody neon kits illegal. Any modification that breaches road-traffic law is uninsurable.
Compare Modified Car Insurance
You could save up to £535.17* on your car insurance in minutes
How Much Does Modified Car Insurance Cost?
Modified car insurance premiums vary widely depending on the number, type and value of your aftermarket changes.
The same rating factors that determine how car insurance is calculated apply to modified vehicles, but insurers add a modification loading on top. Your age, driving record and postcode all feed into the final price.
| Driver Profile | Modification Level | Indicative Annual Premium |
| Experienced driver (35-50), garaged | Light (alloys, exhaust, remap) | £450-£700 |
| Experienced driver (35-50), garaged | Heavy (turbo, cage, suspension) | £700-£1,100 |
| Young driver (21-25), street parked | Light (alloys, exhaust, tinted windows) | £1,200-£1,800 |
| Young driver (21-25), street parked | Heavy (turbo, wide arches, remap) | £1,800-£2,800 |
| Driver over 50, garaged | Light cosmetic only | £300-£500 |
Modified vehicles can cost 10-50% more to insure than their standard equivalents depending on the extent of the changes. The exact increase depends on how much the modifications raise the car's value, speed and theft appeal.
Keep receipts for every part and fitting. Insurers use them to verify your declared modification value at claim time, and a documented build log speeds up any agreed-value assessment.
*51% of consumers could save £535.17 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next four cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from May 2026 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.
How Does Your Modification List Affect Your Premium?
Insurers assess each modification individually and then calculate a combined loading based on the full build specification.
Declared Value
The total cost of your modifications is added to the car's market value. A car worth £8,000 with £5,000 of modifications becomes a £13,000 risk, and premiums reflect that higher replacement cost.
Power Output
Some specialist insurers price policies based on brake horsepower (BHP) rather than generic modification categories. A 300 BHP car costs more to insure than a 180 BHP car regardless of how the power was achieved.
Number of Modifications
Each additional modification compounds the loading. A single exhaust upgrade might add 5% to your premium, but combining it with a remap, coilovers and wide arches could push the total loading above 40%.
Theft Attractiveness
The Association of British Insurers notes that modified cars are disproportionately targeted by thieves, especially vehicles with visible aftermarket parts. Street-parked modified cars in urban areas attract the highest theft loading.
What Add-Ons Should You Consider For Modified Car Cover?
Standard policies often exclude the extras that matter most to modified car owners. These add-ons fill the gaps.
Agreed Value Cover
An agreed value policy locks in a payout figure for your car and its modifications at the start of the policy. Without it, the insurer decides the value after a total loss, and aftermarket parts are often undervalued.
Like-for-Like Replacement Parts
This guarantees that damaged aftermarket parts are replaced with equivalent components rather than standard factory items. Without it, your coilovers could be replaced with standard springs.
Breakdown Cover
Modified engines and suspension place extra stress on drivetrain components. Breakdown cover ensures roadside assistance and recovery if something fails.
Legal Expenses Cover
Covers solicitor fees and court costs if you need to pursue or defend a claim following an accident. Cover typically extends to £100,000.
European Cover
If you drive your modified car abroad, check whether your policy includes EU cover. Some insurers provide up to 90 days of European protection.
You may need a green card from your insurer before travelling, so check the requirements for your destination country.
Salvage Retention
This add-on lets you buy back your car after a total-loss claim and rebuild it. Without it, the insurer keeps the wreck, and you lose the vehicle and all the aftermarket parts fitted to it.
MOT Compliance
Every modification must still pass an MOT test. Lowered suspension, larger wheels and modified exhausts are all checked against legal limits, and a failure means your car is not road-legal or insurable.
How To Save Money On Modified Car Insurance
Modified car insurance is more expensive than standard cover, but the right approach can cut hundreds from your annual premium.
Fit Approved Security
A Thatcham-approved alarm, immobiliser or GPS tracker can reduce your premium by 5-15%. Insurers reward any device that makes theft harder.
Use a Specialist Insurer
High-street insurers often load heavily for modifications or refuse cover altogether. Specialist brokers understand the market and can offer more competitive rates.
Garage Your Car Overnight
Keeping a modified car in a locked garage rather than on the street can cut your premium by 10-20%. Off-street parking on a private driveway also helps.
Build Your No-Claims Bonus
A no-claims bonus of five years or more can cut your premium by around 60%. Protect it with a no-claims discount protection add-on if your insurer offers one.
Consider Telematics
A telematics policy monitors your driving behaviour and rewards safe, low-risk driving with lower premiums. This is especially useful for first-time car buyers with modified vehicles.
Pay Annually
Paying your premium in one lump sum rather than monthly instalments avoids interest charges that typically add 8-11% to the total cost.
Increase Your Voluntary Excess
Raising your voluntary excess from £250 to £500 or £750 signals to the insurer that you are willing to share more of the risk. This can cut premiums by 5-10% on a modified car policy.
Join a Car Club
Some specialist insurers offer discounts of 5-10% for members of recognised car clubs. Older enthusiasts with second cars used mainly for shows or events often qualify for limited-mileage rates too.
Compare Modified Car Insurance
You could save up to £535.17* on your car insurance in minutes
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you must declare every modification to your insurer, including cosmetic changes. Failing to do so can invalidate your policy and leave you without cover.
Yes, an engine remap raises your car's power output, which increases the risk in the insurer's view. Expect a premium increase of 20-40% depending on the power gain.
Yes, if they differ from the manufacturer's standard specification. Aftermarket alloys change the car's value and appearance, so they must be declared.
Yes, contact your insurer before fitting any new modification. They will adjust your premium and update your policy to reflect the change.
No, most standard modified car policies exclude track use. You would need a separate track-day insurance policy to cover damage sustained on a circuit.
No, most modifications are legal provided they pass the MOT and comply with road-traffic regulations. Illegal modifications include excessive window tinting, non-compliant lighting and exhausts above the legal noise limit.
An agreed value policy sets the payout amount at the start of your cover period. If the car is written off, you receive the agreed figure rather than the insurer's market valuation, which often undervalues aftermarket parts.
Yes. Thatcham-approved alarms, immobilisers and GPS trackers can lower your premium by 5-15% because they reduce the risk of theft.
Yes, although premiums are much higher for drivers under 25. Fitting approved security, choosing a lower insurance group base car and using telematics can all help reduce costs.
Your insurer can refuse to pay a claim, cancel your policy and record it as a voided policy on the CUE database. This makes future insurance harder and more expensive to obtain.
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