Insuring Your Custom Ride

By Author: Marcus Stalder
Total Articles: 491
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You've definitely seen many of those cars that the TV show "Pimp My Ride" and many other love to highlight. It has become a real fad among car owners, especially the younger ones, to customize their vehicles for the purpose of reflecting their individuality through the car they drive. Sure, in such an individualistic society as we all are there's nothing wrong or bad about such a fad. However, quite often when it comes to insuring such vehicles their owners tend to overlook the changes their car has be subjected to, believing that their policy will cover it in case of an accident. And it's such a bitter feeling when they actually file a claim and get covered partially or denied coverage in general. What's wrong with custom cars that insurance companies are so picky about them?

First of all let's take a look at what the insurance company covers in the first place. When you purchase a policy the company is obliged to cover the losses to your car in its form as the policy was signed according to its market value or independent evaluation. What happens when you decide to customize it? You change certain parts of the car from ...
... original to custom and effectively alter the market value of your vehicle. Let's agree that installing a stereo system worth of 6k to your 3k Honda Civic is actually altering its price in a drastic manner. And in case you end up filing a claim for the altered value and configuration of your vehicle the insurance company has the right to deny you with coverage simply because you've altered the value of the insurance object without informing the insurer. It's like buying a cheap computer, upgrading it with the most advanced parts, and then trying to get a refund for the final value of your PC because there was a short circuit in your flat.

If you want to have adequate car insurance for your custom shop ride, you'll have to inform your insurance companies about all the changes you've made to the basic configuration, preferably even before it goes out of the body shop. Make sure that your auto insurance provider knows what has been changed and customized in every detail, with the make and model of each custom part installed. You'll typically be required to purchase a weaver to cover all the additional value you've put into your vehicle after customization. It's evident that by slightly improving the performance or visuals of your car you alter its coverage value, and your policy should meet all these changes in order to keep it covered to the full extent.

So now you know how to keep your car equipped with the right auto insurance even if you decide to perform radical customization. You are free to do whatever you want with your car, since it's your property, for as long as it doesn't pose any threat to other drivers while on the road. Just make sure to adjust your coverage according to your shifting insurance needs.