Kit Car Insurance

Building a kit car can be an expensive hobby, so the last thing a kit car enthusiast needs is costly motor insurance. There are specialist kit car insurance companies, however, who offer cover specifically tailored towards the kit car community.

What should your kit car insurance include?

When buying insurance for a kit car, there are a few more things to consider than when you are looking for a more conventional car insurance policy.

Some policies offer cover for parts whilst in transit and some protect against damage or theft during the construction process. An 'all parts covered' policy will ensure you are covered if parts get damaged or go missing.

If you plan to take your pride and joy out on a test track, you'll need to make sure your kit car insurance covers you for this activity.

Kit car insurance and optional policy extras

As the name suggests, optional extras can increase the price you pay for your kit car insurance, but may give you the extra peace of mind of knowing that your kit car is well-protected after all the time you have dedicated to it.
Agreed value cover: By negotiating agreed value cover on your kit car, you have a guarantee that the amount you paid for the vehicle does not depreciate in the event of a claim.
Breakdown and legal cover: Finding breakdown cover for a kit car may be more difficult than it would for a conventional car, so you might want to consider adding it your kit car insurance policy. Opting for legal cover will cover your expenses if court action follows an accident.
If you plan on driving your kit car on the Continent, green card cover provides the most basic level of cover when travelling abroad.

If you plan on using your kit car for a special occasion, like a wedding, then you might want to ask your insurer about 'formal occasion cover'.

A great thing about building a kit car is that it is built to your own specification. In terms of kit car insurance you can use this to your advantage by limiting the size of the engine you install. The larger an engine you put in your kit car, the great risk you will represent in the eyes of insurers - resulting in higher premiums.

You might also be able to negotiate cheap kit car insurance quotes by agreeing to a mileage limit with your insurer, fitting industry-approved security devices and keeping the kit car in secure location overnight.

Make sure your kit car is street-legal

If you are buying a kit car already assembled you should make sure it is officially roadworthy. For a kit car to be used legally on the roads, it needs to pass a Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) test, which costs around £190.
Once your kit car has passed its SVA it will not normally need an MOT for another three years.