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Kit car insurance

Kit car insurance is a specialised car insurance policy that covers a car supplied to you as a set of parts you’ve built yourself.

Because of the complexities involved in understanding who built the car, when it was built and where it was built, insurers can be wary about insuring kit cars. That doesn't mean it's impossible to find insurance, but any prices you get will also reflect this. The easiest way to see if you'll be offered a quote is to enter your details as accurately as possible.

Any insurance quotes offered through our site are based on standard insurance cover, so won't include some of the specialist extras you might be interested in to cover your kit car. If you're not able to find the right cover through us, there are specialists in the market that will be able to help you.
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Where can I get kit car insurance?

Depending on how your kit car has been registered, you may be able to find car insurance using our site. Some insurers have difficulty understanding the origins of a car if it is registered on a Q number plate, which can mean they aren't able to offer you an insurance quote. Any insurance quotes offered through our site are based on standard insurance cover, so won't include some of the specialist extras you might be interested in to cover your kit car.

The way your car is registered with the DVLA decides the type of number plate your car has. The DVLA consider the circumstances behind how, where and when the car was built and whether it meets certain criteria. You can find out more about registering kit-built cars on the GOV.uk website.

If you're unable to find a quote through us, you’ll likely need to find an insurer who specialises in kit car insurance, but there’s still a wide range of cover options available so it’s worth shopping around and spending some time thinking about what suits your needs most.

Like standard car insurance, specialist insurers will need to know details about yourself and your car to calculate your price. They’re also likely to ask questions about the build to understand the current state of your kit car.

There may be some restrictions to bear in mind, depending on the insurer you choose, for example some will only offer kit car insurance to drivers aged 21 and over. You’ll also want to consider what cover types you’ll need on your policy, such as rally cover or cherished salvage, as these offerings can vary depending on who your insurer is. Insurance quotes offered through our site don't include these types of cover as standard.

What does kit car insurance cover?

Kit cars come in many different forms so need a more bespoke level of cover that ordinary car insurance policies aren’t able to offer. As with conventional car insurance, kit car insurance should cover you for theft, fire and damage resulting from a road accident.

As well as more conventional car insurance policy features, like breakdown cover and cover for driving in the EU, some specialist kit car insurance policies might also include a range of special features:

  • Cherished salvage
  • Dismantled parts
  • Rally cover
  • Personal accident cover
  • Limited mileage
  • Multiple vehicles
  • Agreed value

Cherished salvage means that even if your car is written off as a total loss, you could get the vehicle/salvage as well as the insurance payout. You then have the option to restore the car or use the parts for another project.

Dismantled parts covers the value of all parts when they’re sitting in your garage.

Rally cover is typically valid for club rallies if included. It might not include racing events, so you might still have to buy race car insurance if you’re going to participate in races. If you're not competing, you may be better off with performance car insurance.

Personal accident cover compensates you or your family up to a set amount for injuries or death resulting from a car accident.

Limited mileage could help reduce insurance costs for kit car owners who might use a kit car once a week or less for recreational purposes as it won’t be their main vehicle or driven regularly.

Multiple vehicles can be added to the same car insurance policy with some insurers, which can save you money. This could mean combining the insurance cover of your conventional car with the kit car cover.

Agreed value allows kit car enthusiasts to insure their vehicle based on an agreed value rather than a market value.

The true value of a kit car includes:

  • All the time and effort you’ve put in to building it
  • The value of the kit
  • Any modifications you’ve made to the car

So, it’s a bit trickier than valuing a standard manufacturer-built vehicle where you can quickly estimate the value online.

Agreed value means you and the insurer must agree on the value before the policy begins. The insurer might require an independent expert to value the car beforehand.

What our expert says

"When you've put so much work into your kit car, you'll want to make sure you're covered in case anything goes wrong. Kit car policies, like the cars themselves, can vary greatly, so you'll want make sure you've taken everything into account before you set up your policy, including whether you need to include extras like track day cover or any modifications you've made."
Louise Thomas, Motor Insurance Expert at Confused.com
Motor Insurance Expert Confused.com logo

How much does kit car insurance cost?

Because the origins of each kit car are unique and no two cars are the same, we aren't able to give an average figure for how much it could cost to insure one.

It's no surprise that costs can vary substantially depending on who's driving it and the car itself.

Some of the things insurers will ask about which could affect the price of your insurance are:

  • Make and model as a more expensive kit car may cost more to cover.
  • Engine specifications as a more powerful engine is likely to result in increased costs.
  • Mileage. If your kit car isn't your day-to-day vehicle, having lower mileage can make your insurance cheaper.
  • Body type will also affect the price. Body kits or modifications that could be seen to decrease the safety of the car could increase your price, however it’s likely to have less impact than on a standard car insurance policy.

You’ll need to tell your insurer about all modifications you’ve made to the car as not doing so could invalidate your policy. You should keep all the paperwork for any modifications you've made, including any photos or receipts that might be relevant. 

As with any car insurance policy, your costs will also depend on your individual circumstances, including your age, where you live and how you plan to use the car.

Do I need kit car insurance while I’m building the car?

You won’t need kit car insurance until your car is roadworthy, but you might consider taking out build-up insurance to cover you for fire, theft, and damage over the period the car is being assembled. How long the kit car is sitting in your garage in the assembly phase can vary a lot and depends on how much time you can dedicate to the project.

If you are collecting it from a kit car maker, you might want to take out transit insurance to cover the kit car, parts and tools for loss or damage during collection.

You can also get laid up insurance for when your car is off the road for restoration or if you’ve just decided to take a break.

We don't compare quotes for policies that include build-up, transit or laid-up insurance but there are specialists in the market who can help you with this.

What do I need to do once my kit car is built?

There are a few steps you’ll need to take once your kit car is assembled before you can drive it on the road:

  • Apply for an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test conducted by the DVLA
  • Fill out a vehicle inspection report and register your car for a number plate once it’s passed the IVA.
  • Get your kit car insured once you’ve got your registration number and you’re ready to drive!

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