If you’re thinking of modifying your car, there’s something else you’re going to need to modify- your insurance. Modified car insurance is a special type of policy covering cars that have been modified, or changed, from the original specifications. Even small changes, like custom rims or tinting, count, although they won’t have much effect on your policy. It’s the larger modifications that really raise your premiums. Insurance companies willing to cover modified cars used to be hard to find, but now it’s just hard to find one that won’t break your bank. So, let’s take a look at what effects modified car insurance rates, and what you can do to bring them down.

What Modified Insurance Companies Look At

We’ll start off with the basics- these are things all insurance companies look at:

Age: Insurance companies rely on statistics for risk assessment, and they show that younger drivers at are greater risk for speeding and accidents, and so drivers under 25 always pay more.

Gender: Guys lose out, as statistics show men have more violent accidents than women. Guess that solves the age old debate, hmm? Of course with Modified car insurance, guys suffer further stereotyping because many people see a guy with a modified car and think “street racer.”

Driving Record: Prior accidents and traffic tickets make you a “risky” driver, and significantly push up your rates.

Make, Model, and Year: Again with the statistics, some cars, such as sports cars, have higher risk than others.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get down to mod specific factors:

Modification Type and Amount: Small modifications like those rims won’t impact your rates much, but major stylistic or engine mods will. Engine mods raise accident risk, and stylistic enhancements up the threat of vehicle theft. Many insurers compound risks when you add more modifications, so number can have an effect as well.

Car Usage: While regular insurance companies just look at the make, model, and year, modified car insurance companies want to know whether it’s a show car or a street car. Show cars get better rates because they tend to have extremely low mileage, are driven and maintained very carefully, and kept in a garage. Street cars are the bad boys- they get driven in all weather, parked on the street, and have a rep for racing- all sure to raise your rates.

What You Can Do To Lower Your Rates

Improve Your Record: Be conscientious, don’t speed, and go to traffic school if you get a ticket. A good record will go a long way towards lowering your rates.

Safety Mods: Not all modifications are considered risky. For instance, adding a car alarm, a tracking system, or lock wheel nuts will actually lower your rates.

Garage Your Car: Whether it’s a street or show car, keeping it in the garage at home will lower your risk of theft and parking damage.

Be Reasonable: If possible, choose parts that aren’t super-rare or one-of-a-kind. The replacement cost will almost never be returned to you if you damage them.

Choose a Specialist: Insurance companies that specialize or deal frequently with modified cars will have better rates and more understanding than the other guys.

Never Lie: Hiding modifications doesn’t just mean they’re not covered, but it can void your policy completely.

The best way to get a good rate is to be informed. Talk to other people with Modified Cars, and stay up to date with mod sites like torquecars.com, where you can catch the latest news, events, and forums on modified cars.